Unlike its precooked counterpart, raw bratwurst sausage is just what the name implies -- uncooked meat that has to be heated through sufficiently for safe consumption. No matter what cooking method you choose, it must be heated to a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Traditional chicken cordon bleu calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts to be pounded thin, wrapped around slices of ham and cheese, dipped in seasoned breadcrumbs and whisked eggs, then pan- or deep-fried in oil and butter. The result is far from healthy.

Toaster ovens are smaller than regular ovens, which is among its advantages. In hot weather, a toaster oven will not heat up the kitchen; it doesn't use as much power as a big oven; and it is ideal for dorm rooms, offices and vacation homes.

While you really shouldn't "cook" a raw brat straight from the freezer, if you don't have 25 minutes to let the brats thaw in tap water, you can. However, you will need to break an unwritten bratwurst cooking rule to see if they are done; you'll have to poke them with a meat thermometer and allow juices to seep out.

Marinating chicken is a simple way to tenderize the bird and infuse the meat with a burst of flavor. Using curry in your marinade adds a bit of heat and Indian flair to the chicken.

If you're craving hamburgers and all you've got are some frozen patties and a microwave, don't resign yourself to a trip to a fast-food restaurant. You can whip up a tasty, healthier meal in just a few minutes in your microwave.

Your microwave oven is a versatile kitchen appliance that allows you to cook many foods in a jiffy. You can even steam shrimp in the microwave, but you must take care to cook it properly because a microwave does not cook foods, including shrimp, as evenly as a conventional oven does.

All ovens cook with both convection and radiant heat, but what makes a convection oven different is that it cooks by circulating heated air with a fan. Convection ovens can be used for baking or roasting; roasting vegetables in a convection oven produces crisp, uniformly browned vegetables.

Most instructions for cooking rice call for using a saucepan, but you can just as easily use a skillet, ideal for ensuring evenly cooked rice and adding additional ingredients.

Red-skinned potatoes -- commonly called red potatoes or new potatoes -- are a nutritious addition to a healthy, balanced diet.

Bratwurst is a richly seasoned German sausage prepared from pork or a mixture of pork and veal. Bratwurst comes either raw or precooked. You may prepare precooked bratwurst in the microwave, but fresh bratwurst requires other methods -- parboiling and grilling, for example -- to ensure that it is fully cooked.

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline receives thousands of calls each year regarding the safety of frozen foods, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.