Microwave Safety

Microwave Safety

Microwave Safety Tips

Always get permission before you cook and make sure an adult is nearby in case you need help or have a problem.
Have an adult teach you how to program the time and turn the microwave off and on.
Never operate an empty microwave. If you want to practice using it, place a cup of water inside to absorb the microwave energy.
Keep the inside of the microwave clean. Wipe up spills as they occur.
Never operate the microwave if it is damaged in any way. This includes a bent door, broken or loosened hinges and latches, broken door seals, or broken inside surfaces.
Metal cookware and metal utensils are not recommended for microwave use. Do not use aluminum foil or dishes and utensils with a metal trim.
If a dish is covered with plastic wrap, use a sharp knife to make a couple of slits in the top, before lifting the side farthest away from you.
If a recipe requires several minutes of cooking, the food can get very hot, which does make the container hot enough to cause a burn. Always be careful when removing food from the microwave, and use potholders, if necessary.
Be careful when removing the covering from a dish that has been microwaved for several minutes. Let it stand for a few minutes, then carefully lift the side farthest away from you. This keeps the steam from gushing into your face.
Eggs cannot be cooked in the shell. They will explode.
Do not heat oil or fat for deep fat frying.
Potatoes, tomatoes, egg yolks, and other foods with a skin or membrane must be pierced before they are microwaved. This allows the steam to escape and keeps them from exploding.
Popcorn should be cooked only in special microwave poppers carefully following manufacturer's recommendations. Do not pop popcorn in paper bags or glass utencils.

Microwave Dish Test
To test whether a dish can be used in a microwave oven, make the following test: Pour 1/2 cup cold water into a glass measure. Set a measuring cup inside the dish to be tested. Cook 1 minute.
Use: If water is warm and dish remains cool, or if dish is warm yeet can still be picked up with bare hands, the dish can be used.
DO NOT use the dish if water remains cool and dish gets too hot to handle.

Hot Spots
Every microwave oven has an individual pattern. Some areas may be bombarded by more microwaves than others and heat faster. These hot spots generally mean uneven cooking. To minimize the unevenness, find out if your microwave has hot spots. Watch different foods as they cook. If you consistently see one area of food bubbling before the rest, you probably have a hot spot. Avoid placing food in the hot spot when you can. If that's not possible, try changing the shape or the dish, shielding the food, or rearranging the pieces to make sure the food does not stay in the hot spot too long.

Covering for Microwave Cooking
Different kinds of coverings may be used when cooking in a microwave.

Waxed paper allows steam to escape; lay it loosely over the food.
Paper towels allow steam to escape and catch splatters. Some foods are cooked on paper towels to absorb excess moisture; use white paper towels only.
Plastic wrap should be heavy duty and fit snuggly over the dish. It must be vented to allow steam to escape; pierce the top in a few places with a small sharp knife.

Carefully take off coverings. Always remove plastic wrap or a lid away from your face. Steam can cause burns.