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Comment by charlie0 | Hacker News Reader

Because so many people don't have the common sense to cover their food when they heat it up. A microwave is the worst thing to have in a college dorm. Guaranteed filth to be covering the inside.

It also doesn't help the default power is set to 100%, causing volcanic like explosion of anything with high amounts of moisture, like tomato sauce. God save your tongue on taking a bite out of a Hot Pocket that's been in there too long. You swear there's lava in the thing.

People just don't really know how to use microwaves.

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Most microwaves are terrible too, good microwaves are much more expensive so nobody buys them, but they can cook much more intelligently with higher quality parts.

I've been dreaming of buying an inverter microwave(the inverter allows it to put out lower intensity microwaves to achieve lower power levels instead of just turning them on and off entirely like most microwave ovens), but for some reason the market for them is tiny. The kind I need, over-the-range inverter microwaves with ventilation, isn't even sold in the US. Strangely enough it is sold in Canada, which has the same electrical outlets. I might do a road trip to buy a microwave...

We've had a Panasonic for a few years, and it's still weird (but good) hearing it running continuously on low power levels, versus the other microwaves that switch on and off for periods of time below 100%

I've had one for over a decade. It wasn't that expensive at the time. People always look at me weird when I suggest putting something in the microwave at 10% power for 20 minutes

Wut? That... does sound very weird but at the same time, why do most people treat microwave power levels like video game review scale (almost never go below 5/10). I don't think I've ever read anyone even contemplate using microwave below 50%. What do you cook at 10% power for 20m?

if I had a lasagna I wanted to heat up in the microwave, it's a great choice

I've never heard of this and it sounds great. Thanks for the heads up.

> People just don't really know how to use microwaves.

Usually don't care, not don't know.

The two factors mutually reinforce each other.

The only purpose a microwave serves in the first place is to heat as quickly as possible, and coffee and popcorn and hot pockets etc are not made any better by going slower. It is perfectly reasonable for the default to be 100%.

It doesn't matter that you can produce a nicer result by going slower. You can also produce a nicer result by using a regular oven and fresh ingredients.

The defined purpose of a microwave is to serve a different priority. A microwave with any other default is a dull saw blade.

I blame the UI. IMO should be two knobs and a button. (Maybe you just push one of the knobs instead of the button)

WDYM, but it is two knobs and a button?

My microwaves have no knobs

Every one I've used looks like a blown-up calculator watch from the 80s.

Two rotary knobs for selecting power and duration and two push buttons for start and stop.

Actually a third push button is also required, for storing a power+duration pair, when you want to have multiple segments where different powers are used.

When using a microwave oven for cooking, not just for reheating, it is very common to use a high power for a short time, then one or two decreasing power levels sufficient to just preserve the current temperature, in order to avoid making a mess in the oven, due to violent boiling or high pressure steam generation.

Knobs seem to be common on European microwaves. NA microwaves have all sorts of granular settings.

Yes, something like changing the power levels normally require pressing of multiple buttons. Many menus and options are also hidden that way. Unfortunately, the true potential of a microwave is locked away. Pretty much everyone I know just hits the 30 second button and is content with super hot or unevenly heated food.

Presumably Duration, Power and Start/Stop. My NEF microwave has a Duration dial, 6 different power buttons (presets for 900, 600, 300, etc) and separate Start and Stop buttons. Oh, and another small button for forcing the Duration dial into a clock setting mode (to set the time-of-day display which is the default when the thing isn't heating).

Works okay, quite intuitive, entirely used to it now.

Just don't get me started on the controls for my induction hob

yes! mine's like that, two knobs: one for how hot and the other is for how long. it's the dumbest one I could find and I'm never buying one with WiFi, thank you very much!

IMO, for prepackaged foods like frozen dinners, the UI should be that you put the food in the oven and close the door, and the microwave figures out the rest. (Of course there would also be manual controls available.)

The simplest way would be with a barcode on the plastic food tray. The barcode would contain the actual cooking instructions so that there's no internet dependency.

My Tovala oven does this (you scan before you put in), though it uses steam and broiler not microwaves.

But each food company would patent their own barcode retrieval system and put it behind a subscription, only $12.99 for the plan for foods with ads, $24.99 without!

Actually, all implementations would be nearly identical, non-novel, and not patentable. But each one would carry a trademark and microwave manufacturers would charge the TV dinner makers a license fee per meal to put it on the box

Juicero vibes here...

(Good idea, though)

Hmmm, only if the microwave worked with their own specially prepared frozen upscale meals.

This sounds like a next-gen microwave idea! Perfectly microwaved food every time!

Two knobs will do. The timer knob can be used to stop the microwave and it starts once the timer is set and the door is closed.

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