14
USING YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN
C
OOKING AT DIFFERENT COOK POWERS
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.
NAME
High
Medium-High
Medium
Medium-Low,
Defrost
Low
COOK POWER
100% of full power
(automatic)
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
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 most vegetables
•
Heating cream soups
•
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) or when food is cooking
too fast
•
Reheating a single serving of food
•
Cooking sensitive foods such as cheese and egg
dishes, pudding, and custards
•
Cooking non-stirrable casseroles, such as lasagna
•
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
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.
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.
