Welcome to the world of microwave cooking. Using this video and the booklet which goes with it will quickly help you and your Sharp microwave become perfect partners.
Sharp is the leading brand in microwave ovens in Australia and Sharp wants to help you enjoy the benefits of this brilliant new cooking energy through this video.
Microwave cooking is cleaner and healthier. Anyone can easily prepare delicious, nourishing meals without spending hours in the kitchen cooking or cleaning up afterwards.
This video has six easy lessons so you can learn as you go along. You'll find out how microwave ovens work, learn about the features, the cookware and utensils you'll need, including tips on making do with what you have at home.
We'll look at special techniques and helpful hints. We'll cover some of the questions people often ask about microwave cooking and we'll do lots of cooking.
Here I am in the Sharp test kitchen and I'd like you to meet Janelle Bloom, Sharp's home economist.
Thank you. Hi, let's spend a moment or two talking about the microwaves themselves, what they are and how they work.
Microwaves are high frequency electromagnetic waves similar to those that carry radio and television through the air to your receiver.
Now moisture, and there's moisture in all food, loves microwaves.
The microwaves actually excite the tiny molecules in the moisture until they vibrate at an incredible rate so fast that they create heat right there in the food itself and that heat then cooks the food.
That's why the oven doesn't get hot when you're microwaving. It's quite a blessing in summer.
However, the dish you're cooking in may well get hot thanks to the hot food in it. It depends on the cooking time. So keep an oven glove handy. Thanks Janelle.
When you're cooking, the microwaves are trapped inside the oven by the metal walls and the mesh on the door. They can't penetrate metal, they just bounce off it.
That's why you don't use metal dishes in the microwave oven because the microwaves can't pass through to get to the food.
However, there is the need for aluminum foil as you'll see later on.
Let's look at the advantages of sharp microwave cooking over normal methods.
It's efficient. It eliminates waste of energy because the microwaves only heat the food and not the whole oven.
You use less energy and the cooking time is reduced.
Because microwaves cook faster, you spend less time in the kitchen and more time in leisure activities or with the family.
Now this turkey took half the time it would take in a normal oven and doesn't it look mouth-watering?
It's a very nutritious method of cooking. Well, less water is used. Therefore, important vitamins and minerals are retained in the food.
Well, just look at these carrots. Delicious.
There are also less fats used in microwave cooking.
And because microwave cooking is so quick, your family will become less reliant on fast foods.
Well, it's just as quick and easy to cook nutritious meals and snacks at home.
Natural flavor, color and aroma is retained, which means the food tastes great and less salt is required.
For example, these vegetables.
Microwave cooking means easy cleaning because there's less heat in the oven.
So spills and splatters don't bake onto the walls. You simply wipe out the oven with a damp cloth.
Your sharp microwave is easy to use. Even children will be able to cook simple meals.
And of course, there's less washing up. Well, food can be cooked and served in the same dishes or even on dinner plates.
Take this lamb casserole. In here, we have all the ingredients.
We can then take it from the microwave to the dinner table and there'll be no dirty saucepan.
Isn't that a blessing? Microwave ovens are cleaner and cooler. They reduce heat and steam.
And they defrost too. So frozen foods can be quickly and efficiently defrosted. A real time saver.
And finally, you can reheat without burning or spoiling.
Sharp has a very wide range of microwave ovens to suit everyone's needs and pockets.
There are touch control models like this and rotary control models.
And there are different sizes. Compact, medium and family size.
All have been carefully designed for Australian homes.
And some of Sharp's original features like the carousel turntable are now standards on most microwaves.
Now, let's look at the Sharp microwave you've bought.
The front door opens by pressing a button like this or a similar type of latch on the door.
Inside, you'll find your Sharp carousel turntable, the cookery book,
the instruction manual, your warranty information and special registration card
entitling you to join the Sharp microwave owners club.
So, put the carousel turntable inside the oven like this.
And that's all there is to setting it up.
Next, make a cup of coffee.
Sit down and read through your instruction manual, especially the points to note.
It's well worth a few extra minutes.
Then, take a pen and fill in the front page of your video booklet
so you'll know which features apply to your oven.
As we go through the different lessons on variable power, defrosting, cooking and reheating,
we'll explain the Sharp features and give you an example.
We'll then ask you to stop the video and using the guidelines in the booklet, cook the same foods yourself.
If your oven has touch controls like this one, it will also have a digital display
which will light up when you switch the power on, flashing 4 8s.
