How Many Amps Does A Microwave Use? (How To Calculate)

 

When microwaves revolutionized the way that families heated their food in the late 1960s, every mom rushed to the store to buy one.

They could cook dinner in less time while also using less energy than the stove!

How much energy do microwaves use?

Microwaves run on electricity, but how much energy do they use, and how much does it cost to operate one on average?

We will answer all your questions regarding the electrical requirements and usage of microwaves and what it means for you and your family at mealtime.

 

How Many Amps Does A Microwave Use?

 

A standard 1000-watt microwave draws an estimated 10 amps.

Average microwaves range from 600 watts to 1200 watts, employing between 5.4 and 10 amps.

The higher the wattage, the more amps the microwave requires.

The more amps, the quicker the device will cook your food.

 

What Is Amperage?

 

Amperage (amps) measures the number of electrons located in an electrical circuit.

Higher amperage generally means more power, but amperage works hand in hand with voltage to produce the final output.

Voltage also measures the electrical current, but it measures the pressure as opposed to the number of electrons.

Multiply a device’s amperage and voltage to compute the all-encompassing measurement of power, the wattage.

 

Why Do I Need To Know The Amperage Of My Microwave?

 

Knowing the amperage of your microwave will increase safety and protect your appliance from damage that can occur by plugging a device that draws a high amperage into a circuit that only supports a lower amperage.

You can safely plug lower amperage microwaves into higher amperage circuits without any trouble.

For example, you can safely plug a 15-amp microwave into a 20-amp circuit, but you can’t plug a 20-amp microwave into a 15-amp circuit.

 

How To Calculate Microwave Amp Usage (Simple Two-Step Method)

 

Figuring the amperage of your microwave is easier than you may have thought.

Simply follow these two simple steps to get your results.

 

Step One: Gather Product Information

 

The two most important things you want to know about your microwave are the wattage and the voltage of the device.

Wattage varies greatly, but most microwaves run at 120 volts with some minor variations (e.g., 110 volts).

If you still have the owner’s manual, it will have all the necessary details readily available.

If you don’t have the manual, you can research your microwave online to learn more about it, but pay close attention to detail so that you don’t get the values for a similar but different model.

 

Step Two: Calculate Amperage

 

To calculate amperage, you simply divide the wattage by the voltage.

Examples:

600 watts / 120 volts = 5 amps

800 watts / 120 volts = 7 amps

1000 watts / 120 volts = 9 amps

1200 watts / 120 volts = 10 amps

***In the interest of simplicity, we rounded the results to the next highest whole number.

Why use decimals and fractions when talking about heating up leftovers?

 

High Watt Vs. Low Watt Microwaves

 

When you look at microwaves in the store, how do you know whether to choose the 1200-watt model or the 600-watt model?

Learn the major differences between high-wattage microwaves and low-wattage microwaves to help you make the best purchasing decision.

 

Pros And Cons Of High Wattage Microwaves (800 Watts Or More)

 

Pros: High-watt microwaves cook food more quickly, which makes it the preferred option for impatient, hungry people.

The fast cooking time also minimizes the possibility of getting sick by eating partially cooked food.

The food also cooks more evenly, so you don’t need to flip your food to get all of it heated up thoroughly.

Cons: High wattage microwaves cost more and require more power from your electrical outlets.

 

Pros And Cons Of Low Wattage Microwaves (Less Than 800 Watts)

 

Pros: Low-wattage microwaves run more efficiently, saving you money on your utility bills.

They also cost less upfront and won’t put too much strain on lower amperage wiring you may find in an RV or boat.

Cons: You will need to wait significantly longer for your food, reducing the savings from running more efficiently.

People may also get uncooked food, which can lead to illness.

 

How Much Faster Are High Watt Microwaves Than Low Watt Microwaves?

 

How much of a difference does wattage make?

For a vivid representation, see how long it takes a microwave to boil water at different wattages:

• 600 watts = 2:55
• 800 watts = 2:11
• 1000 watts = 1:45
• 1200 watts = 1:27

 

How Microwave Amperage Affects You

 

What can you do with your new information about microwave amperage?

You can use it to make confident purchasing decisions and ensure proper electrical wiring for your microwave.

 

Buying The Right Microwave For Your Home

 

When shopping for your home kitchen, you want to opt for a high-wattage microwave (800 watts or higher) in a color that matches the other appliances in your kitchen.

Additionally, you need to consider the size of the microwave and its features.

Extra space in the kitchen is undeniably valuable.

However, a small microwave may not fit larger plates, and forcing a large plate into a small microwave can create a hazard.

See the following microwave sizes to determine the best one for you.

• Compact: up to 0.8 cubic feet
• Mid-size: up to 1.3 cubic feet
• Family size: up to 1.6 cubic feet
• Full size: up to 2 cubic feet

Pro Tip: To make more space, consider installing your microwave on the wall instead of putting it on the counter, taking up unnecessary room.

Finally, your microwave should have all the features you need (or want).

Most microwaves come with quick buttons, timers, and lights.

Advanced features on new models include removable racks, self-adjusting temperature settings to keep food juicy, and Bluetooth connectivity.

 

Electrical Requirements

 

Before you plug in your new microwave, ensure the circuit you plan to plug it into can support the amperage requirements.

While most experts suggest putting the microwave on its own circuit, if you have multiple devices plugged into one circuit, you need to ensure the circuit can support the amperage of all connected devices when running at the same time.

To eliminate problems, professional electricians recommend that you overestimate the required amperage by about 20% to stay on the safe side.

For example, you probably want a 15-amp circuit for a microwave that requires almost 10 amps.

The most common amperages of kitchen outlets are 15 amps and 20 amps, so they can support any conventional microwave oven.

