Must-Know: How Many Watts Does a Microwave Use

Nowadays, microwaves are in most homes. This is due to the fact that microwaves and microwave ovens are among your most energy-efficient cooking and heating appliances. Microwaves, a type of electromagnetic radiation akin to radio waves, are used in microwave ovens to heat food. And just like any other home electronic device, it is powered by electricity. If it is a standard microwave, it usually requires about 1,200 watts.

Electricity Usage of a Microwave

The appliance's wattage ranges from 600 to 1,500 watts in terms of energy consumption. For the record, microwaves use less energy overall each year than they would appear to since they are only used for brief periods of time unless used or specified in the industries. Smaller microwaves typically require a little less energy than larger, more powerful microwaves. Your electric bill calculates your energy consumption in kWh. Kilowatt-hours are simply the amount of electricity used over a period of time.

Calculation on How Much Energy Your Microwave Uses

Practically, the answer lies in the size of the item/appliance, including its wattage and daily usage. Thus, you can calculate how much energy your microwave using this equation: Time Used x Input Wattage = Total Energy Use.

Time used is the amount of time you use your microwave in a day. Input wattage is the number of watts used by your microwave to perform its work with respect to the type of microwave you have. Total energy use is the daily energy consumption of your microwave.

For example, if your family uses your microwave for 65 minutes (approximately 1 + 1/2 (5 minutes) hour) and you have a 1,000-watt microwave, then 1 hr 5 minutes x 1,000 Watts = 1,083 watts total energy use. To convert this to kilowatt (kWh), the watt only needs to be divided by 1000. Your kWh is at 1,083 / 1,000 or 1.083 kWh. Multiply this by how much is the current electricity rate in your area and you’ll know how much you’ll pay. For instance, if you’re at 0.0833kWh, then 0.0833kWh x $0.10kWh = $.0083.

Factors That Influence Energy Consumption of Microwave

Microwave is an essential kitchen appliance that heats and cooks food quickly, making life easier for millions of people around the world. However, like any other electrical appliance, microwaves consume energy, which consequently increases our monthly electricity bills and contributes to environmental degradation. Several internal and external factors influence the energy consumption of microwaves.

The Wattage of Microwave

A microwave may be low-wattage or high-wattage. Note that the higher the wattage, the more powerful the appliance. Hence, you should choose a microwave with a high wattage if you want one that is powerful. However, if you want to save money, you might pick a model with a lower wattage. It’s just that compared to a low-wattage microwave, food can be cooked more evenly and quickly in a high-wattage one.

The Size of Microwave

One of the most important criteria is the microwave oven's size. More power will be used by a larger microwave than a smaller one. This is due to the fact that heating up a greater space requires more energy. A great cooking tip is to make sure the food's thickest portions are pushed to the edges since these parts are hotter than the core. They will cook more quickly in this manner.

The Usage of Microwave

Your usage can directly influence the energy consumption of your microwave. Well, the longer you cook food, the more electricity it will use. If you won’t use it that much anyway and if you're on the market for a new microwave oven and want to save money initially, opt for one with a low wattage. But you might want to think about buying a larger microwave if you frequently entertain guests or have a large family that uses the microwave on different occasions daily.

The Type of Food

Microwave ovens work by using microwaves; hence, the name, which causes water molecules in food to vibrate. Heat is produced as a result of this vibration. Note that not every food requires the same amount of heat to cook. From the said mechanism, foods with higher water content will cook more quickly compared to foods with lower water content. An example of which is fresh vegetables so you’ll probably notice that they will cook faster than your meat dishes. The more it takes for your food to cook, the higher will be the energy consumption.

Standby Power

Electrical power utilized by devices and equipment such as a microwave when they are off or not in use is known as standby power. In standby mode, a microwave uses 2 to 7 watts of power subject to the case of your microwave specifications. This information is available in the the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Compliance Certification Database under the letter "C" for “Cooking Products - Microwave Ovens”. It may not cost you a lot but it’s still better to unplug your appliances when not in use.

Age

Let’s face it. Nothing lasts forever. Even microwave ovens may only last for up to a decade. The magnetron that is responsible for converting electrical energy into microwave energy eventually loses its power over the years. What may take 60 seconds to boil now may take 90 seconds to boil for the next five or ten years. This can greatly affect your energy consumption.

Maintenance

Proper maintenance and cleaning of the microwave can help improve its energy efficiency. When the inner surfaces of the appliance are clean, it can better reflect microwaves, and less energy will be wasted in heating the walls of the oven.

Best Solar Generator for Microwaves

To save on electric bills, a solar generator is a good alternative to a traditional power source for your microwave. Solar generators use solar panels to capture energy from the sun and store it in a battery for later use.  Make sure that the model you choose has enough wattage to handle both start-up and running loads. For a microwave oven, it is best to get a solar generator that has at least 1000 watts of power output. The Anker Solar Generator 757 would be the best choice. With a 1229Wh capacity and 1500 wattage, it is the perfect choice to power all of your necessary gadgets and appliances when traveling, including an electric grill, coffee machine, refrigerator, microwave, and more.

Anker Solar Generator 757 is designed to last over a decade, even with regular use, thanks to the long-lasting technology InfiniPower™, LiFePO4 batteries, ultra-durable electronic components, a smart temperature control system that monitors temperature up to 100 times per second, and impact-resistant structural design. The following items are included in the package: 1 Anker 757 portable power station (PowerHouse 1229Wh) and 3 Anker 625 solar panels (100W), AC charging cable, car charging cable, solar charging cable, dustproof bag, welcome guide, XT-60 To DC7909 adapter, and helpful customer care.

Conclusion

Having a microwave at home is a privilege you might want to avail of. Life is easier when we have appliances that help us cook food efficiently. While cleaning and maintenance is important, it’s essential too that you are aware of the many factors that affect how many watts does a microwave use. It mainly lies on the size, type, and usage of the microwave, among others. These are things you need to consider as well when buying one while anticipating your electric bill budget. It’s easy to calculate its electricity usage: know the wattage of your microwave, how long you use it, kWh conversion, and the electricity rate in your area.

FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions on microwave use:

What Is Standard Microwave Wattage?

600–800 watts are utilized by tiny microwaves used in hotel rooms. The typical microwaves we use at home draw between 800 and 1000 watts. Commercial microwaves are big, high-wattage appliances that are typically found in restaurants. The rate at which electricity flows through a device is measured in watts. Larger, more expensive microwaves often demand greater wattages since more watts equate to more electricity.

What Is the Average Wattage Of A Microwave?

The typical microwave's wattage ranges from 800 to 1000 watts. This is the wattage of the typical residential microwave. Due to how useful they may be for rapidly heating or reheating your favorite foods, most kitchens contain microwaves. Although a lot of people use their microwave to cook, you might be shocked at how rapidly it consumes electricity.

Can Solar Generators Run A Microwave?

Microwaves are no exception to the rule when it comes to being fueled by solar energy. You can completely disconnect from the grid or just power high-power items like microwaves using portable or stationary solar panels. For microwave use, one important thing that the user has to consider upon purchase is the compatibility of the solar generator and how many watts does a microwave use.