Marie Callenders Chicken pot pie 700 watt microwave

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

Registered: Sep 6, 2001

Posts: 9831

I was in the process of preparing a Marie Calendar pot pie when I noticed the directions mention that if your microwave isn't at least 1100 watts, that you should prepare it in the oven instead. Which of course got me curious as to exactly what the wattage is on my microwave. Mine is busting out 1580w. Yours?

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Registered: Mar 16, 2000

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I am pretty sure ours is 800 watts, but it is a really old under-the-counter model that was already here when we moved in, and I'm not going to pull it out just to check the wattage.

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Registered: Aug 30, 2007

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I don't even own a microwave.

And voted the same. Thank you for thinking of the poor, microwaveless members of society.

Ars Scholae Palatinae

Registered: Nov 28, 2004

Posts: 1098

mine is definitely 750W, I checked this recently actually, while trying to sort out how long to cook my Lean Cuisine...

Sad to hear I can't make Marie Callender's pot pie...

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Registered: Jul 24, 2006

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I want to say mine's either 1000W or 1050W. All I know is I inherited it from my sister when she moved.

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Tribus: London, Ontario

Registered: Oct 18, 2002

Posts: 5070

1kW

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Registered: Aug 20, 1999

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1580w? Good God. Mine's 1250w, and it'll melt titanium or fire ceramics. What would you do with >13A of microwave power? Create diamonds?

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900W and I'd bet it has to be the oldest. Manufactured April 1986.

Has a special feature where it can heat the container to a blistering temp, but still leave the food cold. This way when you drop the coffee cup after it fries your hand, you won't be scalded.

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Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

Tribus: Adelaide, South Australia

Registered: Sep 5, 2006

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quote:

Originally posted by stephenb:
900W and I'd bet it has to be the oldest. Manufactured April 1986.

Has a special feature where it can heat the container to a blistering temp, but still leave the food cold. This way when you drop the coffee cup after it fries your hand, you won't be scalded.

Good grief. At that age, I'm wondering how the shielding & seals are holding up.

Have you ever had it tested for radiation leakage?

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

Registered: Sep 6, 2001

Posts: 9831

quote:

Originally posted by stephenb:
900W and I'd bet it has to be the oldest. Manufactured April 1986.

Up until a couple years ago my mother was still using one from 1982. That thing was a beast. I still have one I bought 10 years ago. Microwaves must be one of the few consumer electronics that actually last a while.

edit: I'm dumb, my microwave is 1100w, the 1580w is the input on it. Ugh, wtf GE, put useful information on the microwave itself you r-tards.

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At work, 560Wish -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif -- . Gotta be the oldest here.

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quote:

Originally posted by stephenb:
900W and I'd bet it has to be the oldest. Manufactured April 1986.

Has a special feature where it can heat the container to a blistering temp, but still leave the food cold. This way when you drop the coffee cup after it fries your hand, you won't be scalded.

I can almost guarantee ours is older, but I'm way too lazy to check it. Everything in our house (that we didn't bring ourselves) is from the late 70's to early 80's.

"Gooner"
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Registered: Sep 22, 2000

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950W. It's a built-in from 2007, so I didn't have a choice.

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Registered: Jun 28, 2005

Posts: 1846

Diabolical wins. He had soldiers walk into a Sat microwave field IIRC. He had to yell at a Colonel becuase they were cooking, and did not know it.

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Registered: May 21, 2000

Posts: 7537

Mine is 1250W. According to my Kill-a-Watt, it draws over 2kW when running. The Kill-a-Watt beeps because it's overloaded. I find this curious, because I am almost entirely sure that it's plugged into a 15A circuit.

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Registered: May 30, 2001

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We got one of those combo microwave - convection oven things. It rocks hard.

Not sure how to vote, since (thanks Google) it's a 950 watt microwave + 1500 watt convection.

Google also informs me it has a "child lockout" feature. You know, in case any tiny children (under 1.7 cubic feet) manage to levitate themselves five feet off the ground and attempt to cram themselves into the microwave.

Thank you, Kenmore! -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif --

Ars Tribunus Militum

Registered: Jun 22, 2006

Posts: 2620

quote:

Originally posted by barich:
Mine is 1250W. According to my Kill-a-Watt, it draws over 2kW when running. The Kill-a-Watt beeps because it's overloaded. I find this curious, because I am almost entirely sure that it's plugged into a 15A circuit.

By national electric code, you should have two 20A outlets in your kitchen. I know, because I re-wired my kitchen myself, and only wired in 15A circuits. :-)

Are you sure the kill-a-watt isn't too close to it's max, and freaking out? 750 watts seems like a lot to turn a turntable and run a fan (outside of the 1250 watts to nuke the food).

