Microwave oven, 500 Watts, believe it or not

[Tangerine]

Hi everyone!

My microwave was damaged moving recently, and we had to throw it away. My boyfriend's friend's girlfriend offered me her small (500 Watt) oven because she just bought a big one. So it's all plugged in and ready to go. Go where??? I bought 2 WW Smart Ones Lasagna dinners and the directions call for a 1200 Watt oven!

Help! Will I even be able to use this 500 Watt oven for anything? It has no seconds, it has nothing but a defrost dial and a minutes dial. Otherwise, it's nice and clean and she said it works well.

Also, in this new small big-city apartment, I've had to plug the oven into an appliance-type extension cord, because my microwave cabinet is not near any outlets. So, I'm afraid to use it for the first time--my good old dad, who was an electronics engineer, drilled it into our heads not to use extension cords.

I wish I could turn on my computer and come here, and then, while all of you are sitting there, waiting to call an ambulance for me if anything explodes, turn it on and heat a mug of water, and see if I survive the event!!!

Any helpful hints would be hugely appreciated!

Back after a too-long absence,
Tangerine

[Gumbeaux]

You can use the microwave but since it is less powerful it will probably take almost twice as long to do the job of a 1200 watt model. You will need to experiment to find out the correct cooking times.

If you use an extension cord, use one that is a heavy duty type with a wire size larger than the cord on the microwave. Heavy duty extension cords are sold at Lowe's and Home Depot.

[Tangerine]

Thank you very much, Gumbeaux. And, I have that kind of a cord--we used to use it for the air conditioner. It's practically new.

I love your Shaw quote. I just heard an interview yesterday on NPR with Cornell West, about George Bernard Shaw. West really thinks that Shaw is the greatest thing since Shakespeare.

Tangerine

[Kay Henderson]

You may be able to go online and get access to the owner's manual for your microwave. If not, I would suggest cooking and timing items you for which you have used your previous microwave in the past -- for example, boiling water or heating a favorite frozen food. This will give you some idea of how much longer things take.

Kay

[funnybone]

I don't know if buying a new one is an option for you, but that's what I would do. I bought one for about $60 not too long ago for our basement bar area. It's about 1200 watts and works great. I would think that an older model is probably using more energy than it the newer models.

[Beth]

I bought a stainless front one for under $40 -- not big, but it works for us.

Maybe you can watch for a great deal -- with back to school and Labor Day sales coming up, and after that the holiday sales with lots of food oriented things on sale too.