16
Microwave Cooking Power
Many recipes for microwave cooking specify which cooking
power to use by percent, name, or number. For example,
70%=Medium-High=7.
Use the following chart as a general guide for the suggested
cooking power of specific foods.
MICROWAVE COOKING POWER CHART
Percent/
Name
Number
Use
100%, High
(default
setting)
10
Quick-heating convenience
foods and foods with high
water content, such as soups,
beverages, and most vegetables.
90%
9
Cooking small, tender pieces
of meat, ground meat, poultry
pieces, and fish fillets.
Heating cream soups.
80%
8
Heating rice, pasta, or casseroles.
Cooking and heating foods that
need a cook power lower than
high, for example, whole fish and
meat loaf.
70%, Medium-
High
7
Reheating a single serving
of food.
60%
6
Cooking sensitive foods such as
cheese and egg dishes, pudding,
and custards.
Cooking non-stirrable casseroles,
such as lasagna.
50%, Medium
5
Cooking ham, whole poultry, and
pot roasts.
Simmering stews.
40%
4
Melting chocolate.
Heating bread, rolls, and pastries.
30%, Medium-
Low, Defrost
3
Defrosting bread, fish, meats,
poultry, and precooked foods.
20%
2
Softening butter, cheese,
and ice cream.
10%, Low
1
Taking chill out of fruit.
Doneness
Doneness is a function used for adjusting the cook time. This
feature can be used on Assisted Cooking functions except for
Defrost.
Sensor Cook
A sensor in the microwave oven detects moisture released from
food as it heats and adjusts the cooking time accordingly.
Use microwave-safe dish with loose-fitting lid or cover microwave-
safe dish with plastic wrap and vent.
For best cooking performance:
Before using a Sensor Cook function, make sure power has been
supplied to the microwave oven for at least 2 minutes, the room
temperature is not above 95°F (35°C), and the outside of the
cooking container and the microwave oven cavity are dry. For
optimal performance, wait at least 30 minutes after convection
cooking before sensor cooking.
Convect
Convection cooking uses the convection element and the fan.
Hot air is circulated throughout the oven cavity by the fan. The
constantly moving air surrounds the food to heat the outer portion
quickly.
■
The convect function may be used to cook small amounts of
food on a single rack.
■
Metal cookware and bakeware may be used on Convect
Bake cycles. Use ovenproof, microwave-safe cookware for
Convection Roast cycles.
■
Always use the convection rack placed on the turntable.
■
Always use the turntable On option when convection cooking
with the convection rack (default setting).
■
Do not cover turntable or convection rack with aluminum foil.
■
Do not use light plastic containers, plastic wrap or paper
products.
■
Use convection cooking for items such as breads, cookies,
cakes, pizza, and most meats and fish.
See the “Round Convection Rack” section.
