How to Find Out Your Microwave's Wattage — and Why You Should Know It

It probably never occurred to you to take note of your microwave wattage. And if you're anything like us, the odds of finding your microwave manual is somewhere between coffee-splattered takeout menus and zero.

But then you run across a recipe or package instructions that tell you to microwave using a specific wattage, you'll sure wish you knew what it was. So how do you find out?

As Epicurious reported, you can simply open your microwave: "It's usually on a label right on the door or inside it," writes Genevieve Ko. But if the microwave wattage is nowhere to be found, there's a simple way to determine the wattage on your own: "To find an approximation of your machine's wattage, fill a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup with 1 cup cold water. Microwave on High and keep an eye on it, noting how long it takes for the water to come to a boil," writes Ko, noting that one-and-a-half minutes corresponds to 1,200 watts, two minutes corresponds to 1,000 watts, two-and-a-half minutes corresponds to 800 watts, and so on.

Once you have that information, you can tweak the recipe accordingly by lowering or increasing the power level or the amount of time you leave your items in the microwave. For precise instructions on how to adjust your microwave protocol for a lower or higher wattage and to see the full chart for the water boiling test, you can read the article on Epicurious.com here.

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Well, we're certainly glad to have solved that mystery. Now, if only they awarded honorary culinary school degrees in Executive Chef of Microwave Arts.