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.

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

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.
>

Phxbud - If you have frozen veggies, why are you using water on them in
the microwave?

Put them frozen in a safe bowl, sprinkle a little water over them, and
throw a paper towel, or loose fitting lid over the bowl, and nuke for a
few minutes. for a 12 oz package of veggies, I would guess about 4 ~ 4.5
minutes would be about right. Let them sit for a minute before doing
anything with them.

Bob

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.

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

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.

For peas and corn you don't need to add water at all.
For limas stick to cooking on the stove. They need
water and it always boils over in the mw. Probably
the same with BS but wouldn't know for sure is I never
eat the horrid things. ;-)

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

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