How Should I Cook it? – Let Me Count the Improper Ways

Microwaves, air fryers, and convection ovens can be the home cook’s best friend. They are easy to use, speed up cooking times, and are great for leftovers. What about for cooking raw foods, such as chicken, ground meat, roasts, or prepackaged further processed items such as stuffed entrees, chicken nuggets or wings? These appliances were never intended to replace your oven or stovetop. If you are cooking raw meats stick to your oven, stovetop, or grill. They are designed for even heating and cooking raw foods, no matter what the size or configuration of your pans.

Microwaves

Microwaves do not heat foods evenly and should never be used to cooked raw products such as chicken nuggets or stuffed entrees. They are great for vegetables, potatoes and reheating thoroughly cooked foods. They also come in varying wattages, so cooking instructions may not include the wattage of microwave that you own.

Air Fryers

All air fryers are not manufactured to have the same size and airflow. Some manufacturers are starting to include air fryer instructions, but please be sure you follow the instructions carefully and check the food with a food thermometer prior to ensure that the product is thoroughly cooked.

Convection Ovens

Convection ovens speed up cooking by circulating the heated air in your oven. The circulated air speeds up the cooking time so that the regular oven cooking instructions on the package are no longer are valid. Only use a convection oven if the manufacturer’s packaging has instructions for convection oven use.

Further Processed Foods

Now, let’s talk about prepackaged further processed foods. The most important thing is to read the package’s instructions. This will tell you how to prepare the food safely. If it does not have microwave, air fryer, or convection oven instructions printed on the package, it means that you should not prepare the food in this manner. Food manufacturers spend many hours testing cooking methods so that their cooking instructions ensure that their product is safe to consume. The methods are carefully researched and validated so that the amount of the product, temperature that is used for the method and cooking times reflect exactly what is needed to prepare the food for you to enjoy a safe and quality product.

Another reason to read the package carefully is to find out if the product has been thoroughly cooked or if it is raw, and just looks like it has been precooked. Many breaded products such as corn dogs, chicken wings, breaded shrimp, eggrolls, chicken nuggets, and other products look like they are fully cooked but are not. This is due to the process that the manufacturer must use to keep the breading or batter from falling off the product. The items are partially fried to give them a golden-brown hue to enhance the product’s appearance and to ensure the breading or batter stays intact. This does not mean that they are fully cooked or that it is okay to heat them up in a microwave.

Should you thaw further processed foods prior to cooking? The answer is generally no. Once again, and I can’t emphasize this enough, read the cooking instructions every single time. Just because you prepare an item frequently, it does not mean that the cooking instructions have not changed. Different ingredients, ingredient substitutions or new suppliers could warrant changes in cooking instructions.

No matter what method you use to cook your meal, please make sure that you take the temperature of the product correctly. Many packages show where to take the temperature. Just poking it in from the top does not always mean that you get an accurate temperature reading. Some products need to also be probed into the side, especially chicken entrees, and burgers to ensure that the temperature meets the proper cooking temperature.

If you are not sure that your thermometer is accurate, you may check it to see if it is reading correctly. To test the cold end of the scale, place the temperature probe in a glass of ice with a little water. The thermometer should read 32°F or 0° C. To test the hot end of the scale, place the probe into boiling water. The thermometer should read 212 °F or 100 °C. If the thermometer reads with more than 1 degree warmer or colder, it is time to replace your thermometer.

Using a thermometer is just one way to keep your family safe from food borne illness. Reading the cooking instructions to understand if the product is raw or fully cooked, and that the food is cooked properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions is another. Make sure that everything is clean and hygienic before you start cooking. Don’t use a microwave to cook raw poultry or meat. Cooking a safe meal is about the consumer understanding how to prepare the product, ensuring that it is prepared correctly and using common sense. Foodborne illness is everyone’s responsibility, so do your part to help keep you and your family safe.

As always, wash your hands, be safe and read the instructions!!