To set the clock, just press stop clear pad, press the clock pad,
enter the time of day, 12 o'clock, and touch the clock pad again to lock the time in.
Now, let me explain variable power.
On your regular oven, you'll be used to cooking by temperature and time.
Microwave cooking uses power levels and time.
We call this variable power.
Most Sharp ovens feature five variable power levels,
high, medium high, medium, medium low and low,
covering cooking tasks from defrost to roasting to reheating.
To demonstrate this, I'll slip these neon lights into the oven.
Microwaves are attracted to these lights and will illuminate them so you can see the microwave pattern.
High means the microwaves are operating 100% of the time.
Medium means the microwaves operate 50% of the time, cutting in and out.
You can see full power comes on at first and then cuts out and then continues.
It's just like turning the gas down on the stove.
Now, you may hear a soft thumping sound in your oven.
Don't worry, you'll hear that soft thump thump when your oven is operating on any power setting except high.
It's just the sound of the microwave oven cutting in and out. It's quite normal.
It is possible to cook most foods on high, and for those of you who have purchased a Sharp oven
with only one or two power levels, you will be able to do this.
However, because microwave cooking is so quick,
foods sometimes don't have time to brown or become tender when cooked on a high power level.
A lower power level will extend the cooking time and give a better result.
As a general guide, the high power setting is ideal for vegetables, fruit, chicken, beverages,
bacon, sauces, and melting butter.
Medium high is for reheating leftovers, roasting lamb or pork, cooking casseroles and fish fillets.
Medium is for roasting and simmering, great for soups and stews.
Defrost, or medium low, allows you to defrost and soften cream cheese, butter, honey or ice cream.
Low is used to keep food warm once it's cooked.
Sometimes you will combine different power levels to give the best results.
Once you get used to using these power levels instead of a temperature,
and how long it takes to cook foods in a microwave, you'll be able to cook anything you want.
So you just pop the food into the oven, close the door, set the cooking time,
six minutes in this case, set the power level high, and press start, and the oven starts cooking.
At the end of the time, the oven will beep and switch off.
It's that easy.
Mmm, doesn't that look beautiful?
If your sharp oven has only one or two power levels, high or high and defrost,
you'll still be able to defrost, reheat, and cook most foods.
Simply refer to your operation manual.
A question I'm often asked is, is it safe to open the door while the oven is on?
The answer is yes.
All microwave activity stops when the oven door is opened or the stop pad is touched.
During a cooking program, the first pressure on the button or latch stops all microwave activity.
It actually takes more pressure to open the door.
So microwave cooking is perfectly safe, in fact.
All microwave ovens must conform to strict regulations before they can be sold.
Sharp have developed some exciting features which will automatically calculate cooking time
and power level for many everyday commonly cooked foods.
We will go through these in the next lessons.
The first lesson will explain defrosting, which uses microwave power.
While some food can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state, such as frozen vegetables,
often it's better to defrost the food and then cook it.
And the most common example is meat, because usually we like to season it before cooking.
Before we defrost a leg of lamb, we'd like to show you some important steps
so you'll obtain excellent results.
When freezing minced beef, shape into flat, even sizes like this.
For chicken pieces, steaks and chops, freeze in single flat layers,
and if necessary, interleave with freezer wrap to make it easier to separate the layers.
These steps will ensure even defrosting.
Also, to prevent any edges from starting to cook, shield any thin edges or fatty areas,
such as these, with foil.
You can defrost meats and other foods using medium-low power level.
Your cookbook has a defrosting chart, which lists approximate times for a variety of foods.
This leg of lamb will take 40 minutes on medium-low defrost in this oven.
Pop the meat in the oven, input the time, the power level, and press start.
And the oven will begin defrosting.
It is necessary to stop the oven halfway through.
So you can turn the meat over, like that, and that way you can ensure even defrosting.
And if you're defrosting mince or steaks, then be sure to remove any defrosted parts to prevent overcooking.
For the rotary model, simply select power level, timer, and the oven will begin defrosting.
However, if your oven has easy defrost, it'll be really simple.
Easy defrost will automatically defrost frozen meat using pre-programmed times and variable powers.
Sharp has done a lot of work to make sure your oven is programmed for the best results to suit Australian needs.
Now, pop the meat into the oven.
There we go.
Press easy defrost.
Input the weight, in this case 1.8.
Press start.
And as you can see, the total defrost time is displayed.
