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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 10 to 0 stands for a
different percentage of full cook power.
The following chart 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.
NOTE: Refer to a reliable cookbook for cooking times
based on the 950 Watt cook power of your microwave
oven.
COOK POWER LEVEL 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, Defrost • Manually defrosting foods, such as bread, fish, 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
0 = 0% of full power None • Standing time in oven
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