Too cold to enjoy or too hot to eat?
I microwave at lower power settings for longer times, and I stop to stir and taste at regular intervals. My microwaved food is usually the temperature I want it to be.
Using low power on a microwave almost feels like cheating. For anyone unaware, a microwave can only be on or off, so setting a microwave to 50% power really just makes the microwave run for only half of the total runtime. A minute at 50% will be on for 10s, off for ten, etc.
It cooks way better, especially things like stews or other semi-liquidy things that tend to get hot and cold spots.
That used to be correct. I bought a microwave with an inverter and it can actually heat constantly at different power levels. Curiously, it has a 0 Watt power level as well 🤷🏻♂️
No, pretty much any microwave by Panasonic actually lowers the power. The difference is dramatic. Look for their “Inverter” logo. I’m not sure about other brands.
Wait, how can that be true?
Most microwaves have a dial to set Wattage. Is that a lie?
Most microwaves have a dial to set Wattage. Is that a lie?
I’ve never seen this. The power setting on every microwave in my life has modified duty cycle. 30% power is 3s on, 7s off.
I’ve never seen a dial set to wattage, but just a “power level”. Either way, though, changing a microwave to only be on half the time will cut the average watts in half.
Here’s GE’s explanation of it. There are probably some fancy newer models that can do some different things, bit for the most part, it’s just on or off. You can even hear it click on and off if you listen to it run.
Wattage as averaged over a second, yes it’s a lie. Wattage as averaged over a minute, it might be true. ;)
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Same.
Having to wait is correct. That’s not stopping too late. That’s doing it right.
Double the time, half the power. It works so well. The difference between 1 minute and 2 doesn’t bother me, I’m off doing something else.
I know how my microwave works and so can time it.
At work it’s usually outside lava and inside arctic.
At work double the time and halve the power, it will cook more evenly for you. Even cheap microwaves normally have a power setting.
Cooks at 800W anf need to wait 3min.
Personally I don’t have a problem to wait longer but I think m co workers would crucify me xD
First the one, then the other.
Neither, I always microwave precisely when I mean to.
Cook for half the time and stir. One stir is a minimum.
Stirring helps to distribute the heat better and avoid this dilemma
I find it disgusting when something is not at the right temp. So I’d rather wait and have it heated thoroughly.
I intentionally heat my food way beyond the temperature that it should be. I often take a while to eat, and I want my food to stay hot the whole time. I think my (suspected) OCD also plays a part in why I feel it needs to be so hot.
(Depending on the model) if you microwave, for example, on 50% power for 2 minutes, it will alternate 10 sec of cooking and 10 sec of not cooking for 2 minutes, so in the end neither of your scenarios come to fruition
This is for the “cheap” microwaves. They cannot operate the magnetron at partial power, it’s all or nothing, so it actually powers off for a period to compensate for that.
Inverters however can operate at partial power levels. This means more consistent cooking power and better efficiency. But inverters are more expensive and most people never change the power level, so the cheaper microwaves don’t use them.
I got a steam owen, and it’s a game changer. The reheat setting is 10 minutes at 120 C, the food comes out tasting as if freshly made, evenly hot, but almost ready to eat. If I wait for 2 minutes after I pull it out (make a coffee for after-lunch dessert), the food is just right.
I wait for it to beep then I burn my mouth until I get to the middle that is still frozen to cool it off.
Is that not how microwaved food is meant to be enjoyed?
Cold, everytime. Eating something cool or at room temp - when that thing was at one time perfectly delicious before being chilled - means the flavour is still delicious, just not the right temp. You are never getting that steak back to medium rare after a 2 minute nuke. Plus you can eat it without the fear of burning your mouth.
Put it on level 5 or 6 and microwave it for 5 minutes
Neither… I tend to underdo it, check it, then put it back in.