Circuit amperage becomes more of a concern when using your microwave in less structured locations, such as a shed or outlet at a campsite.

In these cases, you may benefit by choosing a low-wattage microwave. 

 

Can I Plug My Microwave Into An Extension Cord?

 

We do not recommend plugging a microwave into an extension cord, but it can be done.

When absolutely necessary, you can plug a microwave into an extension cord as long as the cord uses the proper wire gauge.

Higher amperage requires thicker wire.

See the following examples of the required wire for different amperages:

• 9 amps: 20-gauge wire
• 12 amps: 18-gauge wire
• 14 amps: 16-gauge wire
• 18 amps: 14-gauge wire

 

Cost Of Running A Microwave

 

Electricity costs money.

While microwaves don’t make up a majority of your home’s electricity use, you may want to learn the cost for financial planning purposes or curiosity.

Now, let’s do the math to calculate the cost of operating a 1000-watt microwave over a year!

Before doing the calculations, we need to clarify uncertain variables, in particular, the price of electricity and average time of use per day.

These values may vary, but we will use the following figures for this example:

Usage per day – 15 minutes

Cost of electricity – $.10/ kW

To calculate the cost of running your microwave per year, you need to:

1. Estimate average time of usage per day: 15 minutes
2. Calculate the wattage used per day (multiply wattage by hours used per day): 1000 watts x 0.25 hours = 250 watts
3. Convert result into kilowatts: 250 watts / 1000 = 0.25 kW
4. Multiply the result by the price of electricity to get daily cost: 0.25 kW x $0.10 = $0.025 per day
5. Multiply by the number of days in a year (365): $0.025 x 365 = $9.125 per year

 

How Does My Microwave Electrical Usage Compare To Other Kitchen Appliances?

 

Your microwave doesn’t use very much electricity, so it doesn’t impact your monthly bill much.

As a comparison, your microwave uses about the same amount of electricity as your coffee maker or waffle iron.

This means you won’t look at your microwave when looking to cut on your electric bill.

The kitchen items that use the most electricity include the dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, and oven.

 

Microwave Vs. Conventional Oven

 

Microwaves run more efficiently than ovens and stovetops since they cook food more quickly and only reach a certain level of heat.

A baked potato cooks in 15 minutes in a microwave and one hour in a conventional oven.

Furthermore, stoves and ovens use more energy the higher you turn up the heat.

Conventional ovens provide much more control over the heat and the way you cook your food.

This control undeniably leads to better tasting meals.

Also, the conventional oven provides more space and higher temperatures necessary for certain dishes.

 

Microwave Vs. Toaster Oven

 

 

Many people use the terms microwave and toaster oven interchangeably, which is incorrect.

Both products heat food using a smaller, more efficient device than the conventional oven.

However, the similarities end there.

Microwaves run more efficiently at $0.08–$0.16 per hour, but toaster ovens only use slightly more energy at $0.15–$0.22 per hour.

While microwaves beat toaster ovens for efficiency, toaster ovens offer features microwaves don’t.

For example, toaster ovens keep food warm for a couple of minutes after you turn it off.

However, when the microwave turns off, the food starts to get cold. 

 

Tips For Safely Cooking Delicious Food In A Microwave

 

Do you want to make the tastiest microwave dinners in town?

Learn these simple tips and tricks to make your food from the microwave as appetizing as possible.

Before putting food in the microwave, read the instructions carefully to learn the cooking time for microwaves of specific wattage.

Many labels provide the cooking times for various wattages.

Amperage (amps) measures the number of electrons located in an electrical circuit.

Higher amperage generally means more power, but amperage works hand in hand with voltage to produce the final output.

Use your knowledge about microwave wattage to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

In some cases, you may even have a microwave that allows you to adjust the wattage, which will allow you to follow cooking instructions perfectly at any wattage.

 

1. Learn What Foods Not To Cook In Microwave

 

Despite popular opinion, you cannot cook everything in the microwave.

While microwaves are safe and come with the approval of the World Food Organization, certain items don’t cook well in microwaves.

Not only will the food possibly explode, but it won’t taste right.

Foods not to cook in the microwave include:

• Hot peppers
• Leafy greens
• Grapes
• Breast Milk

 

2. Cover Food Properly

 

For painless microwave cooking, securely cover the food before heating it up in microwave-safe containers.

Not only will this help keep moisture in your food, but it will also prevent frustrating splatter in your microwave.

If you do not have a cover, you can use plastic wrap.

 

3. Create Ventilation

 

Do not mistake packaging for coverage.

If you plan to heat something in the microwave that comes prepackaged, you need to poke holes into the packaging to create ventilation.

If you do not create ventilation, it can cause the package to become over-pressurized and explode.

You also want to avoid covering the vent when using the microwave.

 

4. Don’t Run Microwave While Empty

 

Do not turn the microwave on without anything inside of it!

Without food to absorb the heat created by the microwave, the energy has nowhere to go and compounds until potentially growing to a level that can damage the microwave.

 

5. Don’t Run Microwave With Unlatched Door

 

If your microwave door doesn’t close all the way, it can allow radiation to enter your home.

After extended exposure to high electromagnetic radiation levels, you may develop burns or vision problems.

Federal regulations limit leakage to 5 mW per square centimeter throughout the lifespan of the device.

If you notice an open door or radiation leakage, stop using the microwave until you fix the problem or replace it.

 

Final Thoughts On How Many Amps A Microwave Uses

 

Amperage directly correlates with the wattage of the microwave, but most microwaves draw about 10 amps.

More powerful microwaves heat food more quickly, but they may not work properly in areas with low amperage circuits, such as a shed or boat.

However, most homes will have the amperage to support a conventional residential microwave without any trouble.