• Doctor xNo
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    A misconception about microwaves is that they need around 1000W to actually do something, anything lower than 800 makes the waves completely ineffective. When you turn your microwave to 500W, what it actually does is lie to you while microwaving only half of the time instead by cycling on and off. You can usually hear this change in the sound it makes cause it will switch between the 1kW and the ventilator. 🙂

    • DeusHircus@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      1 year ago

      Pretty sure everyone knows that the power setting on the microwave just changes the duty cycle of the magnetron. I’ve never seen a microwave specify wattage when selecting power, usually 1-10 or 1-100, no lies involved. What it does is allows the heat more time to evenly distribute through your food while cooking with the same amount of energy. That super hot bowl and tepid soup won’t have as much of a difference when it takes twice as long to cook. Hot spots don’t get a chance to get as hot. Psychologically it’s easier too because let’s be honest, no one’s waiting 5 minutes after that timer goes off for the heat to settle

      • Doctor xNo
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        My current one did before it broke and my last one also went from 250W to 1000W on the button… I know it’s the same at a friend’s and at work too cause we had the discussion about it there too a few months ago… Maybe it’s a Europe thing? Or maybe I’m just in a random cluster. 🤷‍♂️

          • Doctor xNo
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Not instantly right now, but the one at the friend’s house looks something like this.