microwave confusion

you know how on the pack of food packaging it will give various times dependning on the cateogry and power of the microwave, and it seems the two ratings are always paired.

i.e. you have 750W - category D, 850W - Category E (and there's a 600 and something below those).

the thing is, my microwave says on it "900W - Category D" which is slightly confusing because there are even more watts than a category E microwave, but yeh you get my drift. this confusion only has practical problems in the sense that i don't know how long to put my food on for, because i don't know whether to adjust the cooking time to a D power rating, or even slightly higher than an E one. so although i probably sound like eugene from bb6, help would be much appreciated. thanks.

Reply 1

m:)ckel

14

I'm not too sure, but if I were you, I'd use the '850W - E' timings (i.e. no fiddling about), unless a 900W one is specified.

Reply 2

natcho

10

I'd take mockel's advice. Half the time there aren't even guidelines for catergory E/850W. Just do some cooking experiments (if you can spare the food) and see what works best.

Reply 3

JonnyB

2

Ask your mother?

Reply 4

silence

OP

16

my mum just hashes the buttons in any random way and hopes the food comes out alright, so it would probably be pointless.

Reply 5

RK

TSR Community Staff

22

Just cook it for which ever raking takes the least amount o time (either the letterrating or the wattage rating). Then check to see if it cooked. You can always cook for a little longer if necessary.

Over time you'll get used to it and know exactly how long to cook things for.

Reply 6

Juno

20

If you're just doing ready meal type things it doesn't matter too much. If it's a cake it's more important, but most people use normal ovens for those.

Reply 7

Logan

4

i always put on maximum power and cook it for 5 minutes... every time it works

Reply 8

Debs

8

Maybe if you tried to work out the difference in the times between the 750W and 850W, then half it and take it away from the time for the 850W. I Realise that probably made no sense. If you can experiment and find out what works that's the best bet

Reply 9

RK

TSR Community Staff

22

Juno

If you're just doing ready meal type things it doesn't matter too much. If it's a cake it's more important, but most people use normal ovens for those.

I guess so...but do people really make cakes and stuff in mircrowabes? I've never eard of that before...I though the instructions for cakes were included with the microwave just for the sake of it...

Reply 10

Juno

20

Roger Kirk

I guess so...but do people really make cakes and stuff in mircrowabes? I've never eard of that before...I though the instructions for cakes were included with the microwave just for the sake of it...

Well, Mark does! But his microwave is his oven.

I'm tempted to make jam in the microwave, if that counts.

Reply 11

mangomaz

14

i just use the 800w time minus say 10 seconds or so....
still alive so it cant be working too badly :smile:

microwave confusion

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