Summer is here and if you are anything like me, you don't want to turn on
your oven or stove unless absolutely necessary. I do most of my cooking in the
microwave during the summer months. It helps keep my home cooler and cuts down
on my cooling bill.
I have found that many people don't like to cook meat in the microwave. I
was once one of those people. Chicken would come out like rubber and I always
worried that ground beef didn't cook thoroughly. I have since found that the
trick is to use the right cooking utensils.
There has also been some hype about how its not safe to use plastic to cook
meat or anything else in the microwave. This is only half true. Certain types
of plastic have chemicals that are activated with the extreme heat of the
microwave and these chemicals can get into your food. Hence, the key to
cooking in your microwave is, once again, to use the correct cooking utensils.
Basically, use containers that are specifically designed for cooking in the
microwave.
My preference in microwave cooking is Tupperware. Their cookware is
specifically designed for the microwave so you don't have to worry about the
chemicals. Their Oval Cooker is designed to retain the moisture of your meat
so that your meat does't come out dry and rubbery. It also has a colander so
you can brown your meat and let the grease drip to the bottom. That makes it
easy to dispose of the grease drippings or use them for gravy. Tupperware also
backs it cooker with a lifetime warranty so if it breaks I can just replace it
with a new one, which seems like a good investment to me.
So the instructions I am providing below apply to the Tupperware Oval
Cooker. If you feel confident using a different type of microwave cooker, of
course, try that, but please make sure you follow the guidelines I stated
above.
Cooking Ground Beef
Place the ground beef with your favorite seasoning in the colander of the
cooker. Cover and cook for 6 minutes per pound. Let sit a few minutes then
remove from the microwave. By using the colander all the grease will drain to
the bottom of the cooker.
Cooking a Whole Chicken
If using the Oval Cooker you will need to use the extender piece for your
average size chicken. Then place the chicken in the cooker. Pour about half a
cup of water on the bottom of the cooker. Sprinkle your chicken with your
favorites seasonings. Placed the cover on the cooker and cook for 6 minutes
per pound. I think you will be surprised at how moist your chicken comes out.
Cooking Cut Up Chicken
After cutting up your chicken use the same instructions for cooking a whole
chicken. Determine by how high the chicken stacks if you will need to use the
extender or not.
Cooking Chicken Pieces
You can use the colander to cook chicken pieces. Cut the chicken into bit
size pieces. I usually use chicken breast cutlets for this. Place the cutup
chicken pieces in the colander. Season with your favorite seasonings. Place
the cover on the cooker and microwave for 6 minutes per pound.
Cooking Pork
I have not yet tried cooking pork in the microwave. Pork is tricky and my
family doesn't eat pork so that is one reason I have never tried cooking it in
the microwave. However, there are plenty of beef and chicken recipes out
there, so I hope the above suggestions will help you keep your kitchen cooler
during the hot summer months.
