Today, a microwave can be found in almost any home. Although a few years ago, not everyone could afford to buy it. An important factor when choosing this technique is the power of the microwave. How much energy does a conventional microwave consume?
Previously, electric energy cost a penny, now it is a separate part of the family budget. Funds for it also seek to save.
In order to use energy efficiently and make accurate calculations, you need to know how much electrical energy a microwave oven consumes.
The power of the device is the main factor on which the costs of electrical energy depend. The average consumption per hour is 0.7 kWh - 1.2 kWh.
Maximum Total Power Consumption
This is a value that affects the home electrical network. Before purchasing this or that electrical device, you must take into account the possibility of wiring. Many models of a microwave oven in production are equipped not only with a microwave, but also with a grill and convector.
Energy is also consumed by fans, which in the device can be more than one. They are necessary for convection, cooling the emitter.
Another consumer of electricity is a microprocessor computer, which is needed in order to implement auto programs and various modes.
How to know the power?
This parameter is indicated in the instructions. The amount of power is most often located on the hull. This is a sticker located at the back or front. Pay attention to the table:
Heating time | Microwave power |
1 minute 30 seconds | 1.2 kW |
2 minutes | 1 kW |
2 minutes 30 seconds | 0.8 kW |
3 minutes | 0.7 kW |
4 minutes | 0.6 kW |
Power setting
As a rule, recipes do not contain the power value at which you need to cook this or that food. If the food was cooked with a power of 0.8 kW, this does not mean that with a higher power it will be just as tasty.
How to install the required amount of power? For example, a recipe requires 700 watts, and the unit has 0.1 kW. To do this, set 70% of the nominal. This will require an elementary proportion.
Consider the dependency. For every 200 W missing and for every 60 seconds, another 20 seconds of standby is added.
Power Impact
If the volume of the microwave is large, then the device has high power, therefore, it consumes more electrical energy. If the consumer wants to cook large meat pieces, then a huge machine is needed.
Power affects the following:
- The volume of the dish that is being prepared. In devices that have tremendous power, you can cook more food when compared to models that consume a small amount of kilowatts.
- Time interval. If household appliances consume more energy, then they cook in less time.
- Price. Powerful devices in stores are very expensive.
- Heating modes. The kitchen appliance operates in various modes. Consumption from 10% to 100% of the nominal value.
- The cost of electrical energy. Directly affects how much you have to pay for electricity.
Instrument Facts
The microwave device heats the entire volume, and not just the surface, which distinguishes it from other kitchen appliances. Thanks to this principle, products quickly defrost.Radiation makes the water molecules contained in meat products and fish move.
The main component of this device is a microwave emitter.
Mode effect
Before purchasing a microwave oven, the user must determine what he will use it for. Having clearly defined the goals, you can calculate the power values. What is the power consumption of almost any microwave? Pay attention to the table:
Microwave mode | Tue |
Quick cooking | 900 |
Warming up | 700 |
Defrost | 200-400 |
Heating | 100 |
If the dish is voluminous, then heating is slow. And, for example, a small capacity of the soup can warm up very quickly.
Waste of electrical energy
Previously, superfrequency units were manufactured and sold, in which it was impossible to change the power mode. To date, this problem has been eliminated thanks to a special device - an inverter. Devices that have an inverter do not need to be turned off. Heating takes place without any pauses, which gives the food a taste.
Pay attention to the table, where calculations of what energy consumption of electric energy by a microwave oven for a different period of time are given:
Time period | Electric power |
One day | 150-200 watts |
One month | 5000-7000 watts |
If you want to save money, do the following:
- Unplug the plug at the end of the process.
- In order to warm up the dish, use solo ovens, which are more economical.
Compliance with principles when choosing
It is impossible to accurately answer the question: how many watts is the most optimal? The main factor to be guided by is the goals that indicate why this household appliance will be used. If you only need to heat food, then purchase a 1 kW microwave. If there are global challenges, then purchase a power unit from 1500 watts to 2000 watts.
Important! This technique will not consume maximum electrical energy. For example, on a microwave oven, which has a power of 2 kW, the mode of heating the food can be set and the consumption will be only 0.2 kW.
Remember that any device should not work regularly at the limit, because this way the equipment wears out quickly and its service life becomes shorter. Buy the device with a margin to eliminate the possibility of breakage.
Do not be guided only by how to save money. When purchasing a device that does not have any specific functions, think about whether they will come in handy in the future. Today they produce devices that are economical and energy efficient. Microwaves are equipped with a fuse, which is surge protection.