this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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Most I've seen are the 1000W, 1200W+ monsters with triple digit prices - even 2nd hand.
Just need a regular home microwave (ours was ยฃ30 with the useless features), but dumber ๐
I'd modify our own existing one but the jank would not be safe nor attractive...
Is 1000w a monster? Half of my microwave food asks for 1000w
800W is very much a standard for a home microwave in the UK and what the average consumer would expect. 1000W is also popular, though.
As for the food, it doesn't "ask" for 1000W - rather it tells you the time for 1000W, and it is up to you the consumer to add or remove time based on the power of your own appliance.
Part of the reason food manufacturers like to stipulate 1000W on microwave meals is so that they can advertise "Ready in 2 mins!" on the front of the carton - that time being made shorter with higher microwave power - so it's in their marketing interests to calibrate against a higher wattage.
Cooking food on lower power for longer can sometimes give better results, as you will get a more even heating and reduce hot/cold spots.
Yeah I put almost everything on 70% these days. It really helps, and only takes 30% longer. Oh and offset the food from the center. Microwave life hacks.
Might be the area.
Our current is only 700W and rarely will you find instructions that go that low. It's old and cheap. Most things assume 800-900 and don't list anything higher.
1000W seems to be the turnover point here. Can still get a domestic at that range, but they are a little rarer. Also pricier and often part of a combi grill/convection unit.
In the US 1000W is the norm for home microwaves, and there are commonly available ones that are 1200W
https://ecocostsavings.com/microwave-wattage/