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USING YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN
Cooking at different cook powers
For best results, some recipes call for
different cook powers. The lower the cook
power, the slower the cooking. Each Number
pad also stands for a different percentage of
cook power. Many microwave cookbook
recipes tell you by number, percent, or name
which cook power to use.
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: Once cook time has been entered you can also use the COOK POWER pad as a
second Minute Timer by entering “0” for the cook power. The oven will count down the
cooking time you set without cooking.
WHEN TO USE IT
• Quick heating many convenience foods
and foods with high water content, such
as soups and beverages
• Cooking small tender pieces of meat,
ground meat, poultry pieces, fish fillets,
and vegetables
• Heating cream soups
• Heating rice, pasta, or casseroles
• 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
• Cooking requiring special care, such as
cheese and egg dishes, pudding, and
custards
• Finishing cooking casseroles
• Cooking ham, whole poultry, and pot roasts
• Melting chocolate
• Simmering stews
• Heating pastries
• Defrosting foods, such as bread, fish,
meats, poultry, and precooked foods
• Softening butter, cheese, and ice cream
• Keeping food warm
• Taking chill out of fruit
NAME
High
Medium-High
Medium
Medium-Low,
Defrost
Low
COOK POWER
10=100% of full power
9=90% of full power
8=80% of full power
7=70% of full power
6=60% of full power
5=50% of full power
4=40% of full power
3=30% of full power
2=20% of full power
1=10% of full power
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