Cooking Safely in the Microwave Oven

• follow the microwave manufacturers instructions
• follow instructions on food packaging
• keep the inside of the microwave oven clean

Microwave Oven Cooking

• Arrange food items evenly in a covered dish and add some liquid if needed. Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap; loosen or vent the lid or wrap to let steam escape. The moist heat that is created will help destroy harmful bacteria and ensure uniform cooking. Cooking bags also provide safe, even cooking.
• Do not cook large cuts of meat on high power. Large cuts of meat should be cooked on medium power for longer periods. This allows heat to reach the center without overcooking outer areas.
• Stir or rotate food midway through the microwaving time to eliminate cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive, and for more even cooking.
• When partially cooking food in the microwave oven to finish cooking on the grill or in a conventional oven, it is important to transfer the microwaved food to the other heat source immediately. Never partially cook food and store it for later use.
• Use a food thermometer to verify the food has reached a safe temperature. Place the thermometer in the thickest area of the meat or poultry not near fat or bone and in the innermost part of the thigh of whole poultry. Cooking times may vary because ovens vary in power and efficiency. Check in several places to be sure meat is above 75°C.  Fish should flake with a fork. Always allow standing time, which completes the cooking, before checking the internal temperature with a food thermometer.
• Cooking whole, stuffed poultry in a microwave oven is not recommended. The stuffing might not reach the temperature needed to destroy harmful bacteria.

Microwave Defrosting

• Remove food from packaging before defrosting. Do not use foam trays and plastic wraps because they are not heat stable at high temperatures. Melting or warping may cause harmful chemicals to migrate into food.
• Cook meat, poultry, egg, casseroles, and fish immediately after defrosting in the microwave oven because some areas of the frozen food may begin to cook during the defrosting time. Do not keep partially cooked food to use later.

Reheating in the Microwave Oven

• Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrap to hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating.
• Heat ready-to-eat foods and leftovers until steaming hot.
• After reheating foods in the microwave oven, allow standing time.

Containers 

• Only use cookware that is specially manufactured for use in the microwave oven. Glass, ceramic containers, and all plastics should be labeled for microwave oven use.
• Plastic storage containers such as margarine tubs should not be used in microwave ovens. These containers can warp or melt, possibly causing harmful chemicals to migrate into the food.
•  Never use aluminum foil or metal plates in the microwave oven.