• IHadTwoCows@lemm.ee
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        10 months ago

        I can take a McDonalds cheeseburger thats been in the fridge for three days and nuke it to like it was just handed over the counter fresh by using 20-30% power for 4 minutes

        • TheMinions@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          I do this with Taco Bell leftovers. They all work outside of the actual tacos (specifically Doritos locos) most everything else comes out deliciously.

          I still prefer to reheat crunchwraps in a skillet though.

    • Patches@sh.itjust.works
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      10 months ago

      This is because all microwaves have terrible UI/UX. If you are supposed to use less than 100% then why do I have to hit 9 buttons every time I want to use less than 100% power? And only 1 button to use 100% power for a variety of different settings.

      Why is it not you hit Cook, then enter Power, then enter time? Like every single other stove in existence

    • lhamil64@programming.dev
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      10 months ago

      I usually just use high power. I should try this sometime, although I don’t tend to have issues with stuff having cold spots. Something I think that helps is stirring stuff half way through and letting it sit for a min after it’s done.

      • Patches@sh.itjust.works
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        10 months ago

        Rotating microwaves do a lot better of a job to avoid hot spots.

        But it won’t do anything to avoid overheating some parts to rubber by overheating or heating too fast.

      • some_designer_dude@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        No, if you’re using high power for anything longer than like 20 seconds to nuke a coffee or something, you’re microwaving wrong.

        Most things are 👌 3:00 @ Power Level 6 (60% on, 40% off)

        • vpklotar@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          Yup, totally agree. Changed my microwaving habits a few years back. 3 minutes at about 600 watts works like a charm for just about everything. Add a minute or so if you’re heating soup or something else with a lot of mass/water.

          I always did 2 minutes at maximum power previously and it was always like the surface of the sun on the outside and cold on the inside.

      • stephen01king@lemmy.zip
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        10 months ago

        microwave “power” changes are only on and off in intervals.

        Not if you use an inverter microwave.

  • saltnotsugar@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    In the kitchen it hums with delight,

    A mischievous microwave, quite a sight.

    With a twist of its dial, a dance begins,

    Uneven warmth, where chaos wins.

  • Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
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    10 months ago

    Among the other suggestions people have made in this thread, I’d like to add that just covering something and allowing the food to steam-heat makes a big difference. For instance I will usually poke a well in the middle of leftovers, put a tiny bit of water in (especially with rice, which dries out) and cover it with a plate. The water boils and heats it much better.

  • neatchee@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    PROTIP: Whenever possible, shape/place the food you’re heating like a donut. ( O )

    Microwaves need to penetrate the food; if it’s a big lump, it’s hard to reach the stuff in the middle. By using a “donut” shape, you are creating more surface area, and spreading out the “middle” so it’s easier for microwaves to reach all the parts of the food equally

  • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
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    10 months ago

    Microwave ovens were a tech ahead of their time. It’s crazy how incredibly little these have evolved though decade after decade.

    • Zoop@beehaw.org
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      10 months ago

      Thank you for sharing this! I remember liking America’s Test Kitchen and I’m commenting in hopes that I remember to watch this later when I’m able to. I’m already a big fan of using different power levels, though, which I’m guessing this is about. I wish more people would give it a shot and learn how to use it (and other little ‘tricks’) well!

    • MicroWave@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Hah! Just like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.

    • Madison420@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      It’s an effect of how they work which is inherently uneven saved depends largely on what it is cooking or rather it’s water content.

      • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        Yes a wave has peaks and valleys

        Rotating reduces this short coming

        And waiting allows the heat to spread

        • Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de
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          10 months ago

          Not just that they have peaks and valleys, some things are simply not heated by microwaves. The ice crystals in frozen food are only heated by-proxy because the tiny amounts of already melted off water will heat up and melt more ice, so there is no benefit in blasting an ice cube at full power for 40 minutes.

    • Excigma@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      We have a Panasonic inverting one that has a flat bed (no turn table) and it doesn’t heat evenly…

    • Cort@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      I thought it was the metal fan in front of the magnetron that scattered and randomized the microwaves so there aren’t any hotspots.

      Inverter microwaves allow you to change the power level without duty cycling

    • Eufalconimorph@discuss.tchncs.de
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      10 months ago

      Not directly, but they improve the low-power modes substantially, and using the low-power modes for longer times is the solution. Inverters aren’t strictly needed, but they do make it better.