Microwave only has 1000W and 600W options. How to cook things that require other power settings?

Yorkie1

From probably 30 years ago, here's the notes of the time calculator I used (my m'wave was 600W then, and most recipes were 650W or 700W - how time changes!).

Recipe power output x (times) Recipe cooking time / (divided by) Oven power output.

I did calcs for common cooking durations and wattages, and wrote this down on a piece of paper for ongoing reference.

For example:

650W (recipe)        600W (cooking time in my microwave)
30 secs                   33 secs
1 min                      1 min 5 secs
1 m 30 s                 1 m 38 s
2 m                         2 m 10 s

700W            600W
30 secs         35 secs
1 min             1 min 10 secs
1 m 30 s        1 min 45 s
2 m                2 m 20 secs

And so on.

Ectophile

I find on most foods, the microwave instructions give too long a time anyway.  If you use the recommended time, it will either explode all over the inside of the microwave, or come out over-cooked and hotter than molten lava.

So when re-calculating the time for a different microwave power, I always round down.

Of course, there are exceptions where the manufacturer has got it right, and the food then requires a bit longer.

Cloth_of_Gold

Ectophile said:

I find on most foods, the microwave instructions give too long a time anyway.  If you use the recommended time, it will either explode all over the inside of the microwave, or come out over-cooked and hotter than molten lava.

So when re-calculating the time for a different microwave power, I always round down.

Of course, there are exceptions where the manufacturer has got it right, and the food then requires a bit longer.

If I heat a cup or mug of milk 2/3 full, so about 200ml, it gets hot in about 1 minute ir 1 minute 10. If I heat half a tin  of soup, again about 200 ml in a bowl for that time, or even a bit longer, it's only lukewarm. I wonder if it's to do with the greater surface area of the liquid when it's in a bowl, or because soup is more viscous than milk. Or maybe something else.

ThisIsWeird

Cloth_of_Gold said:

Ectophile said:

I find on most foods, the microwave instructions give too long a time anyway.  If you use the recommended time, it will either explode all over the inside of the microwave, or come out over-cooked and hotter than molten lava.

So when re-calculating the time for a different microwave power, I always round down.

Of course, there are exceptions where the manufacturer has got it right, and the food then requires a bit longer.

If I heat a cup or mug of milk 2/3 full, so about 200ml, it gets hot in about 1 minute ir 1 minute 10. If I heat half a tin  of soup, again about 200 ml in a bowl for that time, or even a bit longer, it's only lukewarm. I wonder if it's to do with the greater surface area of the liquid when it's in a bowl, or because soup is more viscous than milk. Or maybe something else.

Interesting.
Perhaps the fat content of milk adds to the heating?
Is it a liquidised soup, or chunky?

Andy_L

Cloth_of_Gold said:

Ectophile said:

I find on most foods, the microwave instructions give too long a time anyway.  If you use the recommended time, it will either explode all over the inside of the microwave, or come out over-cooked and hotter than molten lava.

So when re-calculating the time for a different microwave power, I always round down.

Of course, there are exceptions where the manufacturer has got it right, and the food then requires a bit longer.

If I heat a cup or mug of milk 2/3 full, so about 200ml, it gets hot in about 1 minute ir 1 minute 10. If I heat half a tin  of soup, again about 200 ml in a bowl for that time, or even a bit longer, it's only lukewarm. I wonder if it's to do with the greater surface area of the liquid when it's in a bowl, or because soup is more viscous than milk. Or maybe something else.

What happens if you zap the milk in the bowl or the soup in the mug?

Cloth_of_Gold

ThisIsWeird said:

Cloth_of_Gold said:

Ectophile said:

I find on most foods, the microwave instructions give too long a time anyway.  If you use the recommended time, it will either explode all over the inside of the microwave, or come out over-cooked and hotter than molten lava.

So when re-calculating the time for a different microwave power, I always round down.

Of course, there are exceptions where the manufacturer has got it right, and the food then requires a bit longer.

If I heat a cup or mug of milk 2/3 full, so about 200ml, it gets hot in about 1 minute ir 1 minute 10. If I heat half a tin  of soup, again about 200 ml in a bowl for that time, or even a bit longer, it's only lukewarm. I wonder if it's to do with the greater surface area of the liquid when it's in a bowl, or because soup is more viscous than milk. Or maybe something else.

Interesting.
Perhaps the fat content of milk adds to the heating?
Is it a liquidised soup, or chunky?

Maybe. It's tomato or mushroom, both pretty smooth.

Andy_L said:

Cloth_of_Gold said:

Ectophile said:

I find on most foods, the microwave instructions give too long a time anyway.  If you use the recommended time, it will either explode all over the inside of the microwave, or come out over-cooked and hotter than molten lava.

So when re-calculating the time for a different microwave power, I always round down.

Of course, there are exceptions where the manufacturer has got it right, and the food then requires a bit longer.

If I heat a cup or mug of milk 2/3 full, so about 200ml, it gets hot in about 1 minute ir 1 minute 10. If I heat half a tin  of soup, again about 200 ml in a bowl for that time, or even a bit longer, it's only lukewarm. I wonder if it's to do with the greater surface area of the liquid when it's in a bowl, or because soup is more viscous than milk. Or maybe something else.

What happens if you zap the milk in the bowl or the soup in the mug?

Good idea - I'll try it and report back.