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 and power levels.


COOK	POWER		NAME	WHEN TO USE IT
Automatic 100% of			High	l	Quick heating			many	convenience	foods
full power					and foods		with high		water content,	such as
					soups and		beverages
				l Cooking tender cuts of meat, ground meat,
					poultry pieces, fish fillets, and vegetables
9=90%	of full	power		l	Heating	cream soups
8=80%	of full	power		l	Heating	rice,		pasta,	or casseroles
7=70%	of full	power	Medium-High	l	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

l Reheating a single serving of food

6=60%

of full

power

Cooking

requiring

special

care, such

cheese and egg dishes, pudding, and

custards

Finishing

cooking

casseroles

5=50%

of full

power

Medium

*Cooking

ham,

whole poultry,

and

pot

roasts

Melting

chocolate

4=40%

of full

power

Simmering

stews

Heating

pastries

3=30%

of full

power

Medium-Low,

Defrosting

foods,

such as bread,

fish,

Defrost

meats,

poultry,

and precooked

foods

2=20%

of full

power

Softening

butter,

cheese,

and

ice cream

l=lO%

of full

power

Low

Keeping

food

warm

*Taking chill out of fruit

Cooking at different cook powers

COOK

POWER

NAME

WHEN TO USE IT