Power Level of GE Spacemaker Microwave Ovens

High Power

• High Power -- or level 10 -- is the highest power level on a GE Spacemaker microwave. Using the highest power level on the microwave provides you with the quickest way to cook food. Cooking on high power gives you the maximum amount of power the microwave is able to output. Fish, bacon, vegetables and liquids that need to be boiled are often cooked at the highest level.

Power Level 7

• When you set the microwave oven to power level 7, this means that the microwave will cook with about 70 percent of the power that it would have cooked if you were cooking with full power. GE recommends that microwave owners use this setting for the gentle cooking of meat and poultry. The 7 setting is also a good setting for baking casseroles and reheating food.

Level 5

• Cooking at level 5 means that you are cooking the food in the microwave at half the full power level. GE recommends that this level be used for slow cooking and tenderizing foods such as stews and cuts of meat that are not very tender.

Level 3

• Those who cook on level 3 cook with less than half of the microwave's full power. Level 3 may be used to defrost food from the freezer without cooking it. Level 3 also is an effective setting for simmering delicate sauces.

Level 1

• Level 1 is the lowest power setting on the Spacemaker microwave. This setting is not really used for cooking, but rather is used for keeping food warm without overcooking it. You also may use the level 1 power setting to soften butter without melting it.