Ars Praefectus

Tribus: DFW

Registered: Jun 15, 2002

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I got myself a 3kw magnetron once...

You know where this is going...

So I hooked the magnetron to a 6kw supply (you'd be suprised at what you can find on ebay). I made a cantenna with a 1lb coffee can and besides frying my right hand for a second, melted the magnetron -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif --

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Tribus: Nepal

Registered: Aug 28, 2000

Posts: 5624

800 W

quote:

Sad to hear I can't make Marie Callender's pot pie...

++

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Registered: Jul 11, 2005

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I make Marie Callender's pot pies anyway, even with my crappy 750W POS.

Not ideal - but not inedible.

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Registered: Feb 22, 2001

Posts: 16937

I bought my microwave because it's shiny and it has "Smeg" written on it.

But it's actually pretty cool. 1200W I think, and has convection modes so I can cook a crispy pie. Mmm... crispy pie.

Ars Scholae Palatinae

Registered: Feb 22, 2002

Posts: 760

Mine's rated for 1100 watts but pulls ~1370 watts at the wall. Kill-a-watts are cool. It's too late to get out a beaker and thermometer and measure it's actual output.

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Registered: Jul 28, 2000

Posts: 16897

I won't own anything less than a 1200 watt. I like popping a bag of popcorn in one minute fifty five seconds.
Now, if I could just find a reliable source of Orville Redenbacher Pour Over Cheddar Cheese, all would be right with the world...

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Tribus: Londonish

Registered: Jan 11, 2003

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I used to have a microwave. It died. I don't miss it.

Everything is cooked with fire. Rawwwwwwrrrrrrrrr!

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Registered: Jun 6, 2001

Posts: 11318

quote:

Originally posted by photomikey:
Are you sure the kill-a-watt isn't too close to it's max, and freaking out? 750 watts seems like a lot to turn a turntable and run a fan (outside of the 1250 watts to nuke the food).

Electronics aren't 100% efficient.

Electronics that make RF at power are *really* not 100% efficient.

"Stark Raving Sane"
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Registered: May 12, 1999

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I think you'll find most microwaves are in the 800-1000W range. (Mine's 900) Most of the frozen food manufacturers prefer it around there - makes it slightly more difficult to set your food on fire, but still cooks quickly enough for most.

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

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Registered: Nov 7, 2000

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What's so bloody special about Marie Calendar's pot pies that they require 1100W? -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif -- Wouldn't it just cook slower in my little 750W model? (much like trying to run Bioshock on my 6600GT - it works fine, you just have to be v_e_r_y patient )

quote:

We got one of those combo microwave - convection oven things. It rocks hard.

Mine died. I miss it badly. Those things really are the business.

But I need to buy a good one. "Smeg" sounds appealing!

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Registered: Jul 17, 2001

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950W over the stove range hood style Maytag.

It has the excruciating "feature" that it beeps loudly 4 times every few seconds (or so it seems, I haven't actually timed the interval) if you don't open the door after it's done.

I'M the HUMAN you POS electronic pile of feldecarb! If I want to leave my re-heated coffee in your innards for a few minutes, get over it!

I especially hate this in the quiet of the morning before anyone else is up.

There must be a way to re-program the "reminder" feature.

~Dave

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

Tribus: 'Merica

Registered: Oct 27, 1999

Posts: 8220

My gf and I bought the cheap 600w microwave.

Worst purchase ever... it's worth an extra 20 bucks to get something that actually cooks stuff in it and is not just a heat lamp.

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

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Registered: May 12, 1999

Posts: 8084

I'm a bit dubious of 1580 watts. That's approaching max load on a standard 15 amp circuit. It's already more than the suggested max load of 80% on a circuit.

That said, my microwave is 1200 I believe. I always have to adjust times down from what directions on a box say. It seems to be quite powerful.

Registered: Jul 1, 1999

Posts: 91703

900W, I think. Weenie model that came with the apartment.

IIRC the one before it was 1200W or so. Mo betta'.

"diabolus scies"
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Tribus: Chicagoish

Registered: Dec 4, 2000

Posts: 44092

It's either 1200W or 1400W. I know that I wanted the biggest and most penis-enhancing one I could find when I put it on our wedding registry.

For the record, it's fucking awesome.

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Registered: Dec 4, 2000

Posts: 44092

quote:

Originally posted by stephenb:
900W and I'd bet it has to be the oldest. Manufactured April 1986.

My brother recently moved out and took with him my parents' old Amana Radarange. They bought it in 1978, IIRC. The thing weighs about 80 pounds... it must be lead-lined or something. I think that sucker is like 1600W.

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Registered: Aug 15, 2004

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Mine is either 600 or 700. I want to get a new one, but this fucker won't die.