Steve Wertz wrote:
> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:35:51 +1300, Peter Huebner
> > wrote:
>
>> Any tips? (think I'll go back to defrosting under the running cold tap in the
>> meantime - but sometimes it would be convenient to do it more quickly).
>
> Presumably you have a microwave that has a power setting. For
> ~1.5 of meat, I set my "3-stage" microwave to heat at 20% power
> for 6 minutes, rest for 12, then back on again for 6 minutes at
> 20%. Come back 40 minutes later and everything is thawed. This
> is using a 750 watt microwave.
>
> Different thicknesses require different time settings, but the 20%
> power setting as well as the "nuke-rest-nuke-rest" cycle/ratios
> always remain constant.
>
> NEVER USE THE PRE-PROGRAMMED DEFROST SETTINGS, or any of those
> fuzzy logic mechanisms that the Japanese claim to sense when the
> food is thawed.
>
> -sw


I got a new fangled Nuker, it doesn't turn use the "on-off microwave"
way of determining power setting. It some how reduces the Wattage(called
induction). I believe it's power is rated at or around 1100 watts. I
also believe in taxes so take this anyway you want.

I use power level 1. I routinely defrost my supper. I'm lazy and my
memory sucks so at least 60% of the time I forget to move any meat, I
wanted for supper, into the fridge from the freezer. My full method is
to nuke the meat (usually 1 or 2 lbs of it) at power 1 for 10 minutes,
with a 5 minute rest, then nuke for another 10 minutes (Since the nuker
can be set to do these 3 things at 1 setting time). I wait around
another 5 minutes or so then test for defrosted condition and repeat if
necessary (usually it isn't).

I find that the food isn't partially cooked or badly-affected in any
manner...In fact that's how I defrosted my Xmas eve 27 lb Turkey (curse
you turkey hot line lady). The turkey took 3 goes at a little longer on
the power 1 cycles (20 minutes) and had way longer extended rests in the
fridge, but it was fine. It wasn't fully defrosted, but close enough to
remove the gibblets and neck from the cavity and to do a slight
seasoning of the cavity. Not defrosted enough to put stuff under the
skin IMO. But I had run out of time, if I was to meet the supper deadline.