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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[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (9 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year 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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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year 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.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Guess what, that plate is not microwave safe.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

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

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

Neither, I always microwave precisely when I mean to.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Stirring helps to distribute the heat better and avoid this dilemma

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year 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.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

First the one, then the other.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year 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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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Put it on level 5 or 6 and microwave it for 5 minutes

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year 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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Why would you ever want to risk it getting too cold vs just waiting for a few seconds?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

both. too long, then i forget about it and it's cold again.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I use sensor reheat. Perfect every time

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

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