Although a macaroni-and-cheese dish actually takes a little longer to cook in the microwave than it does when you are following the stove-top directions, knowing how to prepare the cheesy-noodle dinner in a microwave comes in handy for those cooking in a college dorm or office break-room setting.

Sirloins don't require as much smoking time as other cuts, so you have more control over the final temperature.

Full-service restaurants prepare rib-eyes by searing them in an oven-safe pan on the stove and finishing them in an oven. This method gives the cook the most control over the final temperature of the steak.

Sausages aren't a particularly healthy food, but the right preparation methods can minimize the amount of damage that they do. These processed meats are typically high in fat and salt, and may be loaded with other fillers and preservatives.

Learn how to cook Mayocoba beans, a type of South American bean, with our simple step-by-step guide. Discover their mild flavor and creamy texture, perfect for soups, stews, and salads.

You have to treat bacon as just another cut of meat if you want to cook it to soft, chewy tenderness. Think of a thick ribeye steak, for example. If you cook it over high heat, you'll crisp the meat and partially melt the fat, leaving it slightly warm and rubbery.

Grilling spare ribs can take up to six hours, says AmazingRibs.com, while baby back ribs may take as long as four hours to grill. To cut down on the grilling time, you can steam ribs up to two days in advance. Pre-steamed ribs can be grilled in approximately 15 minutes, according to Good Housekeeping.

Chicken is replacing beef as America's go-to meat: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes about 82 pounds of chicken per year compared to 54 pounds of beef.

Eggo waffles are a long-time morning favorite. They are easy to make, cook quickly and serve as a quick breakfast on hectic mornings. Whether your toaster isn't working, is being used by another member of your household or you just want to try something different, you can opt to microwave your Eggo waffles.

Making hot dogs for a large group or buffet can be challenging: Whether hot dogs are grilled, broiled, boiled or microwaved, it's tough to keep them warm long enough for everyone to be served without a lot of effort from the cook. One solution is to use a slow cooker.

It's easy and quick making nachos in your oven. The dry heat of your oven melts the cheese while keeping the chips crisp. Using extra-thick tortilla chips in this recipe keeps the chips from breaking when you make the nachos as well as while eating this game time or anytime snack.

Legend has it that Henry VIII was so smitten with a spit-roasted double sirloin of beef that he dubbed it Sir Loin, the Baron of Beef. In England, the large joint of beef that included the loins and both legs acquired the moniker of baron of beef.