Microwave ovens can play an important role at mealtime, but special care must be taken when cooking or reheating meat, poultry, fish, and eggs to make sure they are prepared safely. Microwave ovens can cook unevenly and leave “cold spots,” where harmful bacteria can survive. For this reason, it is important to use the following safe microwaving tips to prevent food-borne illness.
Microwave Cooking
1. 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.
2. Large cuts of meat should be cooked on medium power (50%) for longer periods. This allows heat to reach the center without overcooking outer areas.
3. Stir or rotate food midway through the microwaving time to eliminate cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive.
Microwave Defrosting
4. Remove food from packaging before defrosting. Do not use foam trays and plastic wraps because they are not heat stable at high temperatures.
5. 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.
Reheating In The Microwave
6. Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrap to hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating.
7. After reheating foods in the microwave oven, allow standing time. Then, use a clean food thermometer to check that food has reached 165 F.
Proper Containers
8. Only use cookware that is specially manufactured for use in the microwave oven and that is labeled for microwave oven use.
9. Plastic storage containers such as margarine tubs, take- out containers, whipped topping bowls, and other one-time use containers should not be used in microwave ovens. These containers can warp or melt, possibly causing harmful chemicals to migrate into the food.
10. Microwave plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags, parchment paper, and white microwave-safe paper towels should be safe to use. Do not let plastic wrap touch foods during microwaving.
Copyright (c) Terry Nicholls. All Rights Reserved.
Terry Nicholls is the author of the eBook “Food Safety: Protecting Your Family From Food Poisoning”. For more tips like these, and to learn more about his book, visit his website at http://tinyurl.com/3fr2t
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For those who have sat and watched in horror as a Locust Plague came over head in a dark cloud of solid insects thundering across the landscape; they know the devastation that takes place as an entire seasons crop can be gone in a matter of minutes. As temperature increases so to will the balance between insects and their food chain, meaning more locust plagues and other insect swarming events.
What can mankind do to stop these locust plagues? Well I propose we use a hanging zap net or bug zapper from a C-130 Cargo Aircraft. If we take five C-130 aircraft and fly them in a “V” pattern with giant nets with holes in them about 4 inches wide full electrified from portable generators in the back. We can zap the locusts in the swarm as the nets pass by them. We know locust usually fly under 180 feet above the ground, so if we fly at 220 feet above the ground and lower a net 200 feet out the back then it will zap them all.
The net strands will be shaped like airfoils so the net actually flies and aligns its self at about an 80-degree angle. Surely not all bugs will get zapped but most will and thus we can reduce the swarm by 75-90% and eliminate some of the devastation. A few passes and we could perhaps shave off another 5% to 10% of the total and call it a successful mission. Think on this in 2006.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Given that military servants are committing considerable effort and risking their lives while on duty, it is only reasonable that they are adequately compensated. While active, military servants are provided with Servicvemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI). However, upon separation or retirement from the military, servants are capable of converting to Veterans Group Life Insurance.Typically, a veteran who is covered under the SGLI plan has a grace period of 120 days to complete the conversion to VGLI. The actual process is not complicated at all. Whats fascinating about the whole conversion process is that veterans need not provide any documentation regarding their current health status. VGLI can cover up to $400,000 in damages, and plans can be purchased in increments of $10,000. Applying for Veterans Group Life Insurance can be done either by mail or online. Many recommend the online application since approval or rejection notice is almost instant.Determining the appropriate amount of life insurance is not always easy. Several factors, such as age, sex, and health need to be taken into consideration. Fortunately, numerous calculators are available to help one better determine what insurance policy is most suitable. In addition, the military does not limit service members to the VGLI coverage plan. If desirable, veterans can seek a private plan from the Participating Companies Listing. However, in most cases, veterans choose VGLI coverage since it is offered at affordable rates. Generally, rates vary for each particular individual, but as of July 2008 overall premiums have decreased. Given that conversion to VGLI is a simple process, veterans usually have a good idea of what insurance policy they want to purchase after separating from the military.
