MICROWAVING TIPSl Make sure all cookware used in your microwave l Paper towels, waxed paper and plastic wrapoven is suibble for microwaving. Most glass can be used to cover dishes in order to retaincasseroles, cooking dishes, measuring cups, custard moisture and prevent spattering. Be sure to ventcups, pottery or china dinnerware which does not plastic wrap so steam can escape.have metallic trim or glaze with a metallic sheen canbe used. Some cookware is labeled “suitable for “ Some microwaved foods require stirring, rotitingor rearranging. Check the Cooking Guide.microwaving”.l If you are notsure if a dishis microwave-safe, use thistest: Place inthe oven boththe dish youare testing anda glass.=measuring cup filled with one cup water—set themeasuring cup either in or next to the dish.Microwave 1 minute at high. If the dish heats, itshould not be used for microwaving. If the dishremains cool and only the water in the cup heats,then the dish is microwave-safe.— —l Steam builds up pressure in foods which aretightly covered by a skin or membrane.Pierce potatoes, egg yolks and chicken livers toprevent bursting.If you use a meat thermometer while cooking,make sure it is” safe for use in microwave ovens.VA~BLE PO~R LEVELS (1-10)Variable power levels add flexibility to yourmicrowave cooking. The power levels on yourmicrowave oven can be compared to the surfaceunits on a range. HIGH (Power Level 10) or fullpower is the fastest way to cook and gives you 100%power. Each power level gives you microwave energya certain percent of the time. Power Level 7 ismicrowave energy 70Y0 of the time. Power Level 3is energy 3090 of the time.A high setting (10) will cook faster but may needadditional attention such as frequent stirring, rotatingor turning over. Most of your cooking will be done onHIGH (Power Level 10). A lower setting will cookmore evenly and with less attention given to stirringor rotating the food. Some foods may have betterflavor, texture or appearance if one of the lowersettings is used. You may wish to use a lower powerlevel when cooking foods that have a tendency to boilover, such as scalloped potatoes.Rest periods (when the microwave energy cycles of~give time for the food to “equalize” or transfer heatto the inside of the food. An example of this is shownwith Power Level 3—the defrost cycle. If microwaveenergy did not cycle off, the outside of the food wouldcook before the inside was defrosted.Here are some examples of uses for variouspower levels:POWER LEVEL BEST USESHigh 10 Fish, bacon, vegetables,boiling liquids.Medium 7 Gentle cooking of meat andpoultry; baking casserolesand reheating.Medium 5 Slow cooking and tenderizingsuch as stews and less tendercuts of meat.Low 3 Defrosting without cooking;simmering; delicate sauces.warm 1 Keeping food warm withoutovercooking; softening butter.6