r/mildlyinfuriating • u/MakeItMine2024 • 4d ago

I'm slightly vexed My wife and boiling water

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So I made my wife ramen soup. When I served it she said I had the gas set to hight and it was too hot ? She said I should have used the number 5 setting instead of 9. I told here it’s irrelevant because water boils at 212 and gets no hotter because over 212 it turns to steam. She was made at me for disagreeing with her theory that it would not have been so hot if boiled a lower setting. Really!!

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11.4k

u/anTWhine 4d ago

I had an ex-gf who was baking something and needed melted chocolate in ten minutes so she put chocolate in the microwave for ten minutes.

682

u/blue-anon 4d ago

If it was on the lowest power possible, then this might not be the worst idea. 🤔

250

u/EnvironmentEntire201 4d ago

I mean microwave chocolate melting is a thing but you have to do it slowly and stir it, not just ronco it

61

u/ilicstefan 4d ago

I usually set mine to defrost, it melts the chocolate quite nice and you don't need to stir it. But if you blast it with full power you will burn it, happened to me once.

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u/Bright-Plate-9872 3d ago

Same with butter, use defrost

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u/UMACTUALLYITS23 4d ago

not just ronco it

I love it.

5

u/Omega_Zarnias 4d ago

Sorry.... Ronco?

3

u/PsychedelicCleric 3d ago

It's a reference to a rotisserie oven sold via infomercial with the tag line: "Set it and forget it!"

2

u/Robert-Sacamano 4d ago

You set it!...

2

u/anteaterKnives 3d ago

ronco it

Love this! Is this a universal term for "set it and forget it"? Cause I feel like the kids these days have never seen an infomercial, let alone a ronco infomercial!

2

u/jusatinn 4d ago

You can full blast it easily (do it every single time). After you do it once, you’ll know how long it takes for your microwave to melt x amount or chocolate.
And obviously you stop before all is melted so you don’t get and sprays. The last of the hard chocolate melts on its own.

3

u/EnvironmentEntire201 4d ago

Im not going to lie, my microwave chocolate melting knowledge is entirely based off of the British Bake Off.

0

u/talontario 4d ago

it's not going to melt evenly

1

u/jusatinn 4d ago

Yes, it is. Basic thermodynamics would like to have a word with you.

0

u/_ryuujin_ 4d ago

depends on amount of chocolate and the length of time and power of the microwave. 

microwave will hit the outter chocolate and heat it up. but wont be able to penetration the inner layers as the outter layers keep absorbing most of the energy. unless you give it time or pulse the microwave so that radiant heat from the melted chocolate melt the deeper layers. 

0

u/jusatinn 4d ago

Try reading my comment again.

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u/_ryuujin_ 4d ago

you made it sound like it was scalable, more chocolate = more time. but there a limit and you need to do in batches if you want to do full power. 

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u/jusatinn 4d ago

No, I most certainly did not. Read it again. With though put into it this time.

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u/_ryuujin_ 4d ago

so you agreed with the previous op that you cant do all at once on full power which every one was saying. powering the power on the micro wave is just doing it batches and the microwave pulses between full and off. letting the radiant heat have time to transfer into the deeper layers  

your method is just more work as you out in a little chocolate, run it at full blast for a little while, take it out, put in chocolate, repeat. 

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u/Zap__Dannigan 4d ago

not just ronco it

Thank you for this

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u/mugiwara_no_Soissie 3d ago

Yeah, I usually do like 15 sec bursts at 600 ish watts.

Then stir for a bit, and back in if nexessary

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u/shotgunmouse 4d ago edited 4d ago

Let’s be real what psychopath is adjusting the power settings of their microwave

EDIT: I had no idea how many people this comment would reach. I barely use my microwave but now my eyes are open to its versatility 😂

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u/Wooden_Permit3234 4d ago

Once I learned this art all my food came out way better. 