The oven will stop approximately halfway through the program and the display will read turn over.
At this stage, you should turn the meat over to ensure even defrosting.
There we go.
If you're defrosting mince or steak, you should remove any defrosted parts to prevent overcooking.
Now, just pop this back in the oven and press start to continue the program.
Now, stop the video and try some defrosting for yourself.
Refer to your booklet for the details.
The changeover to microwave cooking is simple when you understand just a few basic rules.
Firstly, let's look at the utensils.
Alright, well you won't be using saucepans in your oven because metal reflects the microwaves away from the food.
Instead, you'll be cooking and serving in the same dish, preferably a shallow, straight-sided dish.
And there's a large range of cookware available including glass and crockery and microwave-safe plastics such as these.
Oh, and do pick up one of these cooking racks for roasting meats so the fats can drain away from the meat itself.
If you're not sure whether any dish you already have is microwave-safe, place it in your oven along with a cup of water and cook on high for two minutes.
If the dish is hot, it's not suitable for use.
If it's cold, then you can use it for cooking.
Now paper towels, plastic wrap, and plastic cooking bags that are microwave-safe are very worthwhile.
They avoid splatters and they keep the food moist.
But if you're using plastic wrap, remember to leave a tiny vent so the steam can escape.
Now let's have a look at how you arrange food.
Microwave ovens cook from the outside to the center, so we always place the thicker portions of food to the outside
with the smaller, less meaty ends to the inside like these chicken legs.
With vegetables, the softer ones that need less cooking are in the center and the harder ones around the outside.
Once you've tasted vegetables cooked in the microwave, you'll never cook them any other way.
Now don't add too much water. Just wash your vegetables and the water clinging to them is enough.
And you can add salt and herbs and spices after cooking.
Mmm, they smell great. The color's superb and all the nutrients have been retained.
Now try to cut your food into uniform sizes, a little smaller than usual, to ensure quick and even cooking.
Shielding is another important step in both cooking and defrosting of food in a microwave.
Aluminium foil will reflect the microwaves away and stop already cooked food from overcooking and drying out.
So we shield the thinner parts of food like these drumsticks and wings and the corners of square dishes where the food tends to cook first.
Make sure the foil doesn't touch the sides of your oven. This could cause sparking.
Another question often asked is, should I cover the food?
Yes, if you would normally cover it on your ordinary stove or if you want to retain moisture.
And always cover food when reheating. Foods such as vegetables, casseroles and fish can be covered with plastic wrap.
But when roasting a chicken or meat or cooking bacon, we can just cover loosely with a paper towel to prevent splatters.
Oven bags are also terrific in the microwave, but remember to add a tablespoon of flour to prevent the bag from bursting.
Now here we have some corned beef with water and spices. Tie it loosely with a rubber band or string, leaving a small air vent.
Very little effort to get a beautiful result like this.
Another point worth remembering is that all foods continue to cook after they leave the microwave oven because the heat is stored in the food and not in the oven.
The amount of standing time will vary according to the volume and density of the food.
For instance, fish and vegetables don't require any standing time.
A cake will require about 3 to 5 minutes.
And a roast, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
We suggest you cover foods with a lid or aluminium foil to retain heat during standing.
A common misconception about microwave ovens is that meat won't brown.
Well in fact meat will brown in the microwave oven, but not in quite the same way as it does in an ordinary oven.
So let's look at some handy hints to get the best results.
Now with larger cuts of meat, we recommend that you tie it tightly with string so the meat holds its shape and cooks evenly.
Then season with salt and use a roasting rack for delicious results like this in half the time.
For smaller cuts of meat and chicken, basting with soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, paprika or salt like so will give a beautifully browned result.
Well this chicken was basted with a mixture of melted butter and seasoned salt.
Browning dishes also help to brown smaller cuts of meat.
A browning dish requires preheating in the microwave oven for approximately 5 to 8 minutes on high.
Oh nice and hot.
So put the sizzling butter in.
Then foods such as sausages, steaks, chops and hamburgers are placed on the hot dish, seared on both sides and finished in the oven.
In this case we just set 3 minutes, off we go.
These dishes are also great for heating pies and pastries and pizzas. It keeps them nice and crisp.
The texture of microwave cooked cakes is light and they're really delicious.
And you can create a slight crust by lightly greasing the container and lining it with biscuit crumbs or breadcrumbs or coconut.
Otherwise a little icing or frosting works wonders.
