Microwave heating categories
Your oven has been tested and labelled to meet the government's voluntary agreement
on the reheating of pre-cooked food.
The heating characteristics and output power levels of microwave ovens are usually
calculated using a relatively large portion of food (a 1000 gram load, IEC 705) but many
packs of pre-cooked food are sold in smaller packs, often about 350 grams.
The government, in partnership with food companies and microwave manufacturers,
have set up a system of heating categories to help you choose the reheating time for
pre-cooked food.
700W
To Microwave:
Remove outer packaging.
Pierce film lid SEVERAL TIMES.
Place on a microwaveable plate.
Heat on full power.
Stir or turn halfway through heating.
Heating
Category
B
Full power
2
(in minutes)
Stir / Turn
Stir / Turn
Full power
2
(in minutes)
Standing time
1
(in minutes)
700W is the output power of the oven.
D
D is the heating category for your oven.
Check the cooking times for category D on
the food's packaging to see how long it should
be cooked for. Please see below example for
reference.
Wattage
(IEC 705)
D
650W
750W
2
2
2
Stir / Turn
1.5
2
1.5
1
1
1
To Microwave from frozen:
Remove outer packaging.
Pierce film lid SEVERAL TIMES.
Place on a microwaveable plate.
Heat on full power.
Stir or turn halfway through heating.
Heating
Category
B
Full power
3
(in minutes)
Stir / Turn
Stir / Turn
Full power
4
(in minutes)
Standing time
1
(in minutes)
Wattage
(IEC 705)
D
650W
750W
2.5
3
2.5
Stir / Turn
3.5
4
3.5
1
1
1
GB-13