MICROWAVE POWER LEVELS
For best results,some recipes call for different cook
powers. The lower the cook power, the slower the
cooking. Each number from 1 to 9 stands for a
different percentage of full cook power.
The following table gives the percentage of cook power
each number pad stands for, and the cook power
name usually used.
It also tells you when to use each cook power.
Follow recipe or food package instructions if available.
COOK POWER NAME WHEN TO USE IT
100% of full power High • Quick heating many convenience foods and
foods with high water content, such as soups and
beverages
• Cooking tender cuts of meat, ground meat
9 = 90% of full power * Heating cream soups
8 = 80% of full power • Heating rice, pasta, or casseroles
7 = 70% of full power Medium-High • Cooking and heating foods that need a
Cook Power lower than high (for example,
whole fish and meat loaf) or when food is
cooking too fast
• Reheating a single serving of food
6 = 60% of full power • Cooking requiring special care, such as cheese
and egg dishes, pudding, and custards
• Finishing cooking casseroles
5 = 50% of full power Medium • Cooking ham, whole poultry, and pot roasts
• Simmering stews
4 = 40% of full power • Melting chocolate
• Heating pastries
3 = 30% of full power Medium-Low, • Manually defrosting foods, such as bread, fish,
Defrost meats, poultry, and precooked foods
2 = 20% of full power • Softening butter, cheese, and ice cream
1 = 10% of full power Low • Keeping food warm
• Taking chill out of fruit
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