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submitted 9 months ago by Godnroc@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

Too cold to enjoy or too hot to eat?

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[-] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.world 34 points 9 months ago

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

[-] sanguine_artichoke@midwest.social 12 points 9 months ago

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

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[-] hrimfaxi_work@midwest.social 29 points 9 months ago

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.

[-] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

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.

[-] Threeme2189@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago

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 ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

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[-] emptiestplace@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 months 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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[-] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 3 points 9 months ago
[-] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago

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

[-] Kingofthezyx@lemm.ee 18 points 9 months ago

Guess what, that plate is not microwave safe.

[-] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

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

[-] Nanomerce@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

oh is that what that means? literally all of my Tupperware and bowls do that ๐Ÿ˜‚

[-] Ignisnex@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Yea my dude. If your food containers get hot in a microwave, they are not microwave safe. Could melt your plastics or shatter your earthenware. Or just burn the shit out of you too I guess.

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[-] morphballganon@lemmy.world 18 points 9 months ago

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

[-] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Of course, EVERYONE thinks that they do it right, but I want to take a moment to explain why morphballganon actually IS right.

A major purpose of heating the food is to kill bacteria, and most bacteria die at a temperature that is too hot to put in your mouth. If it's "just the right temperature to eat" you're gambling with food poisoning.

[-] Threeme2189@lemm.ee 13 points 9 months ago

If you're depending on your microwave to sterilize your leftovers they are too far gone and should be disposed of.

[-] key@lemmy.keychat.org 17 points 9 months ago

Neither, I always microwave precisely when I mean to.

[-] sxan@midwest.social 16 points 9 months ago

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

[-] tja@sh.itjust.works 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Stirring helps to distribute the heat better and avoid this dilemma

[-] sanguine_artichoke@midwest.social 12 points 9 months ago

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

[-] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemm.ee 12 points 9 months 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.

[-] protist@mander.xyz 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

(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

[-] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months 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.

[-] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 9 months ago

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

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

[-] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

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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[-] AtmaJnana@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago

First the one, then the other.

[-] NaoPb@eviltoast.org 7 points 9 months ago

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

[-] kurcatovium@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago

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

[-] Guest_User@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

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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[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 6 points 9 months ago

I use Sensor Reheat. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

[-] protist@mander.xyz 5 points 9 months ago

Hey now, not everyone can afford the Jaguar of microwaves

[-] TryingToActHuman@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months 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.

[-] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 5 points 9 months ago

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

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[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I wait for it to beep then I burn my mouth until I get to the middle that is still frozen to cool it off.

Is that not how microwaved food is meant to be enjoyed?

[-] Bruncvik@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months 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.

[-] papalonian@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months 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.

[-] tdawg@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months 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

[-] Ignisnex@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months 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.

[-] mtchristo@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months 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.

[-] billbasher@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months 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.

[-] AnonTwo@kbin.social 2 points 9 months ago

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

[-] HubertManne@kbin.social 2 points 9 months ago

I use the defrost setting and cook it like 12 minutes or so and then let to cool to where I can handle theoutside with my hand.

[-] Newtra@pawb.social 2 points 9 months 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.

[-] ares35@kbin.social 2 points 9 months ago

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

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this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2023
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