Even in Italy, the microwave is experiencing a revival, after years in which we’ve seen it relegated to the nobody of household appliances – dusted off only to defrost bread at the last minute, melt chocolate or boil milk for hot drinks. The latest generation equipment are in fact very powerful tools, indispensable in every professional kitchen. And cooking with the microwave gives you the opportunity to prepare entire dinners, speed up the process, and get results that would be impractical by other means.
The health worries have also been archived (it has been fully demonstrated that the microwave does not cause any harm), and for many families the microwave has now become almost indispensible, first of all for the speed with which it can make dishes, and then for the versatility of cooking that it affords.
Created in the late 1950s in the United States, the microwave oven has developed an innovative technology that allows you to make meat, fish, vegetables and bread with a truly incredible result, maintaining flavors and textures in a way that no other method of cooking can.
How does a microwave work?
Cooking in a microwave takes place through radiation. The heat is transferred to the food by means of electromagnetic waves. These cause the molecules to oscillate, which in turn creates friction. This produces heat that warms the food. Cooking happens rapidly and deeply, canceling out the differences between the surface and the inside of the food. Some brands on the market have produced a grill tray, inserted into the oven, which is pre-heated before food is put on top, to create a browning effect.
More attention to some ingredients
In foods with a flour base, such as cake or bread, liquids can be absorbed very quickly, giving the mixture a sticky feel. This can be remedied by preparing the mixture with more water. For foods with an egg base, however, it’s a good idea to use a low power, to avoid everything splitting.
The right power
In the microwave, the cooking power can be adjusted, as not all ingredients are cooked in the same way. For a perfect result, you can cook meat, fish and vegetables at a high power. The same applies for broths or soups. For egg-based food though, it’s recommended that you use the microwave at 40%. To defrost any food, you should set the microwave to 30%.
It’s time to cook
Once you have cleaned and cut up your food, arrange it in a suitable tray and season it with salt, pepper, oil and a little water. Cover the container with the appropriate plastic wrap or with a ceramic dish, set the time and power and begin cooking. For a better result, stir every once in a while. Once it’s ready, wait a few minutes before you remove the food from the microwave, to allow the temperature to even itself out.
Approximate cooking table:
Small rolls: 15 minutes
Tomato sauce: 10 minutes
Blueberry tart: 18 minutes
Fish fillets: 5 minutes
Roasted potatoes: 5 minutes
Rabbit or chicken pieces: 12 minutes
Tea biscuits: 12 minutes
Creamed asparagus: 15 minutes
Lasagna: 20 minutes
Braised beef: 40 minutes