The Christian Science Monitor Oct 6, 5:18 PM EDT
Tips on safer microwave cooking

The uneven nature of microwave cooking can make it a dangerous
way to prepare frozen raw foods. When not all of the food is
heated to a safe temperature, pockets of bacteria can survive
and sicken people.

U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety experts and major
food companies offer several tips for preventing that.

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KNOW YOUR MICROWAVE

Microwave cooking instructions are calibrated to cook food to
a safe temperature based on particular wattages, or power.
Food takes longer to cook safely in a microwave with lower
wattage than one with higher wattage.

But checking your user manual for wattage ratings may not be
enough. A microwave's actual output can differ from whatever
figure the manufacturer states, and it can deteriorate over
time.

To test your microwave, place several ice cubes in water and
stir to make sure the water is ice cold and then remove any
remaining ice and discard. Then measure 1 cup of ice water and
set it in the microwave. Heat on high for 4 minutes, but watch
to see when the water boils. If the water boils in less than 2
minutes, the oven has at least 1,000 watts.

If water boils in 2 1/2 minutes, the microwave produces about
800 watts. If water boils in 3 minutes or longer, it is a low-
wattage oven producing about 700 watts or less.

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CHECK THE TEMPERATURE

Food safety experts recommend that consumers use an instant-
read food thermometer to check the final temperature of
microwaved food. Be sure to check in several places to ensure
there are no cold spots.

If the cooking instructions call for letting the food sit for
a bit after cooking, wait until after this period before
taking the temperature. This time is part of the cooking
process and allows the heat to spread evenly through the food.

Foods that contain raw chicken must be heated to 165 F,
according to federal guidelines.

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Additional information is available online at the following
sites:

- http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Microwave-Ovens-and-Food-
Safety.pdf

- http://www.fightbac.org/images/pdfs/cook.pdf

- http://www.conagrafoods.com/mwcooking

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