20
Defrosting, heating up and cooking with the
microwave
The following tables provide you with numerous options and
settings for the microwave.
The times specified in the tables are only guidelines. They may
vary according to the ovenware used, the quality, temperature
and consistency of the food.
Time ranges are often specified in the tables. Set the shortest
time first and then extend the time if necessary.
It may be that you have different quantities from those specified
in the tables. A rule of thumb can be applied:
Double the amount - almost twice the cooking time,
Half the amount - half the cooking time.
Insert the wire rack at level 1. Place the ovenware in the centre.
The food will then absorb the microwaves from all sides.
Defrosting
Notes
■Place the frozen food in an open container on the wire rack.
■Delicate parts such as the legs and wings of chicken or fatty
outer layers of roasts can be covered with small pieces of
aluminium foil. The foil must not touch the cooking
compartment walls. You can remove the foil half way through
the defrosting time.
■Turn or stir the food once or twice during the defrosting time.
Large pieces of food should be turned several times. When
turning, remove any liquid that has resulted from defrosting.
■Leave defrosted items to stand at room temperature for a
further 10 to 60 minutes so that the temperature can
stabilise. The giblets can be removed from poultry at this
point.
Defrosting, heating up or cooking frozen food
Notes
■Take ready meals out of the packaging. They will heat up
more quickly and evenly in microwaveable ovenware. The
different components of the meal may not require the same
amount of time to heat up .
■Food which lies flat will cook more quickly than food which is
piled high. You should therefore distribute the food so that it
is as flat as possible in the ovenware. Different foodstuffs
should not be placed in layers on top of one another.
■Always cover the food. If you do not have a suitable cover for
your ovenware, use a plate or special microwave foil.
■Stir or turn the food 2 or 3 times during cooking.
■After heating, allow the food to stand for a further 2 to
5 minutes so that it can achieve an even temperature.
■Always use an oven cloth or oven gloves when removing
plates from the oven.
■This will help the food retain its own distinct taste, so it will
require less seasoning.
Defrost Weight Microwave power setting in watts, cook-
ing time in minutes
Notes
Whole pieces of beef, veal or pork
(on the bone or boned)
800 g 180 W, 15 mins + 90 W, 10 15 mins Turn several times
1 kg 180 W, 15 mins + 90 W, 2030 mins
1.5 kg 180 W, 25 mins + 90 W, 25-30 mins
Meat in pieces or slices of beef,
veal or pork
200 g 180 W, 5 mins + 90 W, 4-6 mins Separate any defrosted parts when
turning
500 g 180 W, 8 mins + 90 W, 5-10 mins
800 g 180 W, 10 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins
Minced meat, mixed 200 g 90 W, 10-15 mins Turn several times, remove any
defrosted meat
500 g 180 W, 5 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins
800 g 180 W, 10 mins + 90 W, 15-20 mins
1 kg 180 W, 13 mins + 90 W, 20-25 mins
Poultry or poultry portions 600 g 180 W, 5 mins + 90 W, 13-18 mins Turn during cooking.
1.2 kg 180 W, 10 mins + 90 W, 20-25 mins
Duck 2 kg 180 W, 20 mins + 90 W, 30-40 mins Turn several times
Goose 4.5 kg 180 W, 30 mins + 90 W, 60-80 mins Turn every 20 minutes, remove liq-
uid that escapes during defrosting
Fish fillet, fish steak or slices 400 g 180 W, 5 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins Separate any defrosted parts.
Whole fish 300 g 180 W, 3 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins Turn during cooking.
600 g 180 W, 8 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins
Vegetables, e.g. peas 300 g 180 W, 8-13 mins Stir carefully during defrosting.
600 g 180 W, 10 mins + 90 W, 8-13 mins
Fruit, e.g. raspberries 300 g 180 W, 7-10 mins Stir carefully during defrosting and
separate any defrosted parts.
500 g 180 W, 8 mins + 90 W, 5-10 mins
Butter, defrosting 125 g 90 W, 7-9 mins Remove all packaging.
250 g 180 W, 2 mins + 90 W, 3-5 mins
Loaf of bread 500 g 180 W, 3 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins Turn during cooking.
1 kg 180 W, 3 mins + 90 W, 15-25 mins
Cakes, dry, e.g. sponge cake 500 g 90 W, 10-15 mins Only for cakes without icing, cream
or crème pâtissière, separate the
pieces of cake.
750 g 180 W, 2 mins + 90 W, 10-15 mins
Cakes, moist, e.g. fruit flan,
cheesecake
500 g 180 W, 5 mins + 90 W, 15-20 mins Only for cakes without icing, cream
or crème pâtissière
750 g 180 W, 10 mins + 90 W, 15-20 mins