Tuesday's Tip - Microwaving

Check it Out!  I love my microwave and don't know what I would do without it!!  I reheat or cook with it pretty much everyday so today's tip is all about Microwaving!
So many foods can be cooked in the microwave including pasta, rice, fish, poultry, vegetables, potatoes and meats.  I always make my meatloaf and bacon in the microwave as well as baked potatoes.  Not only is it faster, they taste no different. 
When making meatloaf for the microwave, just remember to put a layer of tomato sauce on the top, I use ketchup, and to cover with saran wrap, leaving a 2" opening.  And for baked potatoes, just pierce the potato on each side with a fork to allow it to vent and cook for about 5 - 8 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoe.
When cooking bacon in the microwave, using a paper plate and paper towels allows for super easy clean up and the longer you cook it, the crispier it gets.  Just lay out strips on a paper plate, cover with paper towels and cook 5 - 7 minutes depending on the amount of bacon and how crispy you want it.

There are a few main things to remember no matter what your cooking or warming foods,
*always cover your dish -this allows the steam to build inside and that helps to kill any harmful bacteria and helps ensure more even cooking
*always stir and/or rotate your dish midway through to eliminate any cold spots and ensure more even cooking
*arrange poultry and fish so that the thinner ends are in the center with the
*always allow "Standing time" - which is just time after the "cooking" is done. When foods are microwaved they continue to cook while standing and allowing standing time lets the heat spread and level off.
*never use metal in the microwave
*make sure the glass dishes you use are microwaveable glass

And after all that cooking of course your gonna have to clean it and there are some easy ways to get that job done
*if your microwave is super cruddy, heat a bowl of water for 3 - 5 minutes and leave the door closed until the steam dissipates, then after carefully removing the hot water, use a moist cloth to wipe out the inside
*place 1/4 cup of vinegar in 1 cup of water and cook for 3 - 5 minutes to freshen and deodorize your microwave
*if a simple wipedown isn't enough, use a mixture of baking soda and water to scrub the tough spots