21
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: Refer to a reliable cookbook for
cooking times.
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
NAME
High
Medium-High
Medium
Medium-Low,
Defrost
Low
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
COOKING WITH MICROWAVES ONLY