Microwave help!

[anonymousbird]

New house, have a microwave for the first time. I've only used it so far for popcorn and some defrosting (with mixed results, so not very often).

Needed to quickly cook a piece of plain chicken for DDog who is on a special diet from today, so I put one chicken fillet on a plate, in the microwave, full power, one minute. It started to explode before it was cooked - what am I doing wrong?! It's only for the dog, and I cooked it a bit more (with more explosions needed a full wipe down of the inside of the microwave) so the meat is fine to use, but I don't really understand what else I should have done - do you need to cover everything you cook?

Be gentle with me, I really have never "cooked" with a microwave before!

TIA.

[dementedpixie]

Chicken tends to explode when microwaved so I would cover it. You get plastic covers that you can use. Tbh I don't use it to cook food from scratch like that and would probably have cooked it in the oven

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I've never cooked meat in the microwave but if I had to I would put the power down as low as pos and maybe chop it into chunks so you don't need to cook for so long. Maybe you could almost poach it by putting it in a bowl of water and covering? To be honest it would be easier to chuck in a pan on the hob or in the oven or under the grill!

[anonymousbird]

Time was of the essence, hence giving it a go - I will emphasise that it was for the dog and she is on a special diet and needed food with her medicine quite quickly and won't eat much else at the moment!

Last time we do it I suspect!!