The Microwave Buttons That Make Lazy Cooking Even Easier

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Many people have glanced at the popcorn or pizza button on the microwave and assumed it wasn't worth figuring out how those presets perform. But even trying just one new button on your microwave might change the way you use it forever. Microwave preset buttons are mini cooking programs, designed to adjust cooking times and power levels based on what you're heating up. Some newer microwave models, like the Toshiba Smart Countertop Microwave, even include built-in sensors that monitor steam and humidity levels to figure out when your food is done cooking. This means you're not just warming your food blindly. Instead, you're letting your microwave make decisions based on what your food really needs while it cooks.

This comes in handy when you're too tired or lazy to care about cooking times. Whether you're warming up soup, thawing frozen meat, or learning to cook pasta in the microwave for that perfect al dente bite, using the proper presets takes the guesswork out of it. Instead of jabbing buttons mindlessly and hoping for the best, you're letting this machine go down a more thoughtful culinary path — no more cold centers or burnt ends. If you're one of those people who microwave more than they cook from scratch, these buttons might become your best friend. Just put your food in, select the right icon, and let the machine do its thing.

Most microwaves have some standard presets like "popcorn," "pizza," "potatoes," and "reheat." These aren't just gimmicks. For example, the potato preset will cook without the need to flip the potato over. The reheat preset will more often than not warm leftovers without dehydrating them. Using these settings is literally applying your microwave's built-in logic, instead of just blasting all your food on high and hoping it turns out fine. Microwave presets shine in their ability to heat food evenly, and when used correctly, a leftover slice of pizza won't become a soggy mess, and a bowl of soup stops short of boiling over. Using these presets means less work for you and better results overall. 

Once you start using the presets your microwave has, they'll slowly start to become second nature. Instead of setting a timer for two minutes and walking away, you'll just hit a button that cooks your plate just right. Even defrosting, which is notoriously hit or miss in a microwave, works when you press the right button and let the microwave do its thing: defrost food in brief, regulated doses rather than a single long session at the maximum level.

Microwave models like Black+Decker's Countertop Digital Microwave Oven offer a variety of presets that can handle simple reheating tasks. There are so many microwave hacks you didn't know you needed, and learning how to use your presets is one of them.