Just How Accurate Are Those Preset Options On Your Microwave?

Microwaves are all about quick convenience and can be a lifesaver on busy days. We expect ease from our microwaves, and preset settings are just a further extension of that. Surely the brand has done this research for us to know the exact amount of time our popcorn takes to pop to streamline the process into the instant press of just one button, right?

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but one of the most surprising facts you need to know about your microwave is that its presets don't promise accuracy at all. In fact, relying on those labeled buttons — like "potato," "veggie," or "frozen entrée" — to deliver completely cooked, tasty food is among the biggest mistakes we make when using our microwaves. 

Why? The appliance functions by generating microwaves that catalyze activity among the water molecules in whatever you're cooking, and that activity creates heat. The waves come from a magnetron, and presets oscillate the magnetron between zero and full power for whatever amount of time each brand has deemed appropriate for certain dishes. These times vary across brands, and every potato or frozen pizza varies as well, so presets are inconsistent and unreliable. Rather than entering an exact amount of time for cooking at full power for a frozen dinner, you're relying on your microwave to guess, which can give you perfect, still-frozen, or burnt results. 

The one way to ensure a perfect — or as close to perfect as possible — cook time is to enter time manually. Refer to the brands behind your popcorn or frozen dinner rather than your microwave for time recommendations. For anything not packaged, like leftovers, conduct a quick internet search for time suggestions based on the power of your microwave. Pre-cooked vegetables, for example, usually take between one and three minutes in an 800-watt microwave. You can stop your microwave every 30 seconds to test your food, and it may be helpful to keep a list of your most frequently heated-up foods and their ideal warming times.

Another option is to upgrade your microwave, as newer models have better, smarter controls. When we ranked 12 of the most popular microwave brands, our top picks were Toshiba, Panasonic, and Whirlpool. Of the assorted microwave options you actually should use more often, any "sensor" cook buttons are key — higher-quality models from these brands have these, and newer models have them operating with even more advanced technology. Sensor controls detect steam levels from cooking food and will alter cook times accordingly, while the more advanced of these controls can even use other factors to determine that food is completely cooked. This ensures an even cook for better flavor and texture, and it ensures something older models' presets can't: consistency.