# Other than "full power" and "defrost" do you use any other microwave setting? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2014, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939 "2014-04-25T10:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/1 "2014-04-25T10:02:19Z")
I don’t, and I don’t recall ever seeing anyone else ever microwave something on anything other than full power or defrost. Do you use any of the other settings? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/2 "2014-04-25T10:10:00Z")
The only buttons I ever press is the 30-second quick start and the stop button. I have no idea what any of the other buttons do. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/3 "2014-04-25T10:16:47Z")
I can’t even remember the last time I used defrost. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/4 "2014-04-25T10:17:31Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The only buttons I ever press is the 30-second quick start and the stop button. I have no idea what any of the other buttons do. Same here. There seem to be all sorts of possible settings, but I’ve never used them. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/5 "2014-04-25T10:22:57Z")
My microwave’s power setting is in 10 increments, 1-10, and I use most of them. Power Level is the first button I hit, before entering the time. I never before thought this was unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/6 "2014-04-25T11:05:45Z")
My oven only has two settings, full power and defrost. Besides those there’s the dial to set the time and that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/7 "2014-04-25T11:07:45Z")
I’ve started using lower power settings than max to steam vegetables for cooking. (I like my carrots mushy.) 3 minutes at max, then stir, then 10 minutes at power level 3, stir again, 10 minutes at power level four. Then they’re ready. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/8 "2014-04-25T11:07:47Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > I don’t, and I don’t recall ever seeing anyone else ever microwave something on anything other than full power or defrost. Do you use any of the other settings? I actually never use defrost. I do use the 50% and 80% power settings when cooking rice and pasta. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/9 "2014-04-25T11:11:08Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > I don’t, and I don’t recall ever seeing anyone else ever microwave something on anything other than full power or defrost. Do you use any of the other settings? Potatoes get cooked at a (1-9 settings) power level 4. Popcorn has its own button! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/10 "2014-04-25T11:15:52Z")
Mine has various ‘Reheat’ settings, which, along with the ‘Popcorn’ option, are actually the ones I use most often. I think I’ve only used defrost a half a dozen times in ten years. I’ve used full Warp Factor 10 power quite a bit more than that, however. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/11 "2014-04-25T11:17:34Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Potatoes get cooked at a (1-9 settings) power level 4. > > Popcorn has its own button! 😉 And what’s that popcorn button for? 😕 Nearly every microwave popcorn I’ve ever used has said NOT to use the popcorn setting. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/12 "2014-04-25T11:58:06Z")
Our microwave oven is a Panasonic Genius II (similar to the one shown [here](http://forums.redflagdeals.com/how-long-can-i-use-my-seemly-working-microwave-oven-before-unsafe-984887/)) from the early 1980s. It’s got a table on the front listing the various things that can be cooked automatically using the built-in programs. To start it normally, you have to select among 5 power levels, then select the duration. We frequently use levels 5 (max), 4 and 3. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/13 "2014-04-25T12:08:03Z")
I mainly use full power or defrost, but at least once a week I’ll set the exact power level I want. Usually it’s for something that’s difficult to defrost or something I want cooked a particular way. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/14 "2014-04-25T12:08:45Z")
I use the power levels all the time, especially when reheating foods. I’ll double the time and put the power at 50%, so things heat more evenly. We also use the Beverage button, which is handy to get a hot beverage that isn’t going to explode when you put the sugar in. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/15 "2014-04-25T13:00:43Z")
I use the beverage button, the popcorn button, and power level 3 (for reheating pizza or any bakery item, including warming up cookies) in addition to full power. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/16 "2014-04-25T13:02:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I actually never use defrost. > > I do use the 50% and 80% power settings when cooking rice and pasta. Those plus the “quickset” button. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/17 "2014-04-25T13:49:55Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I use the power levels all the time, especially when reheating foods. I’ll double the time and put the power at 50%, so things heat more evenly. I do that with the baby’s food. I’m never sure whether 1 minute at 50% is really any different from 30 seconds at full power, though. I’ve also had good luck with the Potato button, at least when I’m cooking potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/18 "2014-04-25T13:55:47Z")
I use the “Reheat” button all the time. Much more control than full power. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/19 "2014-04-25T14:04:08Z")
3 minutes on power 2 defrosts two boned and skinned chicken thighs to perfect dicing firmness. I add cumin, garlic, cayenne, and black pepper. I then cook the chicken and make awesome tacos. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939/20 "2014-04-25T14:10:18Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I use the power levels all the time, especially when reheating foods. I’ll double the time and put the power at 50%, so things heat more evenly. Ditto. Additionally, I use lower setting when making rice or oatmeal (full power initially, and then lower power to cook). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-full-power-and-defrost-do-you-use-any-other-microwave-setting/686939.md?page=2)