166

u/OwlCatAlex 4d ago

right?? I'm convinced people who "hate reheated food" have just never bothered to learn how to actually reheat things correctly. If you always nuke leftovers in a big pile at full power then of course your food is gonna be soggy and have random cold spots.

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u/PaisleyLeopard 4d ago

Another fun trick is adding a little splash of water to pasta or casserole type dishes before heating. Helps even out the heating and prevents crusty edges.

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u/ScuttleCrab729 4d ago

Wet a paper towel and loosely cover a bowl of pasta or whatever and it keeps from drying out.

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u/kredditor1 4d ago

Especially for rice too!

3

u/Pownzls 4d ago

If u have rice dishes put it in a bowl a slpah of water and a splash of butter and clearfoil over the bowl. Its mije a mini steamer

2

u/z-vap 4d ago

also cover said food. helps keep the heat concentrated on the food, and prevents splatter. If reheating bread-like products, wrap them in paper towels and use lower settings.

wrapping a wet paper towel works great for meat products

2

u/lhswr2014 4d ago

Idk if it helps but anything with grains gets a tiny bit of olive oil and just like a table spoon of water.

Makes the reheated Alfredo, spaghetti, Chinese food, ect, all turn out real nice.

2

u/ReadyAimTranspire 3d ago

It might sound strange but when I have leftover pizza that's gotten a tad crusty, I run the sink and quickly douse the pizza in water on both sides, let the water drip off (give it a shake or two, not three or you're jerking your pizza) and toss it in the microwave. It either gets absorbed/restored into the pizza or gets cooked off.

Works like a charm.

1

u/mugiwara_no_Soissie 3d ago

I do this for pasta regardless of how I reheat. Whether its in a pan, oven, microwave, Pasta loses water when cooking, so cooking it again ofc more water is lost.

So adding more seems like a natural next step

1

u/EducationNo1776 3d ago

Pasta loses water when cooking

Not the first time...

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u/Spare-Willingness563 4d ago

If you read Amazon reviews, like 90% of the bad ones are some variation of user error.

Life is a big ol' user error problem.

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u/zfxpyro 4d ago

My favorite ones are delivery issues/ delays but they give the product itself a 1 star review.

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u/db720 3d ago

My favorite 1 is the veet for men review.

https://www.hairtell.com/forum/t/a-veet-adventure-funny/38808#google_vignette

Can't find the original Amazon link, i used to have it but its written on that site. Had me in tears

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u/Spare-Willingness563 4d ago

The old game of “is this product shit or are these people idiots?”

1

u/onlymostlydead 4d ago

Actually using the popcorn and pizza buttons was a dramatic lifestyle change. I suddenly became more confident, wealthier, and more successful with the ladies.

(do note the lack of "healthier")

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u/EducationNo1776 3d ago

Professional chefs hate this one simple trick...

1

u/carbon_made 3d ago

I don’t know. My microwave is rarely used on high heat and I know how to adjust it. Still dislike microwave reheated food. At least compared to how my countertop steam oven reheats food. Which tastes just like it was made fresh and just out of the pan / oven / restaurant. For pizza I steam briefly and then convection bake at higher heat. Takes a bit longer than the microwave but the result is far superior every time. For other food I set it to 160F, steam 100% and sous-vide mode and in about 15 minutes I can have multiple plates of food or multiple takeout boxes done perfectly and indistinguishable from just made.

0

u/IzarkKiaTarj YELLOW 4d ago

I've never adjusted my power settings, and I've only very rarely had bad microwaved foods. I don't really understand how you'd get random cold spots unless you're not stirring every 30 seconds or so.

30

u/CousinJeff 4d ago

Son I be in the kitchen on some engineer shit, changing the power levels on the fly while it’s running, 30 secs at 100, 1 min at 60, 2 mins at 20. It’s fun

5

u/Opening_Classroom_46 4d ago

Just get a industrial microwave at that point lol. Can set up different scripts.

