Microwaving
 

I am a retired bachelor and rely heavily on a microwave oven. Just bot
a new 900-W one to replace my dead 600-W oven.

Am having a little problem adjusting to the new oven and thought some of
you could make some helpful suggestions.

I buy a lot of frozen peas, lima beans, corn, brussell sprouts and cook
only enough for one serving. For such small amounts, how much time and
a what power should I use. OR should I just do the old-fashioned thing
and start with minimums and keep going until I get the desired results??

Biggest problem has been: cook on high power and water boils
over......cook on low power and it takes forever.

If I can control the boiling over, is it better to cook short times. Or
is it more nutritious to cook veggies for a longer time at a lower
power.

Microwaving
 

On Jul 29, 11:12*am, wrote:
> [snip]
> I buy a lot of frozen peas, lima beans, corn, brussell sprouts and cook
> only enough for one serving. *For such small amounts, how much time and
> a what power should I use. *OR should I just do the old-fashioned thing
> and start with minimums and keep going until I get the desired results??
>
Nothing wrong with that, as only you know how you like them cooked.

> Biggest problem has been: cook on high power and water boils
> over......cook on low power and it takes forever.

The boiling over may be superheating, where the liquid seems calm
until you disturb it, then it goes crazy. Google/bing superheating.
Low power setting shouldn't be necessary once you figure out timings.

> If I can control the boiling over, is it better to cook short times. *Or
> is it more nutritious to cook veggies for a longer time at a lower
> power.

I doubt that there's a change in nutrition. High power is faster, low
power is slower and therefore easier to control. That's the only
difference I know of. -aem

Microwaving
 

Microwaving
 

wrote:
> I am a retired bachelor and rely heavily on a microwave oven. Just bot
> a new 900-W one to replace my dead 600-W oven.
>
> Am having a little problem adjusting to the new oven and thought some of
> you could make some helpful suggestions.
>
> I buy a lot of frozen peas, lima beans, corn, brussell sprouts and cook
> only enough for one serving. For such small amounts, how much time and
> a what power should I use. OR should I just do the old-fashioned thing
> and start with minimums and keep going until I get the desired results??
>
> Biggest problem has been: cook on high power and water boils
> over......cook on low power and it takes forever.
>
> If I can control the boiling over, is it better to cook short times. Or
> is it more nutritious to cook veggies for a longer time at a lower
> power.
>
Here is a site that you may find useful:

http://www.microwavecookingforone.co...Directory.html

For one thing, it contains conversions charts for different wattages.

--
Jean B.

Microwaving
 

aem wrote:
>
> The boiling over may be superheating, where the liquid seems calm
> until you disturb it, then it goes crazy. Google/bing superheating.
> Low power setting shouldn't be necessary once you figure out timings.

Putting a small clean rock in the liquid may
prevent superheating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_chip

Microwaving
 

Microwaving
 

On Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:06:35 -0400, Jean B. wrote:

> wrote:
>> I am a retired bachelor and rely heavily on a microwave oven. Just bot
>> a new 900-W one to replace my dead 600-W oven.
>>
>> Am having a little problem adjusting to the new oven and thought some of
>> you could make some helpful suggestions.
>>
>> I buy a lot of frozen peas, lima beans, corn, brussell sprouts and cook
>> only enough for one serving. For such small amounts, how much time and
>> a what power should I use. OR should I just do the old-fashioned thing
>> and start with minimums and keep going until I get the desired results??
>>
>> Biggest problem has been: cook on high power and water boils
>> over......cook on low power and it takes forever.
>>
>> If I can control the boiling over, is it better to cook short times. Or
>> is it more nutritious to cook veggies for a longer time at a lower
>> power.
>>
> Here is a site that you may find useful:
>
> http://www.microwavecookingforone.co...Directory.html
>
> For one thing, it contains conversions charts for different wattages.

a few folks here have spoken well of this book:

<http://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Gourmet-Barbara-Kafka/dp/0688157920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248967113&sr=8-1>

your pal,
blake