Download Article
Learn the basics of microwaving your food and maintaining your oven
Download Article
A microwave can be a great way to warm up leftovers and cook food quickly, but there are a few key rules to follow when using one. If you’re looking for a refresher on how to use a microwave, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over how to set up and use a microwave for the first time, and we’ll go over the basics of heating food in this appliance. We’ll also go over how to defrost food in the microwave and provide some tips for microwave maintenance. Keep reading for everything you need to know!
Microwave Oven: How-To Guide
- Check the owner’s manual for set-up instructions.
- Plug the microwave into a grounded wall outlet.
- Set up the glass turntable.
- Place food in a microwave-safe dish and put it in the microwave.
- Select the settings and the amount of time you want to cook your food for.
- Push the “Start” button and wait for your food to cook.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
How to Use a Microwave for the First Time
Download Article
-
Consult the owner’s manual that came with your microwave. Microwaves may have different installation instructions, so it’s important to read the owner’s manual to make sure you set yours up correctly. Reading the owner’s manual will also help you get familiar with your microwave’s unique features and settings.
-
Place the microwave on a flat, dry surface. A clean counter in your kitchen or a solid, wooden table are good locations for your microwave. Do not put the microwave near a gas or electric range, such as your stove.
- Make sure the microwave’s air vents on one side are not being blocked.
Advertisement -
Plug the microwave into a 20-amp grounded wall outlet. Make sure the outlet is rated for 20 A, which will ensure it is safe to use to power the microwave. Plug the microwave's power cord directly into a grounded outlet. [1] X Research source
- Pick an outlet that is not already being used by another appliance or electronic device.
- Don’t use an adapter or an extension cord when plugging in your microwave. Using extension cords with cooking appliances creates a fire hazard. [2] X Research source
- Note that a microwave from one country may not work or become damaged in another country. In the Americas and Japan, the outlets are usually rated for 110 V 60 Hz. In Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world, the outlets are usually rated for 220 V 50 Hz.
-
Place the plastic roller ring and round glass tray into the microwave. Most microwaves will come with a plastic roller ring and a round glass tray (also called the turntable). Put them into the microwave according to the directions in your owner's manual, and make sure the glass tray spins around on the roller ring easily and smoothly. [3] X Research source
-
Put food in a microwave-safe dish and place it in the microwave. Check the dish for the microwave-safe symbol, which includes several squiggly lines. Sometimes, the symbol will also include an image of a microwave or the word “micro” at the bottom. [4] X Research source If you see any variation of this symbol on a plate, bowl, mug, or Tupperware, it’s safe to heat your food in it.
- There are a few things you should never
put in your microwave. These include:
- Aluminum foil
- Metal or stainless steel dishware or silverware
- Styrofoam
- Single-use plastics and takeout containers [5] X Research source
- There are a few things you should never
put in your microwave. These include:
-
Choose the setting, power level, and cooking time for your food. You should see buttons numbered 1-9 on the front of the microwave—use these numbers to enter in your desired cooking time. You should also see buttons for different cooking methods, such as defrosting or reheating, as well as buttons with pre-set cooking times for specific foods like popcorn. If you see a specific button for the type of food you're cooking, you can press it instead of entering the cooking time manually.
- Depending on what you’re cooking, you may also need to adjust the microwave’s power level using the designated button.
- Most foods won’t require you to adjust the power level, but there are a few instances when it’s a good idea to do this. For example:
- When reheating foods that can’t be stirred (lasagna, potatoes, etc), lower the power to 50% to make sure it cooks through evenly.
- When softening butter or melting chocolate, lower the power to 50% to make sure you don’t overheat them.
- When heating liquid foods like soups or sauces, lower the power to 50% to prevent splattering. [6] X Research source
- When defrosting food, lower the power to anywhere between 20% to 50%, depending on the instructions on the package of the item you’re defrosting. [7] X Research source
-
Start the microwave and let your food cook. Press the “start” button, and wait for the microwave to finish cooking your food. When it’s done, it will shut off automatically, and many models will also play a short alarm sound to alert you that your food is ready.
- Be careful when removing your food from the microwave—it will be hot! Use protective oven mitts, or wait a few minutes for it to cool down.
Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:
How to Defrost Food in the Microwave
Download Article
-
Use the “defrost button.” Many microwave ovens have a designated “Defrost” button that you can use to thaw frozen foods . The defrost setting usually sets your microwave to 30% power so that the food will gently thaw but not cook. Just make sure to remove the frozen food from its package and place it in a microwave-safe dish before putting it in the microwave. [8] X Research source
- This speeds up and simplifies the cooking process since you’ll only need to wait a few minutes for the food to defrost in the microwave rather than waiting several hours for it to defrost on the counter or in the fridge.
