Microwaves come in different wattages, and the one you choose for your home is important.
A high-wattage microwave will heat up your food faster, but it can also use more energy and be more expensive to operate. On the other hand, a low-wattage microwave is less expensive to operate but may come up with limitations.
So, is 700 watts microwave good enough? The answer depends on your needs and preferences.
In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of microwaves with different wattages so that you can make the best decision for your home!
Is 700 Watts Microwave Good Enough for Home?
In general, 700 watts is a good middle-of-the-road option that will be suitable for most users. It is not too powerful and not too weak, so it should strike the perfect balance between performance and affordability.
Wattage is the cooking power of the microwave and is an important factor to consider when choosing a new one.
A 700-wattage unit will have no problem reheating or defrosting most foods. It will cook food faster than a 600-wattage unit, but not as fast as a 750-wattage unit.
If you are looking for a powerful unit to cook large meals quickly, then you should look for something with at least 1000 watts of power.
However, higher wattage does not necessarily mean better cooking performance. It all depends on how you plan to use your microwave and what type of food you plan to cook with it.
If you only plan on using it for light tasks such as reheating coffee or defrosting frozen food, then a lower wattage unit will suffice.
Plus, you can do all the cooking that a thousand-watt appliance will do. The 700-watt option will just take a few more minutes to complete the cooking.
So, if you are not in a hurry all the time, a 700-watt microwave is fine for most people. But if you need to prepare food fast or in a hurry in most cases, a 1000-watt more expensive microwave is what we recommend.
Although we have generalized the aspect for you quite a bit, it’s not that easy to explain. The size of the microwave is equally important to consider when answering the ‘Is it Good Enough’ questions.
The Size Factor of the Microwave
The size of a microwave is just as important as the wattage. If you have a large family or you entertain often, then you will need a larger unit to accommodate all of your needs.
Conversely, if you live alone or have a small family, then you can get away with a smaller unit.
When you settle at a size, then comes the wattage factor.
Generally speaking, a 700-watt microwave should be around 0.7 cubic feet in size for optimal performance. While you’ll find larger microwaves in the same wattage range, they won’t be as efficient as a 0.7 cubic feet sized model.
So, we recommend settling with a 700-watt microwave only if you can manage all your microwave tasks within that 0.7 cubic feet space inside.
In case you have a larger family or you do cooking in bulk, you will want to consider a 1000-watt or more powered microwave which should have around 1.1 or 1.2 cubic feet of internal space.
In some locations, you’ll see liters written instead of cubic feet in the specs of the microwave. Know that, 0.7 cubic feet is equal to 20 liters size and 1.1 cubic feet is somewhere around 30 to 32 liters.
Is 700-watts Low for a Microwave?
Yes, it is a bit low power for the microwave but definitely not the lowest. The average microwave wattage is around 1000 watts.
So, 700 watts is still close to the range of a normal, average microwave. There are even some microwaves that are as low as 600 watts.
Now, this doesn’t mean that a 700-watt microwave will be just as powerful as a 1000-watt microwave. But it will still be able to do everything that a typical microwave needs to do.
How much longer does a 700-watt microwave cook?
For a basic idea, it may take an additional 2 to 3 minutes when the recipe shows that it will be taking 5 minutes of cooking time.
While it can vary quite a lot depending on the type of food you are preparing, it won’t take much longer than a normal 1000-watt microwave. In fact, 700 watts is plenty for most people’s needs.
However, if you frequently cook large quantities of food or want to be able to defrost larger items more quickly, you may want to consider an 800-watt or higher model.
If you’re not sure how much power you need, think about what type of foods you typically prepare in your microwave. If you mostly reheat small portions of leftovers or make quick meals like frozen dinners and popcorn, a 700-watt microwave should suffice.
Can I Cook Frozen Food in a 700 Watt Microwave?
The answer is yes, you can cook frozen food in a 700-watt microwave. However, it will take longer than if you were to cook the same food in a 1000-watt microwave.
The cooking time difference will be about 30% to 50%. So, if your recipe calls for two minutes of cooking time, it will take three minutes in a 700-watt microwave.
One thing to keep in mind is that frozen food often has ice crystals on it. These ice crystals can cause the food to splatter when it’s being cooked.
To avoid this, make sure to remove the ice crystals before cooking. You can do this by defrosting the food first.
How many watts do you need for a good microwave?
You might be surprised to learn that you don’t need as many watts as you might think.
A good rule of thumb is to look for a microwave with at least 600 watts of power. This should be enough to evenly cook or reheat most food items.
However, if you often find yourself cooking large or hearty meals, you may want to consider a model with 800 watts or more.
No matter how many watts your microwave has, make sure to read the instructions carefully before use.
Can you pop popcorn in a 700 watt microwave?
Yes, you can pop popcorn in a 700-watt microwave.
You will need to adjust the cooking time since microwaves vary in how long it takes to cook popcorn.
If your microwave has a popcorn button, use that setting.
Otherwise, cook the popcorn for two to three minutes. Keep an eye on the popcorn and stop cooking it when the popping slows down. Let the popcorn cool for a few seconds before eating it. Enjoy!
In my experience, popcorn is perfect when I set the time for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Try that and let me know if that works for you as well.
How Hot is a 700-watt Microwave?
A 700w microwave is quite hot. In fact, it can get up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to cook a meal in minutes.
A simple rule you can apply here is to check the wattage of the microwave. The highest a microwave can heat up is somewhere around the wattage number. For example-
- A 700-watt microwave will heat up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit
- An 800-watt microwave can heat up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit
- A 1000-watt microwave can go up to 1080 degrees, and
- A 1200-watt model can go up to 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cook your food, a 700w microwave is a great option.
Just be sure to keep an eye on your food so it doesn’t overcook. And always use caution when handling hot foods. Otherwise, you could end up with a nasty burn.
Do smaller microwaves need less power?
While it’s true that smaller microwaves generally use less power, there are other factors that come into play as well.
For example, the size of the microwave doesn’t necessarily dictate how much power it uses. The wattage of the microwave is a more accurate indicator of how much power it will use.
Additionally, newer microwaves tend to be more energy-efficient than older models, so keep that in mind when shopping for a new one.
In general, though, smaller microwaves will use less power than larger ones. So if you’re looking to save on your energy bill, downsizing your microwave might be a good option.
Conclusion
700-watt microwaves are a great option for those looking for an easy and quick way to cook their food.
These microwaves can get up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cook a meal in minutes.
Additionally, smaller microwaves generally use less power than larger ones, so they can be more energy-efficient.
Plus, they are compact, durable, and have decent cooking time without being too expensive.