this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2023
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Too cold to enjoy or too hot to eat?

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[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.world 33 points 11 months ago (2 children)

With some foods, I have better luck microwaving at half power for twice as long.

[–] sanguine_artichoke@midwest.social 12 points 11 months ago

I do that too so it's not fried on the edges and cold in the middle.

[–] XbSuper@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

This is the correct answer. Full power is fine for liquids, but for solid food, twice the time at half the power. Perfectly heated food.

[–] hrimfaxi_work@midwest.social 29 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I microwave at lower power settings for longer times, and I stop to stir and taste at regular intervals. My microwaved food is usually the temperature I want it to be.

[–] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Using low power on a microwave almost feels like cheating. For anyone unaware, a microwave can only be on or off, so setting a microwave to 50% power really just makes the microwave run for only half of the total runtime. A minute at 50% will be on for 10s, off for ten, etc.

It cooks way better, especially things like stews or other semi-liquidy things that tend to get hot and cold spots.

Edit: looks like my info is old considering my microwave is from 2004, lol. In 2006, LG patented using an inverter to drive the magnetron. The main benefit (according to the patent documentation) is that it's cheaper to produce. A secondary benefit is that you can, in fact, provide lower power to the magnetron. Seems like a handful of producers must be paying LG to use that method, but probably more will start when the patent expires next year.

I haven't seen one in the wild, but they are out there.

[–] Threeme2189@lemm.ee 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That used to be correct. I bought a microwave with an inverter and it can actually heat constantly at different power levels. Curiously, it has a 0 Watt power level as well 🤷🏻‍♂️

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[–] emptiestplace@lemmy.ml 4 points 11 months ago

No, pretty much any microwave by Panasonic actually lowers the power. The difference is dramatic. Look for their "Inverter" logo. I'm not sure about other brands.

[–] UnfairUtan@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Wait, how can that be true?

Most microwaves have a dial to set Wattage. Is that a lie?

[–] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Most microwaves have a dial to set Wattage. Is that a lie?

I've never seen this. The power setting on every microwave in my life has modified duty cycle. 30% power is 3s on, 7s off.

[–] UnfairUtan@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

I've owned 2 microwaves and they had that dial with specific Wattage. That why I was surprised

[–] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've never seen a dial set to wattage, but just a "power level". Either way, though, changing a microwave to only be on half the time will cut the average watts in half.

Here's GE's explanation of it. There are probably some fancy newer models that can do some different things, bit for the most part, it's just on or off. You can even hear it click on and off if you listen to it run.

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[–] maze@infosec.pub 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Wattage as averaged over a second, yes it's a lie. Wattage as averaged over a minute, it might be true. ;)

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[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 3 points 11 months ago
[–] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 24 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Sometimes the plate is burning hot and the food is cold. Best of both worlds.

[–] Kingofthezyx@lemm.ee 18 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Guess what, that plate is not microwave safe.

[–] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

I use ceramic plates. But TIL pores or microscopic cracks could be the reason for hot plates. Or my microwave hates me.

[–] Nanomerce@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

oh is that what that means? literally all of my Tupperware and bowls do that 😂

[–] Ignisnex@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Yea my dude. If your food containers get hot in a microwave, they are not microwave safe. Could melt your plastics or shatter your earthenware. Or just burn the shit out of you too I guess.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

My microwave safe corel plates still get hot where the food is. That could just be normal thermal convection.

[–] Kingofthezyx@lemm.ee 2 points 11 months ago

Yeah, that's normal - ceramic and glass will get hot from the food or steam, just if the plate itself gets hot, it's absorbing microwaves itself.

I know because I used to have a mug that would get hot when microwaved, and one day it exploded.

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Having to wait is correct. That's not stopping too late. That's doing it right.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Of course, EVERYONE thinks that they do it right, but I want to take a moment to explain why morphballganon actually IS right.

A major purpose of heating the food is to kill bacteria, and most bacteria die at a temperature that is too hot to put in your mouth. If it's "just the right temperature to eat" you're gambling with food poisoning.

[–] Threeme2189@lemm.ee 13 points 11 months ago

If you're depending on your microwave to sterilize your leftovers they are too far gone and should be disposed of.

