Lower power microwave ovens can be better

August 19, 2026

Microwave oven power levels are often prominently displayed, along with their cooking volume. However, larger volume means a larger exterior case, which can waste counter space. Many people are using microwaves for a far smaller volume of food than the maximum capacity, which can lead to uneven cooking. It’s quite important to use “power level” appropriate for the type of cooking being done - reheating vs. defrosting vs. cooking frozen foods, etc. The downsides of higher power (1000 watt plus) microwave ovens include:

• non-inverter microwave ovens are only on-off to modulate power level, and the “on” portion can be so intense that it can overcook or dry out food, especially when reheating or defrosting.
• many people do not use the “power level” setting, and the default high power setting is way too intense for refrigerator reheating or defrosting.

A lower power say 0.7 cubic foot microwave oven with 700 watts of power can be far better suited for countertop use. For those users who don’t use the “power level” setting, 700 watts full power is like a 63% power setting of a 1100 watt inverter microwave oven, which is a more reasonable power level for reheating. It’s still beneficial to use power level setting on a 700 watt oven.