Emerson MW8108P Owners Manual - Page 32

CONVENIENCE FOODS Frozen Foods A large variety ol frozen foods, special dishes and dinners are available and the selections continue to increase. The market is changing rapidly, therelore it is impossible lo lisl the loods and lypes available and recommend cooking procedures. ln this book we can only give general directions to assist you. T.V. Dinners To prepare a T.V. dinner, lollow the make/s instructions for use with microwave ovens. To cook a T.V. dinner will require approximately 7 to 9 minutes lor the food to thaw and heat to serving temperature (depending on the types of lood). Allow plastic wrap to remain over the dish lor 2 minutes lo allow heat to equalize. Dinners that contain mashed potatoes have presented a bit ol a problem due to the large compact mass ol this particular food. You may want to remove about half the mashed potatoes after defrosting is slarted, then spread the remaining potatoes over the individual seclion of the tray. Heat the removed mashed potatoes in an individual dish. For foods that should be crisp when cooking is completed, remove the plastic wrap and use the broiler ol a conventional range to crisp the food. lndividual Frozen Foods These may be commercially prepared or frozen at home. Place the container of frozen lood in the oven and heat only until the lood starts to delrost and can be removed easily. Empty contents into a casserole or serving dish and continue to delrost and heat. Do not heat loods in deep foil containers. To crisp and brown special toppings, use the broiler of a conventional range. ll allowed to heat lo serving temperature in a plastic container, the container will warp or melt from the high heat of food. Frozen Foods in Cooking Pouches or Boilable Bags To prepare lhese foods, slit the plaslic bag. An X-type cut will help remove the food at the end of cooking time. Place the cut side down on a serving dish (with no metal trim). Heat foods other lhan vegetables for about 4 minutes. Frozen vegetables require about 10 - 12 minutes of cooking time. Allow the pouch bag to remain over lhe lood for about 2 minutes to allow time for the heat to equalize. Foods prepared in cheese or white sauce should be removed from the pouch and placed in a glass casserole dish and stirred to prevent overcooking ol the sauce around the edges of the dish. Gomplete Meals from Table Leftovers Complete meals lrom leftovers can be prepared in advance. Foods can be frozen and ready for quick heating in the oven at any time. Choose loods suitable lor lreezing and put serving portions on paper, glass or china (no metal trim) plate. Wrap with recommended freezer paper and freeze quickly. When apportioning the servings of food on the plate, use approximately the same amount of each kind ol food for more even heating. Mashed potatoes will heal quicker if spread slightly and hollowed, with a pat of butter in the center. To prevent small pieces of vegetables, corn, peas, etc., from dehydrating during heating, mound well near the center ol lhe plate. BEVERAGES Beverages can be quickly heated or reheated in the microwave oven. lndividual servings can be heated directly in cups or mugs, so you avoid washing sticky pans. Handles ol cups and mugs stay cool, even though the beverage gets hot. Beverages can be quickly reheated. Save leftover colfee in a glass measuring cup or serving cup and refrigerate. Later, reheat it in the microwave oven. The coflee will taste as if it had just been freshly brewed. Remember, however, lo always vigorously stir a beverage before it is reheated. Chocolate squares may be melted in their original paper wrapper, in a glass mixing bowl, in custard cups or glass measuring cups. lf milk is lo be added to melted chocolate squares, add water to the melted chocolate lor easier blending. 31