[–] key@lemmy.keychat.org 17 points 11 months ago

Neither, I always microwave precisely when I mean to.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Cook for half the time and stir. One stir is a minimum.

[–] tja@sh.itjust.works 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Stirring helps to distribute the heat better and avoid this dilemma

[–] protist@mander.xyz 12 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

(Depending on the model) if you microwave, for example, on 50% power for 2 minutes, it will alternate 10 sec of cooking and 10 sec of not cooking for 2 minutes, so in the end neither of your scenarios come to fruition

[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

This is for the "cheap" microwaves. They cannot operate the magnetron at partial power, it's all or nothing, so it actually powers off for a period to compensate for that.

Inverters however can operate at partial power levels. This means more consistent cooking power and better efficiency. But inverters are more expensive and most people never change the power level, so the cheaper microwaves don't use them.

[–] sanguine_artichoke@midwest.social 12 points 11 months ago

Neither... I tend to underdo it, check it, then put it back in.

[–] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemm.ee 12 points 11 months ago

Double the time, half the power. It works so well. The difference between 1 minute and 2 doesn't bother me, I'm off doing something else.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I know how my microwave works and so can time it.

At work it's usually outside lava and inside arctic.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

At work double the time and halve the power, it will cook more evenly for you. Even cheap microwaves normally have a power setting.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 months ago

Cooks at 800W anf need to wait 3min.
Personally I don't have a problem to wait longer but I think m co workers would crucify me xD

[–] AtmaJnana@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

First the one, then the other.

[–] NaoPb@eviltoast.org 7 points 11 months ago

I find it disgusting when something is not at the right temp. So I'd rather wait and have it heated thoroughly.

[–] kurcatovium@lemm.ee 6 points 11 months ago

I usually start with too cold and when I put it in for a bit more, I get it lava hot.

[–] Guest_User@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The reheat function on my microwave does a shockingly good job on uncovered foods. Tends to stop a bit early with an error when the food is covered

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[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] protist@mander.xyz 5 points 11 months ago

Hey now, not everyone can afford the Jaguar of microwaves

[–] Bruncvik@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

I got a steam owen, and it's a game changer. The reheat setting is 10 minutes at 120 C, the food comes out tasting as if freshly made, evenly hot, but almost ready to eat. If I wait for 2 minutes after I pull it out (make a coffee for after-lunch dessert), the food is just right.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I wait for it to beep then I burn my mouth until I get to the middle that is still frozen to cool it off.

Is that not how microwaved food is meant to be enjoyed?

[–] TryingToActHuman@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

I intentionally heat my food way beyond the temperature that it should be. I often take a while to eat, and I want my food to stay hot the whole time. I think my (suspected) OCD also plays a part in why I feel it needs to be so hot.

[–] tdawg@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Neither. I put a wet paper towel over the food. The water in the towel gets REALLY hot and helps distribute the heat better

[–] Ignisnex@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Cold, everytime. Eating something cool or at room temp - when that thing was at one time perfectly delicious before being chilled - means the flavour is still delicious, just not the right temp. You are never getting that steak back to medium rare after a 2 minute nuke. Plus you can eat it without the fear of burning your mouth.

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

I leave it in for too long because you're supposed to let it sit and warm the whole thing evenly.

Then I forget about it until it's a little too cold.

[–] mtchristo@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago

Figured it was better to use the unfreeze mode instead. Or use a very low wattage like 250watts for longer. That way food doesn't loose all it moisture.

[–] billbasher@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Too hot and let it cool off.

Also, if you make an empty spot in the middle of the plate it heats more evenly.

[–] Newtra@pawb.social 2 points 11 months ago

I'm impatient. I usually eat it still half frozen. The outside gets warm enough for the cheese to melt, but the core is still usually frozen and covered in ice.

For context, due to histamine intolerance severely limiting my food choices, I've given up and just eat the same frozen meal prepped lunch every day. It'd have lost its flavor by now due to repetition, even if I hadn't gotten bored of waiting for it to fully cook.

[–] altima_neo@lemmy.zip 2 points 11 months ago

I use sensor reheat. Perfect every time

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