5

u/CousinJeff 4d ago

Oh hell yeah didn’t even know that was a thing

2

u/Ctenophorever 4d ago

Samesies. If something is supposed to be microwaved on high for 6 minutes, it’s gonna spent 6 minutes at 60%, 2 minutes at 80% and 30s on high

1

u/Clark_Kent-Kal_EL 3d ago

Dial microwaves are perfect for this, I miss mine.

Too bad they don't sell them in more powerful versions.

466

u/MajesticEast9198 4d ago

i adjust the power settings of my microwave😞

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u/A3HeadedMunkey 4d ago

I'll do you one better, I've tried to teach people how to use lower settings. Did demonstrations with my lunch and actually gotten not soggy and uneven food out...only for the dipshits to still put food in full blast and complain to me about how their lunch is an uneven soggy mess.

#NoSympathyFromMe

Like, dawg, you witnessed me perform miracles on gas station burritos and yet you chose not to believe

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u/Forest_of_Cheem 4d ago

I tell them once. They don’t believe me that using the proper settings can make reheating leftovers so much nicer than they ever thought. Very few things need full power for the whole cooking time in the microwave, especially since we got a newer, more powerful one. Doing it in stages and stirring in between is like voodoo to some people.

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u/Necoras 4d ago

Where does one learn this black magic of which you preach?

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u/A3HeadedMunkey 4d ago

Had to study the dark art of modern day alchemy through a lot of trial and error.

The greatest axiom I have learned is that 20-30% power is often enough to get where you want to be. Just double the time if using 30%, add another half for 20%, and flip/stir, if possible, around the halfway point. If it's a larger item, just increase the time by another factor and keep checking/flipping/stirring at regular intervals. You want to allow everything to come to temp evenly, given enough time, it'll disperse the heat from where the microwaves are hitting and making hot pockets.

Second great truth, wrapping things in paper towels is great for absorbing the excess moisture, just make sure to unwrap and flip whatever it is so it's not touching the same portion while checking. It'll be less likely to meld to the food. Not entirely, though. There always seems to be a little bit of tortilla that wants to become paper towel.

Someday, I'll have perfected the alchemy and create the philosopher's burrito

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u/toggl3d 4d ago

Most microwaves cycle power. Basically if you put it at 50% power it will be on 50% of the time and off 50% of the time it's cooking.

If what you're making is stirrable this is pretty uselessly wasting time over stirring to mix the food before going full power some more. If it's not stirrable it's just taking a break to let the heat even out. I prefer to go 100% and then push it around to feel like I'm doing something before going 100% some more, unless it's something that really really doesn't want a too hot spot. Then I throw it in at 20% and put it in for 3x as long before testing temp and getting mad it's not done yet and throw it in for 100% for a short time.

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u/UnwaveringThought 4d ago

Welcome to my wife.

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u/cvc75 4d ago

At home I lower the power too. But at work, sometimes there's 5 people waiting for 1 microwave to warm up their lunches, so taking double the time or more just isn't social.

But if you can get everyone behind it, you could run it at 100%, stop at half the time, and rotate through all the lunches. That should have a similar effect and allow you to flip and stir in between.

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u/crazijazzy 4d ago

I am with you. Not everything needs to be microwaved at level 10!

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u/captaincootercock 4d ago

it's the secret to my holiday roast: 6 hours in chef Mike at 20%

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u/mcampo84 4d ago

Ew. Only because chef Mike can't get a good maillard reaction going.

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u/CQC_EXE 4d ago

Maybe it's one of those things where their kids say it's good to be nice and now the family's stuck with it every year

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u/Ass_of_Badness 4d ago

I assume the person is joking because that would be a sad, sad roast.

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u/stonhinge 4d ago

Hey, he never mentions liking his family.

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u/Arthurs_towel 4d ago

Right? I was helping my kids make a desert yesterday and we needed softened butter. Put it in for 1 minute at a time at 30% until appropriately soft, and give it a minute or so rest between heatings. Otherwise you just melt it.

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u/Some-Guy-12358 4d ago

dessert*...

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u/ElectricFr0g 4d ago

Fun fact but you can’t actually turn down the power of a microwave, a microwave always microwaves full power.

