What's The Best Microwave Wattage? A Complete Guide

2023-03-20 18:45:37

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What’s The Best Microwave Wattage? A Complete Guide

Microwaves are an essential part of modern life. They allow us to cook food quickly and easily, which saves us so much time. However, microwaves come with their own set of problems. The biggest problem is that they use too much power. Too much power means that you could burn your food. In addition, microwaves aren’t safe for children. Children shouldn’t be around microwaves because they can cause burns and other injuries. This is why we need to know how many watts a microwave uses. Here’s what you need to know.

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Microwaves are great at heating food, but they also heat things up inside our bodies. How much power should I use? Is there a safe amount? What kind of damage might microwaving cause?

Microwave ovens are convenient appliances that allow us to cook without having to spend hours over a hot stovetop or grill. They’re also very useful for reheating leftovers and defrosting frozen foods. The problem is that microwaves aren’t always good for your health. Microwaves emit high levels of radiation that can penetrate deep into the body and affect cells. This can increase cancer risk and other negative side effects.

To ensure safety, follow these guidelines for using your microwave safely.

Microwave Wattage Guide: How Many Watts You Need

Microwaves are great kitchen appliances, but they also come with some risks. If you don’t know how much wattage you should get, you might end up buying too little or too much.

Microwaves cook food using electromagnetic waves. The amount of power needed depends on the size of the oven and the type of food being cooked.

To determine the correct wattage for your microwave, multiply the number of cubic inches (or liters) by 0.5 watts per square inch (w/sq.in). For example, a 2-quart microwave requires 4 w/sq.in. This calculation assumes that the microwavable dish has no holes or other openings.

close up of a woman baking pastry in microwave oven. — Close-up of a woman baking pastry in a microwave oven.

Do Watts Matter in Microwaves?

Microwave ovens are great at cooking food, but they also emit radiation. Is it safe to cook food inside a microwave?

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves that travel through space and penetrate objects. They heat things up because they vibrate at high frequencies. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength. Wavelength determines how much energy is absorbed or reflected back into the object.

It has long been known that microwaves cause cancer in animals. In humans, however, the evidence is less clear. Some studies suggest that microwaving meat increases the risk of developing certain types of cancers. Others say microwaved foods don’t increase cancer risks.

How to determine the best wattage for you?

You should ask the following questions to help determine which wattage is right for you.

How many people am I cooking for?
What types of food will I be cooking in the microwave?
Where will this microwave be placed?
How often will I use this microwave?
How much can I afford to spend on a microwave?

woman s hand puts plastic container with broccoli buckwheat microwave 122732 1179

What types of food will I be cooking in the microwave?

Microwave ovens are great at heating up foods quickly, but they don’t always get them hot enough. What should you look out for when using a microwave?

Microwaves heat food through electromagnetic radiation. This means that microwaves penetrate the food and cause molecules to vibrate rapidly, generating heat. The amount of energy absorbed depends on several variables, such as the size of the food item, its moisture level, and whether or not it has fat.

When preparing food in the microwave, you’ll want to pay attention to these three things: temperature, time, and power. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll ensure that your food gets cooked evenly and safely.

How Many Watts Does My Microwave Need?

Since microwaves come in a range of wattages, it makes sense to choose your next microwave based on what you need. However, it’s important to make sure that your microwave can handle anything you’re likely to throw at it. Getting a microwave that’s strong enough to cook your food without wasting energy is your goal.

600-800 Watts:

The cheapest microwaves on the market tend to be between 600 and 800 watts. These microwaves are able to cook instant meals, heat small foods, and reheat drinks. Most microwavable foods give cooking instructions for 800-watt microwaves, so any lower than that and you’ll spend longer cooking your food.

800-1000 Watts:

This is the higher end of traditional microwaves. Water boils quickly, raw food is cooked all the way through, and popcorn takes no time at all. Most microwaves in this range come with a variety of settings so you don’t accidentally burn your food.

1000-1200 Watts:

Once microwaves break 1000 watts, they’re closer to ovens than traditional microwaves. Restaurant microwaves tend to be in this range and above. With the right preparation techniques, you can even safely cook raw meats in these microwaves. However, it’s a little overpowered for microwave dinners or reheating a drink.

Best Wattage Range for All-Rounder Microwave

Microwaves are a great kitchen appliance. They heat food faster and cook it evenly. If you want to get the most out of your microwave, you should consider buying a model that has a wattage range between 1000 watts and 2000 watts.

Microwaves come in various sizes and shapes. The size determines the amount of space they take up in your kitchen. For example, a 900-watt oven takes up less room than a 1500-watt oven.

A higher wattage means better performance. This is because microwaves operate at high frequencies. Higher frequency waves penetrate deeper into foods, meaning they reach hotter temperatures.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave?

The cost to run a microwave depends on three things:

The wattage of the microwave.
How long the microwave runs?
The cost of electricity in your area.
Lower-wattage microwaves cost less to run per hour. The trade-off is that lower-wattage microwaves cook food less quickly and not thoroughly. In some cases, it might be cheaper to buy a stronger microwave that cooks faster. There’s an equation that you can follow to figure out how much it costs to operate a specific microwave.

When is wattage important?

Wattage is important because it affects how quickly something cooks. For example, if you’re cooking chicken in a microwave oven, you’ll need higher wattage than if you were cooking it on an open flame.

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MICROWAVE WATTAGE CHART

Today, microwave ovens of various wattages are available. In my previous article on the power of a 700-watt microwave, I emphasized that the higher the wattage of a microwave, the faster you can prepare meals.

A lower-wattage microwave oven will take longer to cook or reheat various meals. A dessert that might take 30 to 40 seconds in a 700-watt microwave oven might take 20 or 15 seconds in a 1000-watt microwave oven.

Below is a microwave wattage chart;

MICROWAVE SIZE	MICROWAVE WATTAGE
0.7 Cubic Feet	700 Watts
0.9 Cubic Feet	800 Watts
1.1. Cubic Feet	850 Watts
0.9 Cubic Feet	900 Watts
0.8 Cubic Feet	950 Watts
1.1 Cubic Feet	1000 Watts
1.2 Cubic Feet	1100 Watts
1.2 to 1.3 Cubic Feet	1200 Watts
1.6 to 2.2 Cubic Feet	1250 Watts

Maya Khan

Written by Maya Khan, a food writer and former chef holding a degree in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education. Maya leverages her extensive culinary background, having worked in professional kitchens for years, to inform her expert product reviews. Her articles have been featured on renowned platforms, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, and more. In our quest for thoroughness, recipe testers Emily Reynolds and Michael Anderson dedicated hours in the test kitchen, putting each pizza oven through its paces. To add another layer of culinary wisdom, we consulted former pizzaiolo and food writer Christopher Smith. Christopher is a respected figure in the food industry, with his work gracing the pages of publications like Serious Eats, Thrillist, and The New York Times' Dining section.