Why can't the world just standardize microwave powers so cooking instructions are correct?

Question

All microwavable products have some sort of disclaimer about how different microwaves may take different amounts of time for cooking. That's g*y. How about if they're all the same power and when it says to cook on high for 5 minutes, that's what you do?

Answer 1

I know! It's so annoying. The popcorn button on my microwave always burns my popcorn. I guess the reason is that the way each microwave is built and powered is copyrighted....

Answer 2

Part of it has to do with microwave wattage, but other factors like your altitude have something to do with it too.  The higher you are, the lower the temperature that water boils at.  Since the microwave works on boiling water... this can cause variances.  Someone in death valley is getting a hotter cooking temperature in their microwave, someone with the exact same microwave in Denver has a lower cooking temperature.  It's the physics of water.  You can't really regulate it.

Answer 3

yeah, but even then, after the microwave gets older, itll probably lose a little power, so even if they're standard, they're probably not.

Answer 4

Because we live in an imperfect world where not even our Lean Cuisines are protected against the tyranny of unstandardized cooking power. But hope is not lost. Work your way into Congress and solve this atrocity.

Answer 5

I wish they would do that. I have an 800 Watt microwave and I always have to cook for an extra minute or two from the instructions.  

Answer 6

I wonder that every time i go to microwave popcorn...lol!

Answer 7

Which standard would be used? There is no way the world would accept an American standard because of it's history and America wouldn't accept anyone elses because it wouldn't be American.

   Catch 22

Answer 8

It is because over the years they have been adding more power.

My first one was 500W my second one is 600W, and I am sure there are 750W and 1000W MW's, so how they decide what is standard, is impossible.

It would be akin to saying you have to have a 750W oven, or whatever, but that would mean we all have to buy new ones.

I am not going to toss out mine just so I have one that conforms to a standard size.

I will continue to adjust cooking times.

Answer 9

/agree

Answer 10

that would mean that all manufacturers use the same patented process of making a microwave. you see...they all make them a little bit different. thats why some are better or worse and some have longer or shorter cooking times. not looking for a best answer on this one so...you have be pretty stupid to not recognize when food is cooked or not cooked. i mean, if you're cooking popcorn, the package tells you how to know when its done by listening to the pops. if you're heating up a microwave dinner then...is it hot?  come on....