1. April 15, 2014
Entry task: What do you use a microwave for? How often do you use it?
Target: Identify the uses and functions of a microwave

2. This week: Today: Microwave story time!
Wednesday: Microwave experiment
Thursday: Microwave Demo for lab on Friday
Friday: Microwave lab!

3. April Newsletter! Leadership Point Opportunity!
Grab one on your way out the door or have your parents

4. How do microwaves work?

5. Say watt? Microwaves are measured in units called watts.
Microwave ovens range in wattage from:
500 to 1,000 watts for compact microwave
1,000 to 1,500 watts for a medium capacity microwave

6. Heat
Microwave start molecules in the food moving, the resulting friction causes heat.
This starts on the outside and moves in
Generally the best choices for foods to use in microwaves are foods that are moist to begin with or can be cooked in moist heat.

7. Cooking Food Foods that are heated most quickly in microwaves include:
Water
Fat
Sugar
Foods high in water, such as vegetables, will cook faster than foods with a lower water content, such as meat.

8. Four Principles These principles help guide microwave cooking:
Food density
Shape and size of food
Starting temperature of food
Amount of food

9. Advantages 1. Warms up leftovers Defrosts meat
3. Softens brown sugar if used immediately (Put 1 cup of water in microwave)

10. Advantages
4. Eliminates extra oils and fats in preparing foods 5. Has made a great impact on today’s lifestyles and cooking habits. 6. Cook foods quickly with higher quality, tastes better, looks better and color enhanced.

11. Acceptable dishes for the microwave
paper
plastic
glass
microwaveable dishes
**Only use plastic containers that are labeled "microwave safe".  Harmful chemicals may leak into food is you use a plastic container that is not made for microwave use.

12. Unacceptable Metal and foil Dishes with gold or silver on it
If used in the microwave it can cause arcing, an electrical spark that can damage the oven or start a fire.

13. Acceptable coverings
Paper towels - to absorb moisture, spatters, and spills
Wax paper - holds in some of the moisture
Plastic wrap - hold in moisture

14. Techniques for microwaving
Stirring - To pull heated part of the food to the center.
Turning over - To microwave all sides.
Standing time - To allow the foods to complete its cooking (place directly on counter).
Covering –
a. Retains nutrients
b. Holds in moisture
c. Speeds up cooking.

15. Arrange food in circular shape - to make cooking even.
Rotating - Makes cooking even.
Pricking - (egg yolks and potatoes) to keep from exploding.
Select foods of the same size - cooks evenly

16. Cooking hints
Foods at refrigerator and freezer temperatures take longer to cook than those at room temperature.
Density affects cooking time (dense foods - potato)
Bony pieces of chicken - put on outside
Microwaved cook by entering the foods by the outside edges.

17. Cooking Tips
Microwave containers include: plastic, paper and glass. Never put metal or foil items in the microwave.
Cover containers with plastic wrap, paper towels, wax paper, or a lid.
When removing covers or plastic wrap, use a potholder and tilt the cover away from you.

18. By covering foods in the microwave, it holds in moisture, helps food cook evenly and prevents food from splattering in the microwave.
When microwaving food, microwaves are attracted to fat, sugar and water molecules.
When cooking in the microwave, the volume of the food (small versus large potatoes); and the quantity or number will increase cooking and standing time.

19. When cooking, round containers will cook more evenly than food in square containers, which tend to burn in the corners.
To help food cook more evenly, stir and rotate foods while cooking; if available a turntable may be used to rotate foods.

20. To prevent burning yourself from microwave cooking, remember:
Standing time at the end of cooking allows for foods to continue to cook when removed.
To prevent burning yourself from microwave cooking, remember:
Foods can create hot containers.
Items can explode (eggs, potatoes). Pierce them with a fork.
Lifting the cover or plastic from the food can cause a burn.
Hot steam escaping can cause a burn.

21. Beware!
Concentrations of fat and sugar become much hotter than the rest of the food creating hot spots-areas of intense heat.

22. Question to Ponder How have microwaves changed our culture?
Think about family time, dinner and meals, health and wellness, etc.
Write your response on the back of your sheet and be ready to discuss.

23. November 14, 2013 Entry task- What unit of energy do microwaves use?
Target- Create informational microwave posters with your kitchen groups 

24. Your task now
Pick one of the following categories with groups of no more than four people
Create a poster illustrating your topic about microwaves
Here are your choices:
Containers and wraps
Foods you can cook
Social and cultural change
Hazards
How it heats
Microwave safety
How to clean a microwave
Microwave features