This Is What the Preset Buttons on Your Microwave Actually Do

As a college student, I cook a lot of meals in the microwave.

Like many, I used to be mistaken that the preset buttons didn’t do anything, and they just seemed too complicated to figure out. My parents always used to tell us to ignore them, so I would just use the 30-second button until I was satisfied with the temperature of my food. 

It got to the point where I had to ask myself: Does anyone actually use the preset buttons on their microwave? As it turns out, the answer is yes. I am here to spare us both some time pressing random buttons with some basic information on how your microwave presets work. Microwaving food is supposed to be easy, after all, so you might as well use all of its functions to your advantage.

What Do Microwave Preset Buttons Do?

Most microwave preset buttons don’t change the level of energy coming from your microwave. Instead, they change how rapidly your food cooks by turning the power on and off at different intervals.

This is helpful because the slower heating allows the food to warm more evenly. Different foods heat better at various power levels, and most basic microwaves are set to accommodate those variations. The advantage of using these buttons is that you don’t have to guess how long your food will need to cook. You just press one button, and you’re good to go (most of the time).

But all microwaves don’t operate this way. Some newer, more expensive microwaves have sensory settings that detect steam levels, helping them to adjust heat and cook time for the perfect temperatures. Some newer models of microwaves have the technology to reduce microwave energy rather than turning it on and off. Others even have acoustic sensing capabilities to listen for when your popcorn stops popping.

How to Use Your Microwave Preset Buttons

As long as you end up with an appropriate food temperature, you can use your microwave buttons however you want.

But, if you do want to start using these preset buttons for more precise heating, there is one thing you need to remember: All microwaves are different. While one microwave preset button might perfectly pop your popcorn button, others might leave you with burnt kernels. Additionally, the food you put in the microwave is always different, so you might not have the same results every time.

This means, your best method in using microwave preset buttons is to, unfortunately, play around with your microwave and see what works. Yes, this might mean pulling out the microwave owner’s manual you put in a random drawer after you first unboxed your microwave. But it will help you save time in the long run, so we think it’s worth it.

Luckily, there are some basic rules you can keep in mind while figuring out the best way to use your microwave preset buttons.

• According to Whirlpool, you should use the highest heating levels of your microwave for foods with a high water content like soup and vegetables.
• For foods like meat, rice, pasta, stirrable casseroles, and cream-based soups, opt for a high heat level.
• Use medium to high heat for single servings of food, as well as “temperamental foods” like cheese, eggs, and custard.
• Foods that require medium heat are ham, stews, chocolate, and pastries or bread. Use the defrost button for foods you wish to defrost and butter or ice cream you want to soften.
• The lowest setting should be used to lightly warm fruits or vegetables. 

With these guidelines (and a little experimentation) you’ll master your microwave in no time. Once you find a couple of heating methods that work for you, you won’t have to feel like you need to keep checking on your food every 10 seconds and can trust your microwave while it does its work.