Microwave Power settings
Why is microwaving at full power for half the time, not the same as microwaving at half-power for twice the time. What's happening that's beneficial when the pulse is off half the time?
Best Answer
A microwave heats pretty unevenly — most of the heating goes into the outmost portion of the food, and even that isn't always even (e.g., bottom probably gets fairly little). That's not unique to a microwave; a pan mainly heats the bottom; an oven...
Mostly, the lower power settings give more time for the heat to even out by inside the food. Depending on the food, you could run at a higher power setting and keep pulling it out to stir, rotate, etc. Often quicker, but much more work.
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Quick Answer about "Microwave Power settings"
- Very low 100W and below.
- Low 100-400W.
- Medium 400-500W.
- Medium high 500-800W.
- High 800-1000W.
What is the best power level for a microwave?
1. Use microwave power levels for the best results- 40% - melting chocolate and heating pastries or bread.
- Defrost, Medium-Low or 30% - defrosting bread, fish, meat, poultry and precooked frozen foods.
- 20% - defrost, softening butter, ice cream and cheese.
- Low or 10% - lightly warming fruits and vegetables.
How do I know the power level of my microwave?
It's usually on a label right on the door or inside it. And if all else fails, it's easy to test wattage on your own. Wattage ranges from 600 to 1,200 and is a pretty good indicator of a microwave's power (the higher the wattage, the more powerful it is).Microwave Power Setting Explained
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Answer 2
far from an expert, but my guess it´s because the food continues cooking while the microwave is off...it is similar to leaving a dish unopened for a while after cooking...
if I had to guestimate, I would use 75% continuous cooking time to approximate a 50% intermittent time
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