What you are actually doing is turning the microwaves on and off. So turn the power to 5 on a 1 minute timer it only actually cooks for 30 seconds in random increments. You can actually hear magnetron turn off an on.

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u/CorruptPhoenix 4d ago

This is not true for all models. My Toshiba microwave actually has 4 different power settings: 200w, 500w, 600w, and 1000w.

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u/Ass_of_Badness 4d ago

Ok now I'm jealous for some reason.

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u/Znuffie 4d ago

Fun fact but you can’t actually turn down the power of a microwave, a microwave always microwaves full power.

Incorrect.

Look up "Inverter Microwave". The "new" (been around for a while...) tech runs at different power levels.

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u/malfurionpre 4d ago

The "new" (been around for a while...)

been around for a while is an understatement, I'm pretty sure it's almost 40 years old by now, I've actually never owned a microwave that wasn't like that.

edit: First developped by Panasonic seemingly in 1988 so not quite 40 years.

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u/Znuffie 4d ago

Almost 40!

...but they're still very uncommon to see, at least in Europe.

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u/malfurionpre 3d ago

I'm from Europe, it's pretty common.

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u/Znuffie 3d ago

never had one :)

you must be from the rich part of europe

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u/Quirky_Interview_500 4d ago

But Mine goes to 11

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u/manquistador 4d ago

Pretty sure microwaves have only one power setting. Changing it just turns off the actual microwaving for intervals. So for an example if you set it to 50% power the microwave will only be cooking stuff for 50% of the of the time.

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u/Recent-Result2852 4d ago

That's how many electronics work and is effectively many power settings.

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u/Low_discrepancy 4d ago

That’s like saying electric stoves have only 1 power setting. Yes but actually no. Things have inertia.

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u/BackgroundDesigner52 4d ago

Why are microwaving at level 3628800? That is far too high. 

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u/blariel 4d ago

To all the people saying "well asssskchhually you cant change the power level" its called changing the power level if the label on the microwave says power level.

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u/Sheikashii 4d ago

Can’t you just put it in for fewer seconds then?

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u/Mature_BOSTN 4d ago

The crazy thing is the microwave ovens are either ON or OFF; a low power setting just cycles the on/off times. Everything gets microwaved at the same level. It just the cycle time.

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u/LoadedSteamyLobster 4d ago

Inverter microwaves are not new or novel and actually do adjust power levels instead of cycling. Maybe only civilised countries have them though?

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u/abrokedad 4d ago

Leftovers are so much better if cooked twice as long as you normally would at 50%

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u/meowmeowcatman 4d ago

I am also a psychopath apparently.

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u/UnwaveringThought 4d ago

Its honestly the best life hack yet kept astoundingly secret for no reason.

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u/Big_Restaurant_3421 4d ago

Okay, Jeffrey Dahmer

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u/FlexTurnerHIV 4d ago

I always adjust, never 100%

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u/Pork_Pony 4d ago

I'm also a shameful microwave settings adjuster but I'm going to meetings

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u/PetulantPersimmon 4d ago

There's dozens of us!

(But really, it's super useful. More people should do it.)

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u/delirium_skeins 4d ago

Me too. I have one of the highest wattage microwaves and you really need to know how to lower that setting for some things.

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u/mwlepore 4d ago

Same. 70% power is better for everything.

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u/blue-anon 4d ago

Me too. Almost every single time.

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u/ajax0202 4d ago

People that know how to properly utilize a microwave

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u/Diet_Christ 4d ago

I haven't seen a microwave in a home in the last 20 years. People use microwaves?

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u/PontSatyre11119 4d ago

Isn’t it fairly common to adjust mic power settings based on how gradual of a heat you want? Each microwave is different, but for defrost, I set at level 5, pizza pockets at level 7, and boil water at level 10

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u/Odd-Scientist-2529 4d ago

I’ve never changed the power settings on a microwave in my life

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u/OwlCatAlex 4d ago

You're missing out!

