MICROWAVE OVEN USE
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 | NAME | WHEN TO USE IT |
|
|
|
100% of full power | High | • Quick heating many convenience foods and foods |
(automatic) |
| with high water content, such as soups and |
|
| beverages |
|
|
|
9 = 90% of full power |
| • Cooking small tender pieces of meat, ground meat, |
|
| poultry pieces, and fish fillets and most vegetables |
|
| • Heating cream soups |
|
|
|
8 = 80% of full power | • Heating rice, pasta, or stirrable casseroles | |
|
| • Cooking and heating foods that need a cook power |
|
| lower than high (for example, whole fish and meat loaf) |
7 = 70% of full power |
| • Reheating a single serving of food |
6 = 60% of full power |
| • Cooking sensitive foods such as cheese and egg |
|
| dishes, pudding, and custards |
|
| • Cooking |
|
|
|
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 | • Defrosting foods, such as bread, fish, meats, | |
| Defrost | poultry, and precooked foods |
|
|
|
2 = 20% of full power |
| • Softening butter, cheese, and ice cream |
1 = 10% of full power | Low | • Taking chill out of fruit |
|
|
|
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.
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