All microwave ovens are not created equal. Just as microwave ovens vary in size, shape and color, their cooking power - or wattage - varies from oven to oven.
Wattage affects cooking times, so it helps to know your microwave oven's wattage. However, according to the Campbell Microwave Institute, 88 percent of microwave oven owners don't know their oven's wattage, or they guess incorrectly.What's your watt? Here's a simple water test from the Campbell Microwave Institute to help you determine your oven's wattage in minutes:
- WATTAGE TEST: Fill a glass measure cup with exactly 1 cup of tap water.
- Microwave, uncovered, on high (100 percent power) until water begins to boil. Start by setting the timer at 3 minutes.
- If the water boils in less than 3 minutes, your oven's wattage is 600-700 watts. If the water boils in 3 to 4 minutes, your oven's wattage is 500-600 watts. If the water boils in more than 4 minutes, your oven's wattage is under 500 wats.
Once you have determined the wattage, you can adjust cooking times to achieve more precise results. Many microwave recipes and package directions are developed for 600-700 watt ovens. If your oven is less than 600 watts, you'll need to add extra time to each step of the cooking directions.
Here are more wattage and timing tips: - Wattage output is reduced when the oven competes for electric power such as when air conditioners or other major apploicances are on. Thus, cooking time may need to be increased to compensate for lower wattage output.
- Heating directions are developed using foods at normal storage temperatures. Directions for frozen products are based on foods 5 to 10 degrees F. If ice cream in your freezer stays soft, chances are that all your frozen foods have a higher temperture - and will cook more quickly.
- As a rule, cook only one frozen dinner or entree at at time. If preparing two dinners or entrees, heat the one with a longer cooking time first, then keep it covered while heating the second one.
- Standing time is the final stage of cooking for some products and recipes; a time for heat to spread evenly through the food. If a food has been covered during heating, keep the cover on during standing time.