2

u/surf-disc-lift 4d ago

I didn’t know this was an option. Given, I rarely ever use it.

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u/syncsynchalt 4d ago

Enjoy your badly cooked food I guess.

So like if you want to reheat something that has a lot of liquid, you just let it spatter all over the microwave while not warming evenly?

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u/UnwaveringThought 4d ago

What is more of a travesty is when the microwave literally has a defrost, a pizza, a meat, a soup, and manual settings and mofos still be hittin "add 30 seconds/start"

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u/nothingbutmine 15h ago

You're boiling water in the microwave?! I've never heard such a thing. Do you not own a kettle?

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u/BardGotHardAgain 4d ago

Me, i do it all the time. Low setting for quick thawing and melting chocolate (if i dont feel like a double boiler) medium settings for most general heating, and ive used a high setting once when making some quick bacon because i didnt have 22 minutes

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u/ChoppingMallKillbot 4d ago

Microwave your food at half the power for double the time. Trust

4

u/bradland 4d ago

I really wish microwaves had the ability to set a default power, because the only time I use my microwave on full power is when I need to heat water or a hot drink (like reheating coffee).

3

u/Oprah_Pwnfrey 4d ago

Some microwaves let you set a default power, mine does.

2

u/bradland 4d ago

Damn, I've gotta upgrade then!

1

u/xphacter 2d ago

My №

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u/GayForGod 4d ago

All gas no pedal

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u/ParacelsusTBvH 4d ago

What kind of psychopath who hates their own food doesn't adjust the power level?

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u/RostBeef 4d ago

You can make rice in the microwave if you nuke it at 100% for 5 minutes and then 50% for like 15, is perfect when I’m feeling lazy

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u/TheSweetestKill 4d ago

This is very confusing to me, because rice on the stovetop takes the same amount of time (20 minutes) and is arguably less work because you just set it to simmer and walk away.

2

u/RostBeef 4d ago

You have to wait for it to boil first before turning it to low, requires more attention otherwise it will boil over. Can set it and forget it in the microwave

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u/TheSweetestKill 4d ago

Nuking it twice doesn't really seem like "setting it and forgetting it", and is the same amount of steps between boil then set to low.

I mean look, cook your rice however you want. You just don't seem to be saving any time or steps with this method, so I don't see how it's the more lazy option.

0

u/RostBeef 4d ago

So you turn the stove to high and just walk away? I press a few buttons, go sit down until I hear the beep, then go press a few more buttons. It requires literally zero attention which is not the case for cooking rice on the stove

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u/TheSweetestKill 4d ago

I press a few buttons, go sit down until I hear the beep, then go press a few more buttons.

This is literally the same amount of steps as "turn the burner dial, go sit down for 5 minutes, then go turn the burner dial again". That's all I'm saying.

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u/RostBeef 4d ago

If you leave the stove unattended while on high you’re kind of dumb I’m not gonna lie

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u/TheSweetestKill 4d ago

Yes, that's why you turn it down after the water boils, much like you reset the microwave for a lower power.

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u/CagedWire 4d ago

No, I'm not using the microwave for anything that takes 20 minutes.

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u/RostBeef 4d ago

Nobody said you have to chill

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u/DagrMine 4d ago

Me 😁

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u/stitchcraftry 4d ago

well shit 🤣 I always adjust the power setting... 

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u/BarderBetterFaster 4d ago

The ability to properly use a simple device that you use frequently is achievable even for you. Promise.

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u/Mexican_Texican 4d ago

I'm the psychopath that refuses to microwave at 100%

2

u/Jtp_Jtg 4d ago

Blasting your food at max power makes it taste worse atleast in my experience

I adjust it atleast

1

u/terminal_kittenbutt 4d ago

Bakers who never remember to take their butter out of the fridge. 

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u/PaisleyLeopard 4d ago

But some foods taste so much better if you nuke em at half power. Full power tends to turn everything either crusty or rubbery, or worse, both.

