Microwave oven cooking and baking basics

Abbreviations

c/C	cup
t/tsp	teaspoon
T/tbsp/Tbs	tablespoon
D/dstsp	dessertspoon
˚C	degrees Celsius
˚F	degrees Fahrenheit
g/gr	gram
kg	kilogram
l/L	litre
lb	pound
ml	millilitre
oz	ounce
fl oz	fluid ounce
pkt	packet

Conversions

Temperature conversions

Fahrenheit Degrees	Celsius Degrees	Gas Mark	Oven Term
200	100	1/8	Very Low
225	110	1/4	Very Low
250	120	1/2	Very Low
275	140	1	Low
300	150	2	Low
325	160	3	Low
350	180	4	Moderate
375	190	5	Moderate
400	200	6	Moderate
425	220	7	High
450	230	8	High
475	240	9	High
500	260	10	Very High

Measuring conversions

Spoons	Millilitres	Cups	Millilitres
1/8 tsp	1ml	1/8 cup	30ml
1/4 tsp	1.25ml	1/4 cup	60ml
1/2 tsp	2.5ml	1/3 cup	80ml
1 tsp	5ml	1/2 cup	125ml
2tsp	10ml	2/3 cup	170ml
3tsp	15ml	3/4 cup	190ml
1D	10ml	1 cup	250ml
1T	15ml	2 cups	500ml
2T	30ml	3 cups	750ml
3T	45ml	4 cups	1 litre
4T	60ml

Cake tin size conversions

Inches	Millimetres	Centimetres
5in	125mm	12.5cm
6in	150mm	15cm
7in	180mm	18cm
8in	200mm	20cm
9in	230mm	23cm
10in	250mm	25cm
11in	280mm	28cm
12in	300mm	30cm

Square tin to round cake tin conversions

Square Tin	Round Tin
13cm or 130mm (5 inch)	15cm or 150mm (6 inch)
12.5cm or 125mm (5inch)	18cm or 180mm (7 inch)
18cm or 180mm (7 inch)	20cm or 200mm (8 inch)
20cm or 200mm (8 inch)	23cm or 230mm (9 inch)
23cm or 230mm (9 inch)	25cm or 250mm (11 inch)
25.5cm or 255mm(10inch)	28cm or 280mm (11 inch)
28cm or 280mm (11inch)	30cm or 300mm (12 inch)

Microwave oven conversions

Microwave recipes generally give terms based on a 700W to a 750W microwave oven.
The times below are given in minutes and seconds using 100% power.

1000W	850W	750W	650W	550W	450W
00:40	00:45	00:50	01:00	01:10	01:25
01:20	01:30	01:45	02:00	02:20	02:55
01:55	02:15	02:35	03:00	03:30	04:20
02:35	03:05	03:30	04:00	04:45	05:45
03:15	03:50	04:20	05:00	05:55	07:15
03:55	04:35	05:10	06:00	07:05	08:40
04:35	05:20	06:05	07:00	08:15	10:05
05:10	06:05	06:55	08:00	09:25	11:35
05:50	06:50	07:50	09:00	10:40	13:00
06:30	07:40	08:40	10:00	11:50	14:25
09:45	11:30	13:00	15:00	17:45	21:40
13:00	15:15	17:20	20:00	23:40	28:55

Ingredient conversions

Flour
1 cup (250ml) = 100g
1 tablespoon (15ml) = 8g

Sugar
1 cup (250ml) = 200g
1 tablespoon (15ml) = 15g

Icing Sugar
1 cup (250ml) = 100g
1 tablespoon (15ml) = 8g

Butter & Margarine
1 cup (250ml) = 200g
1 tablespoon (15ml) = 15g

Crumbs
1 cup (250ml) = 50g
1 tablespoon (15ml) = 4g

Rice
1 cup (250ml) = 210g
1 tablespoon (15ml) = 16g

Substituting ingredients

15ml cornflour / maizena	30ml cake flour
250ml self raising flour	250ml cake flour + 5ml baking powder
5ml cream of tartar	10ml lemon juice or vinegar
230g butter	220ml cooking oil
250ml melted butter	250ml cooking oil
250ml sugar	200ml golden syrup or honey
250ml sour milk	250ml milk + 20ml lemon juice or vinegar
250ml yoghurt	250ml buttermilk or sour cream
15ml fresh herbs	5ml dried herbs
5ml dry mustard powder	15ml prepared mustard

A lot of us only use our microwave ovens for reheating and defrosting. The following points will make using your microwave to it’s full potential much easier.

Enjoy,

Mandy

Microwave oven cooking and baking basics

A good rule of thumb when cooking in the microwave oven is that 6 minutes per ½ kilogram will cook most foods including meat, poultry and fruit and vegetables. Seafood will take less time and reducing the power of your microwave will require longer cooking time.

About 20% of the cooking time takes place after the microwave oven turns off so remember that your food will continue cooking after you’ve removed it.

Arrange food in a dish so that the thicker part is on the outside and the thinner part inside for more even cooking. Using a dish with a cone in the centre will also help distribute heat evenly.

Use shallow oval or round dishes for uniform and quicker distribution of heat as opposed to rectangular or square containers, which cause hot spots resulting in drying or hardening of foods.