January 2020 - Page 2 of 2 - Power To The Kitchen

How Many Times Can You Safely Reheat Food In The Microwave?

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How many times can you safely reheat food in the microwave?

The handy convenience of your microwave can make it tempting to reheat your food whenever you need to.

This is especially the case with leftovers. Leftovers are great way to reduce waste in your home and save money.

Rather than having to spend more money and time preparing a new meal, you get to put yesterday’s work and money to good use today. And with the flavours having had time to settle – it might taste even better!

How many times can you safely reheat food in the microwave?

But how many times can you safely reheat food in the microwave? It is recommended that you do not reheat food in the microwave more than once.

The more times you cool and reheat food, the higher the risk of food poisoning. Treating your food properly is the best way to avoid food poisoning. Almost half of food poisoning cases come from what we consume at home so this is an especially important point to remember.

When it comes to reheating your food, make sure it is warmed up to 70°C for at least 2 minutes.

It should be hot through and through. Sometimes it may work best of you stop the microwave part way through and stir/turnover whatever it is you are reheating to make sure it is heated evenly. This is especially the case with things like soup.

When defrosting your leftovers make sure they are completely defrosted either in the fridge or microwave.

It is also recommended that you do not refreeze leftovers. If you have cooked a lot and would like to freeze it, you are better off splitting it into smaller portions. Then you can take out what you need rather than having to defrost all of it and then trying to refreeze the rest.

Best Microwaves With Defrost

Looking for a microwave with defrost? Take a look at our suggestions for the best microwaves with defrost capability below.

Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B – Best Flatbed Microwave With Defrost

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The Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B is an awesome choice if you are looking for a sleek solo flatbed microwave that combines excellent features with style as well as a great defrost function.

The black mirror finish to the front door looks very polished and will have you purring in delight every time you look at it.

With 800 Watts of cooking power, your food gets heated and cooked quickly. The RHFM2363B comes with 5 power levels giving you plenty of flexibility when selecting the appropriate power level for cooking and heating your food. One of these is an excellent defrost function which comes in handy if you store your food in the freezer regularly and ever forget to take it out in good time.

Read the full review of the Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B.

Key Benefits

Excellent defrost function	?
800 Watts of power for quick and convenient cooking with 5 Power Levels	?
Flatbed technology for increased cooking capacity and easy cleaning	?
23 Litre Capacity	?
Diamond cavity structure provides effective microwave distribution for better cooking	?
Dimensions: 51 x 43 x 31 cm	?

Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ – Best Combination Microwave With Defrost

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The brilliant Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ is our pick for the best combination microwave with defrost functionality. It is sleek and precise from the exterior finish to the way it defrosts and cooks your food.

The NN-DF386BBPQ is a 3-in-1 combination microwave giving you a microwave – oven – grill all in one appliance. This offers great flexibility when deciding the best way to cook and heat up your foods.

Key Benefits

Brilliant defrost function	?
3 Essential appliances in 1 – microwave, grill & oven	?
Flatbed technology for increased cooking capacity and easy cleaning	?
Large capacity (23 Litre), perfect for large dishes	?
User friendly controls for no hassle use	?
Dimensions: 39.6 x 48.3 x 31 cm	?

Read the full review of the excellent Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ here.

How many times can you safely reheat food in the microwave?- Leave us your thoughts.

Slow Cooked Oven Roasted Half Leg Of Lamb

There’s nothing as satisfying to the soul as a well roasted cut of lamb. We love this slow cooked oven roasted leg of lamb as it combines patient and rewarding slow cooking with a beautiful and succulent meaty finish.

This is definitely a cooking labour of love but it is well worth the rewards when you get the tender and juicy lamb onto your plate.

If you are pressed for time you can always slow cook the lamb on one day and then roast it another but be sure to store it suitably and safely.

Ingredients

Half a leg of lamb
1 Tablespoon black ground pepper
10g fresh ginger
2 Tablespoons of soy sauce
2 Tablespoons of all purpose seasoning
1 Tablespoon Oregano
1 Fresh Lemon

Method

1 – Place lamb into slow cooker pot (we are big fans of the Crockpot range of slow cookers – mine’s been going 5 years strong). If you’re half leg doesn’t fit, you can try cut it in half

2 – Add half a cup of water into the pot.

3 – Add the pepper, ginger, all purpose seasoning, soy sauce, and oregano.

4 – Squeeze the fresh lemon over the top of the lamb and ingredients.

5 – Mix up all the ingredients with the lamb. I like to put the lid on the slow cooker and lift the cooking pot out of the cooker and shake the ingredients together. You may prefer mixing the ingredients by hand.

6 – Set the slow cooker for 4 hours and get it going.

7 – As the slow cooker is nearing completion, we pre-heat your oven to 180°C.

8 – Place foil into a suitably sized oven pan and position the lamb in the centre. Pour the liquid left over in the slow cooker over the top of the lamb.

9 – Roast in the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes** turning it over midway through.

10 – Serve with roast potatoes and sautéed vegetables.

**Cooking times are for general guidance only; appliances vary.

When To Get A New Microwave?

Photo showing new microwave for when to get new microwave? post. — When To Get A New Microwave?

Like all good things, at some point your trusty microwave will come to an end. You may be asking yourself when to get a new microwave? Planning ahead for a new appliance can help you get the best deal possible and give you time to do the necessary research to find what suits you best.

Below we take a look at 7 key indicators that you may need to get a new microwave.

When To Get A New Microwave?

Here are 7 signs that you may need a new microwave.

1 – You Are Hearing Strange Noises

If you are suddenly hearing strange new noises from your microwave it may be time to get a new microwave. Unusual sounds may be a sign that the components are struggling, worn out or damaged. Take a look at the turntable in the first instance to check there are no obvious obstructions. If you can’t see what’s causing the noises it may be time to shop around for a replacement.