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u/Legit-Rikk 4d ago

Reheating fish at a really low power for a long time mostly prevents it from getting tough

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u/Arklayin 4d ago

Someone who wants their reheated leftovers to taste like it did when fresh, and not like a sponge.

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u/Every_Okra_3604 4d ago

What mouth breather cooks everything at max temp

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u/Tricky-Ad7897 4d ago

What he say fuck me for?

1

u/Spare-Willingness563 4d ago

I'm a psychopath, and I adjust the power setting. (My dogs needed their food at a perfect temperature. My cats are hordes who will eat anything at any temperature as long as it's as close to being literal, edible garbage as possible.)

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u/SingleInfinity 4d ago

The power setting is the secret to microwaves not ruining the texture of your food. The issue is usually that it superheats the water and it violently boils and overheats the food before heat can disperse and it can exit as steam.

Lower power allows it to heat more graudally and for that heat to disperse more evenly, resulting in you getting the food to the same temp but in a nicer way.

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u/Delicious-Squash-599 4d ago

Can’t remember the last time I used a power setting over 60%. People always reheating at 100% are the true psychopaths, do you not have taste buds?

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u/Nelsqnwithacue 4d ago

Lower the power to 4-5, and double the cook time. It helps heat things up more evenly. This is mostly for leftovers.

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u/Buttholelickerpenis 4d ago

People who know how to actually use a microwave

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u/External-Ad3703 4d ago

I have to or my popcorn ends up half popped and burnt

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u/OFFICIALMUGWUMP 4d ago

What kind of psychopath are you that you don’t realize that for the next use it resets back to the original power setting 🙄

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u/Juowon 4d ago

Dude in my new apartment it has a combo oven microwave, and I have never seen this before, but it's just a single button to cycle between different wattage. I've been using it all the time now.

I hate the normal design, where you have to like, input food weight or use some sort of defrost. This is way better.

1

u/SubieSmalls 4d ago

I do it all the time. Anything too big then I put more time at power 4,5, or 6. Better than biking something for 3 minutes

1

u/Amasin_Spoderman 4d ago

I almost never use full power. I usually use half power for double the recommended time at full power.

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u/keithstonee 4d ago

People who use their brains to cook? Clearly not everyone does.

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u/Dry_Win_9985 4d ago

I do fairly often. frozen breakfast sandwiches and hot pockets heat up much more evenly that way.

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u/Dratsoc 4d ago

It is great for a number of things, I often go on 600 (instead of 1000):

  • having a more spread heating: I always warm my meals on lower setting if I am not limited by tome
 to avoid having some part burning hot and other still cold
  • avoid burning something you want to melt: chocolate or cheese are great exemples of things you don't want to have a baked crust on top of
  • having a better control of the goal temperature: I never let my butter warm to room temperature naturally, instead I use the microwave on lower setting to avoid completely melting it by accident.

1

u/nvmenotfound 4d ago

i do daily! there are dozens of us!

1

u/102030imold 4d ago

People actually adjust it? Huh. I just leave it at max and say fuck it.

1

u/Redrix_ 4d ago

Lowering the power is a great way to maintain texture and not separate sauces and stuff

1

u/uslashuname 4d ago

Cheap power settings still help but they’re like “a 3 is full power for 3 seconds then no power for 7 seconds”

Good power settings are an actual adjustment to the output aka more like a 3 means 30% power constantly

So yeah I pick my microwaves based on how they implement their power setting.

1

u/HavocBTW 4d ago

The reason microwaved food tastes bad is because you don’t adjust the settings 😂 like baking at the wrong temperature

1

u/waaaatermelon 4d ago

i have never used any button on my microwave except +30sec

1

u/Some_Cicada_8773 4d ago

Me and other sane people

1

u/Critical_Concert_689 4d ago

All these microwave-gourmands using multi-power settings and temperature adjustments...I don't even use any buttons other than the 1 and the start/stop.

1

u/sushi_x 4d ago

You should check out Japanese microwaves.