Now let's cook that leg of lamb we defrosted earlier.
The meat is lean side up. Just season it with some seasoned salt or herbs.
Pop it in the oven.
And check your booklet for the time and power levels.
For this oven we need 10 minutes on high followed by 25 minutes on medium high.
Then press start and remember to turn over half way through.
Mmm doesn't it look great?
It looks great.
So Janelle's just going to wrap it up in foil now and leave it for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow standing time.
Just take the roasting rack.
Now here we've prepared some potatoes and pumpkin.
So we just add a teaspoon full of Parisian essence to the juices just to make them a little darker and add the vegetables.
Then we pop them into the oven.
Now this will only take about 10 minutes.
It's perfect while your meat's standing.
And while you're serving up just put your green veggies in to cook.
See how easy it is? You can cook a whole roast dinner in your microwave in just one hour.
If you have a rotary control oven program the first sequence.
Turn it to high for 10 minutes in this oven.
And then press start.
When that finishes the bell rings.
Then set the second sequence 25 minutes on medium high.
And remember to turn over half way through.
Some of you may have auto cook.
This automatically cooks roast meats and poultry simply by telling the oven what food you're cooking and the weight.
The preparation is very simple.
You can see the beef and the pork need to be tied tightly with string to ensure even cooking.
While the chicken and the turkey are trust.
Now the turkey's in.
Touch auto cook.
Five for roast turkey.
Input the weight.
This one's six kilos.
And then start.
The oven will automatically compute the microwave power and the cooking time.
And the oven calls you half way through the program and indicates turn over on the display.
Now let's take a break so you can try out all these features on your own microwave.
Let's cook some other foods using variable power and time.
And for those of you who have sensor cook I'll explain how that works.
Now sensor cook will automatically cook a variety of fresh and frozen foods which you'll find listed on the panel.
Inside the oven there's a sensor which detects the vapors rising from the food and determines when the food is cooked.
All you do is tell the oven what food you're cooking.
And when the sensor is operating which is indicated by SC on the display the food must be covered.
And don't open the door.
Once the time is displayed you can open the door to season, shield or turn over if needed.
Let's cook some fresh vegetables.
We've prepared them as I've shown you before.
I'll just cover with some plastic wrap.
To cook these manually will take 7 to 10 minutes on high.
But check the vegetable chart in your cookbook for your oven.
If you have sensor cook press sensor cook, number 1 for fresh vegetables and start.
The oven will automatically calculate the cooking time.
To cook these chicken pieces manually cover with a paper towel.
That will absorb the splatters.
And check your booklet for cooking time and power level.
You can cover with plastic wrap as well.
Let's cover that right over.
Put it in.
Press sensor cook, number 4 for chicken pieces and start.
When the SC disappears and the time comes up like this we can open the door.
Let's take off the plastic wrap.
Season a little more to brown.
Now place it back into the oven and press start.
Now frozen foods are just as easy.
Refer to your booklet for examples.
Now stop the video and try cooking these foods yourself either manually or with sensor cook.
One of the advantages of a microwave oven is reheating.
You should choose the variable power according to the types of food you wish to reheat.
Check the reheating chart in your operation manual for the recommended times and power levels.
The main thing to remember is to cover food when reheating so it won't dry out.
Place reheated in a plate. This will take two minutes on medium high in this oven.
Now set the power level to medium high and the timer to two minutes.
Then press start.
There may be a special sharp reheat feature on your oven which will make it even easier.
Easy reheat feature will reheat a variety of popular foods, for example dinner plates, casseroles, beverages and pies.
All you do is tell the oven what food you're reheating.
The large ovens will also reheat different quantities.
To reheat a dinner plate, press easy reheat, number one for dinner plates and start.
One touch reheat will, as the name explains, reheat foods at the touch of one pad.
The sensor detects vapours rising from the food and determines when the food is reheated.
To reheat a dinner plate, just pop it in the oven and press one touch reheat.
Now let's look at some of the other sharp features.
Instant cook will give you one minute of microwave cooking on high each time you press.
It's great for quick tasks like melting butter or reheating coffee.
Instant cook is also handy for extending cooking times by multiples of one minute.
Simply touch the pad like this.
One, two, three, four.
Another great feature your oven may have is more or less,
which can be used to adjust how well your food is done.
For instance, rare, medium rare or well done.
The automatic cooking features like sensor cook are designed to give a medium result.
What if you prefer?
Thank you for watching.