2 – Sparks Are Flying

If you see any signs of sparks flying it’s time to shut up shop and move on to a newer model. Sparks are a bad sign and if you see any turn off the microwave immediately, unplug it and stop using it. The same goes for any smoke or burning smells coming from your machine.

3 – Your Food Is Not Being Cooking Properly

Consistently finding that your food is not being cooked or heated like your used to, may be a sign that your microwave is on the way out. It’s worth making sure the turntable is rotating as it should with no obstructions and that you haven’t accidentally changed your default power settings. If after a reset you’re still finding that food is coming out with random cold patches, it may be time to shop around.

4 – The Turntable Stops Spinning

If your machine is on but the turntable is not rotating then you may have a problem. Take a look to make sure the plate is set properly. If it’s still not operating then it may mean the motor that rotates the turntable has failed. This may be reason enough for you to consider your options as it could be costly to replace the motor.

5 – Your Door Won’t Fully Close

Your microwave door should always be completely shut when it is in operation. All the sealing around the door should always be intact. This helps to protect you from any radiation. If you notice damage to the door sealing or the door itself this may need your attention. If the door latch has broken that may be something that can fixed easily. However, if the issue is more severe, it could mean you need to look at a new machine; it’s simply not worth the risk.

6 – The Controls Are No Longer Responsive

The controls on your microwave are the gateway between what you want and getting your machine to comply. If you’ve noticed that your control panel is not as responsive as it used to be or is simply not responding, it may be time to get a replacement.

7 – Your Microwave Is 10 Years or Older

The average lifespan of a microwave is around 9 to 10 years. Once your machine reaches this sort of milestone you’ll probably be thinking about replacing it anyway but if not you should start preparing to get a new one. The likelihood is that if it hasn’t failed already, it is not far off.

Is It Worth Fixing A Microwave?

This may be a question you are asking yourself particularly if you were not planning on getting a new microwave anytime soon. You could look at repairing your microwave but in all probability the cost of the labour alone will probably come up to a good proportion of the cost of a new machine. This is before you take into account any replacement parts that might be needed. For this reason in most cases it makes sense to simply buy a new machine.

Find The Best Microwaves

If you’re looking for ideas on new microwaves, why not check out our reviews of the best budget solo microwaves or the best flatbed combination microwaves.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect how much you pay for the product.

When to get a new microwave?: Tell Us Your Thoughts.

What Power Level Is 1000 Watts On a Microwave?

What power level is 1000 watts on a microwave? The long answer is it depends on the total wattage of your machine. The short answer is that it could be level 10 if your machine is a 1000 watts or lower if your microwave is a higher wattage model.

Check out the handy table below as a guide to the power level depending on the wattage of your machine. Before you delve into the table it is important to note that although we refer to power levels, the actual wattage of your machine never changes. Your microwave will typically run on and off until it has reached the desired power level.

What Power Level Is 1000 Watts On a Microwave?

Power Level	600 Watts	700 Watts	800 Watts	900 Watts	1000 Watts	1100 Watts	1200 Watts
Level 1	60 W	70 W	80 W	90 W	100 W	110 W	120 W
Level 2	120 W	140 W	160 W	180 W	200 W	220 W	240 W
Level 3	180 W	210 W	240 W	270 W	300 W	330 W	360 W
Level 4	240 W	280 W	320 W	360 W	400 W	440 W	480 W
Level 5	300 W	350 W	400 W	450 W	500 W	550 W	600 W
Level 6	360 W	420W	480 W	540 W	600 W	660 W	720 W
Level 7	420 W	490 W	560 W	640 W	700 W	770 W	840 W
Level 8	480 W	560 W	640 W	720 W	800 W	880 W	960 W
Level 9	540 W	630 W	720 W	810 W	900 W	990 W	1080 W
Level 10	600 W	700 W	800 W	900 W	1000 W	1100 W	1200 W

Table: What Power Level Is 1000 Watts On a Microwave?

Here is how it would work in practice: For example, if you microwave has a wattage of 1000 and you need to cook something at 700 watts then you would to select power level 7 or 70% of the power. 800 watts would be level 8 (80%), 900 watts level 9/90% etc.

Answering this question accurately could be the key to getting the most out of your microwave oven.

Microwaves don’t usually let you choose a specific wattage. Instead they will typically allow you to set a power level, most often between 1 – 10.

But as you can see with the handy table below, it is fairly easy to figure out what each power level equates to in terms of watts or at least get close.

To find the correct watts for a given power level, you can also use the formula below:

W at a Given Power Level = Total W Rating of Machine/Total Power Levels x Given Power Level

To find out what power level is 1000 watts on a microwave, the first thing you’ll need to do is find out the wattage rating for your own microwave.

This should be printed on the inside of the door or on the front of the machine. If that fails, check the instruction manual that came with the model. Most microwaves will range between 600 and 1,200 Watts.

Once you have the number, you can then work out the power levels. Or if, you’re wattage rating is listed on the table below, simply use that as a guide.

Some microwaves have power ranges e.g. High, Medium and Low that correspond to certain specific wattages. These may be detailed in your instruction manual.

What Is 50 Percent Power On Microwave?

Now that we have a general idea of how microwave power levels work it’s easier to address questions like – what is 50 percent power on microwave? 50 percent power on a microwave would correspond to the microwave being on full power for half (50 percent) the time you select. So, for example if you selected a 2 minute cycle on 50 percent power, the microwave would run at full power on and off for 1 minute.

What Power Level Is 1000 Watts On a Microwave?: Tell Us Your Thoughts

In need of a new microwave?

If you think you’re microwave may no longer be giving you what you need, take a look at some of our reviews for the best microwaves.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect how much you pay for the product.