How to Use the Microwave Reheat Time Calculator
Everyone's microwaved something for 3 minutes flat only to find it scalding on the outside and cold in the middle. This calculator takes your food type, amount, and microwave wattage, works out a standard time based on a 1000W reference, then scales it to your actual microwave's power.
Base times vary by food type. Per 100g at 1000W, rice takes about 40 seconds, soup or stew takes longer at about 55 seconds because of its high moisture content, meat and side dishes take about 45 seconds, and bread or desserts take about 20 seconds. If your microwave runs at 700W, the 1000W-reference time gets multiplied by 1000/700 so the food heats through evenly.
For portions of 300g or more, stirring or flipping halfway through helps a lot. Microwaves heat from the outside edges of a dish inward, so larger portions are more likely to end up hot on the outside and still cold at the center if left untouched.
Frequently Asked Questions
A lower-wattage microwave takes longer to heat the same amount of food. If you use a recipe's time meant for a 700W microwave on a 500W one, the food ends up under-heated, so the time needs to scale with the wattage ratio.
High-moisture foods like soup absorb microwaves more slowly than rice or bread, so they take longer to heat all the way through even at the same weight, which is why the base time is set higher for them.