- Once the food is fully defrosted, move on to the next step of the cooking process. For example, if you defrosted frozen vegetables to use in a stir fry, add the defrosted vegetables to your pan and start cooking them.
-
If your microwave doesn’t have a defrost button, lower the power level manually. You should see a button on your microwave that allows you to adjust its power settings. Depending on the food you’re thawing, you may need to lower the power level to anywhere from 20%-50%, then enter the specific amount of cooking time. Be sure to check the package of your frozen foods; they’ll likely have instructions for what power level to use and how long to defrost the food for. [9] X Research source
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhat dishes should I get for the microwave oven?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerAlways check that the dishes are microwave-safe. This should be labeled on the packaging. Get a few containers of different sizes to hold different types, sizes and amounts of food. Also consider getting microwave-safe mugs, plates and bowls for reheating foods and drinks in.
-
QuestionWhat does it mean to let the food stand after microwaving?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerStanding after cooking, or standing time, refers to the time required to allow the heat to be evenly distributed through the food and finish cooking outside of the microwave oven. Once standing time is over, the dish should have warmed through sufficiently and be cooled down enough to eat safely. For standing, the dish must be placed onto a solid area like a cutting board, countertop or stovetop so it keeps the heat in it; avoid using anything with holes, like cooling racks, to avoid losing the heat.
-
QuestionWhy do I have to stir the food halfway through being microwaved?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerMany recipes will require you to stir the food one or more times during cooking to ensure even cooking throughout the entire food. Otherwise, there is a risk of the food being cooked unevenly, with some hot spots and some cold spots.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Use the buttons on the microwave to your advantage. The inside label of the microwave oven gives you details on each of the microwave's menus.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Do not heat dry foods or oils, as they can catch fire in the microwave.Thanks
- Do not run the microwave with nothing inside of it, as it will damage the microwave.Thanks
- Do not use a microwave that runs with the door open, as extended exposure can cause microwave burns.Thanks
- Be extremely careful when handling hot water in the microwave. Water can superheat; that is, the temperature of the water can be much higher than the boiling point, but the water does not boil. Never reheat water that was already heated in the microwave, and always wait a minute or so for the water to cool down slightly. [20] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to sourceThanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.usfa.fema.gov/gallery/pictographs/pictograph35.html
- ↑ https://www.usfa.fema.gov/gallery/pictographs/pictograph35.html
- ↑ https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8614.PDF
- ↑ https://reviewed.usatoday.com/dishwashers/features/what-the-symbols-on-your-tupperware-really-mean
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/things-you-should-not-put-in-microwave
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/1843-microwave-cooking-when-to-use-the-power-levels
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-thaw-every-food-in-the-microwave-oven-article
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/safe_microwave_defrosting
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-thaw-every-food-in-the-microwave-oven-article
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/leftovers-and-food-safety
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-ovens
- ↑ https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_ft_02_01.html
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/the-best-way-to-reheat-leftovers-in-the-microwave
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/the-best-way-to-reheat-leftovers-in-the-microwave
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-steam-vegetables
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-safety-when-cooking
- ↑ https://healthyrecipesblogs.com/microwave-scrambled-eggs/
- ↑ https://www.today.com/series/how-often-should-you/how-clean-microwave-oven-blinds-t12916
- ↑ https://www.today.com/series/how-often-should-you/how-often-you-should-clean-your-microwave-right-way-do-t82811
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-ovens
About This Article
Article Summary
X
The best way to warm up food in the microwave is to arrange it into a ring shape on a ceramic plate or in a glass bowl, so the food heats evenly. To prevent splatter, cover the leftovers with a paper towel, sheet of wax paper, or microwave-safe thick plastic cover. Then, microwave the food for 1 minute, and continue microwaving it for 30 seconds at a time until it's ready. You can also use your microwave to defrost microwave dinners and frozen food by pressing the defrost button or cooking your food at a ratio of 7 minutes per pound. In addition, you can steam uncooked vegetables by microwaving them in a covered bowl for about 2 to 3 minutes. However, do not try to cook soups or sauces in the microwave, since they could overheat and explode. For more tips, including how to maintain your microwave, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 644,146 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "wikiHow has been helpful with easy-to-follow instructions. When in doubt I turn to wikiHow for help. Nice program, thank you kindly." ..." more
Advertisement
"wikiHow has been helpful with easy-to-follow instructions. When in doubt I turn to wikiHow for help. Nice program, thank you kindly."
..."
more
"I was lost in my life before this app. I had no idea as a 40 year old man how to use a microwave. This was a life saver thank you!"
..."
more
"Thanks for helping with my schoolwork."
"Good information for beginners!"