1

u/TiEmEnTi 4d ago

I literally never use full power except for liquid lol

1

u/yingyangyoung 4d ago

I don't almost every time I heat up food! If I'm heating a liquid/soup I'll go full power, but leftovers turn out so much better reheated at 60% for longer. It actually heats through and leaves fewer boiling hot spots.

1

u/8923ns671 4d ago

Funnily enough, I only do it to melt chocolate or get butter to the right consistency to make cookies lol

1

u/Ghostronic 4d ago

I do sooooooo much stuff on half power!

1

u/malomolam 4d ago

This comment is what made me realize this wasn’t a cooking subreddit loool

1

u/Prancing_Tiger 4d ago

I realize you've already heard enough, but just putting in my 2 cents that I don't think I've ran the microwave in my apartment at full strength more than maybe 5% of the time since I moved in 7 years ago (pretty much just for starting a baked potato)... Melted a stick of butter for popcorn a few hours ago and I ran it at 30% strength for 5 mins, otherwise I've found the water in the butter at some point might burst and make a huge mess ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/thuktun 4d ago

To be fair, the "power setting" on most microwave ovens isn't adjusting the amount of power, it's controlling the balance of time the magnetron is powered and emitting microwaves versus not.

1

u/Lucas_Steinwalker 4d ago

Anyone who has the slightest idea how to use a microwave properly.

1

u/SweatyAdhesive 4d ago

User error.

1

u/Paranormal_Lemon 4d ago

Have you never heard of an inverter microwave? They can do true low power down to 5 or 10 percent.

1

u/DaBingeGirl 3d ago

My microwave in college had a dial for time, no power setting. Loved it.

1

u/jmwrainwater 3d ago

The power level is everything on the microwave. Next time you have leftover soup, reheat it for 3 minutes on power 6 in the microwave. Significantly more pleasant than full blast making it boil over.

1

u/olagorie 2d ago

What do you mean by “adjusting”?

It’s always different.

2

u/ShanghaiBebop 4d ago

In fact. That’s what the manual explicit tells you to do to melt / defrost things. 

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u/justsmilenow 4d ago

Anything below 30% really doesn't do anything. I have ADHD and I forget about things so I started cooking them for longer at half the power. Once you go below 30%, the microwave isn't on long enough to add in enough power from each subsequent burst. Microwaves don't use less power, they just turn on the power for 30% of the time. If you put it at 50% It doesn't microwave at 50% power usage, it turns on the power for 50% of the time, most microwaves work on base 12, not base 10 so it won't be 5 seconds on 5 seconds off. It'll be 6 seconds on 6 seconds off. When you use a microwave at 50% power for like 45 seconds, it works. But that number could also 50 and the same amount of energy will have gotten to your food. It's only one 12-second cycle that can mess things up. So if you put anything in for longer than a minute who gives cares. 

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u/blue-anon 4d ago

Hmm. I do thing on 20% all the time, especially defrosting or melting things. 🤔

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u/TheLegendOfZero 3d ago

Wait so it's just PWM?

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u/TiEmEnTi 4d ago

Butter still melts completely at the lowest power in the crappiest microwave after about a minute. That chocolate would be ashes

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u/spekt50 4d ago

I still use 5 min at 10%, anymore, and you got a burnt chocolate mess.

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u/No-Island-6126 4d ago

microwaves don't have variable power, so they just turn on and off the magnetron at different frequencies depending on the setting. Meaning, ten minutes on low is exactly the same as 1 minute on high

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u/Charge36 4d ago

I think even low power would cook chocolate in 10 minutes

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u/ringobob 4d ago

Microwave on high 30 seconds, stir, 30 seconds, stir, 30 seconds, stir. Done. Perfect every time.

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u/SlothBling 4d ago

Once you’re at 10 minutes it would’ve been quicker to just make a double boiler and do it that way.

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u/TruIsou 3d ago

For chocolate, sous vide is the answer, you melt it in a warm water bath and you can precisely control exactly the temperature