Reviewed By: Devyani Kharbanda
Written By: Aquib Nawab
Credits: Haier India
Cooking at full power often leads to uneven cooking, with overdone edges and undercooked centers. For more gradual, even heating, use lower power levels like 50-70% power. The reduced power gives the heat time to distribute throughout the food without overcooking outer portions.
Credits: Haier India
After microwaving, food retains heat and continues cooking even when removed from the appliance. Allowing it to stand for 2-5 minutes gives the residual heat time to evenly finish the cooking process. This prevents overcooking that can occur from standing right in the hot microwave.
Credits: Haier India
Covering foods while microwaving with microwave-safe lids or vented plastic wrap traps steam to help food cook more evenly throughout. It also prevents splatter on the oven walls. Be sure lids or plastic wrap have venting to prevent pressure buildup.
Credits: Canva
Microwaving frozen foods at full power often results in burnt outer portions while centers remain frozen. First defrost frozen foods, then finish cooking them at a lower power level for even heating without overcooking.
Credits: Canva
Raising foods closer to the center of the microwave promotes more even cooking by getting items nearer to the heat source. Use microwave-safe racks or invert a small bowl to lift items above the turntable.
Credits: Canva
When arranging food in a microwave dish, place thicker or denser areas of the food toward the outside of the dish and thinner portions toward the center. Spread the food out evenly in a single layer, avoiding overlap if possible. This allows microwaves to hit all parts of the food evenly.
Credits: Canva
Microwaves cook smaller food amounts quicker. To ensure larger portions cook thoroughly, add some extra time to the recommended cook times. Check for doneness using a food thermometer or toothpick.
Credits: Haier India
Place foods in a ring pattern with meats and dense foods in the center and vegetables and lighter foods around the edges. This accounts for variable hot and cold spots and helps prevent overcooking.
Credits: Haier India
To promote even cooking, foods like chicken breasts, hamburger patties, or steaks should be turned over at least once midway through the microwaving time. Turning over puts the cooked surface on the bottom and exposes the raw side to direct heat. For foods like casseroles or soups, stirring from the outside of the dish toward the center once or twice during cooking can distribute heat evenly.
Credits: Haier India