Food, Utensil and Tips Power Level Amount Time Bacon, thin sliced (cooking) Plate lined with paper towels; cover with paper towel. High (100%) 1 slice 45 sec to 2 min 4 slices 3 to 4 min Brown sugar, hard (softening) Paper box or bowl High (100%) Up to 2 cups Check every 30 sec Caramels (melting) 4-cup glass measure, uncovered High (100%) 1 pkg (14 oz) caramels mixed with 2 Tbsp water 3 to 4 min, stirring every 45 sec Chocolate, baking (melting) Paper wrapper or bowl Medium (50%) 1 or 2 oz 3 or 4 min, stirring after 2 min Chocolate Chips (melting) Bowl or glass measuring cup, uncovered. Chips will not change shape. Medium (50%) 1/2 to 1 cup 3 to 4 min Cream Cheese (softening) Remove foil wrapper. Place on waxed paper or plate, uncovered. Medium (50%) 3-oz pkg 30 to 45 sec 8-oz pkg 1 to 1 1/2 min Dried Fruit (softening) 2-cup measure; cover tightly. High (100%) 1 cup; sprinkle with 1 tsp water 45 sec to 1 minute, let stand a few min. Honey (crystallized) Jar with lid removed, uncovered High (100%) 8-oz jar 30 sec to 2 min, stirring every 30 sec Ice Cream (softening) Original container; remove any foil. Low (10%) 1/2 gal 1 1/2 min, rotating 1/2 turn after 1 minute Margarine or Butter (melting) Remove foil wrapper. Measuring cup or small bowl, uncovered High (100%) 1 to 2 Tbsp 15 to 30 sec 3 to 4 Tbsp 30 to 45 sec 1/3 to 1/2 cup 45 to 60 sec 2/3 to 1 cup 1 to 1 1/2 min Margarine or Butter (softening) Remove foil wrapper. Measuring cup or small bowl, uncovered Medium-low (30%) 1 to 3 Tbsp 15 to 30 sec 1/4 to 1 cup 30 to 45 sec Muffins or rolls (reheating) Plate or napkin-lined basket, uncovered Medium (50%) 1 15 to 30 sec 2 25 to 40 sec 3 35 to 60 sec 4 45 sec to 1 1/4 min Nuts, chopped (toasting) Shallow bowl or pie plate. Mix nuts with 1 tsp melted margarine or butter. Stir every 30 sec. High (100%) 1/4 cup 1 1/2 to 2 min 1/2 cup 2 1/2 to 3 min Syrup (heating) Measuring cup or pitcher, uncovered. Stir before serving. High (100%) 1/2 cup 45 to 60 sec Coconut (toasting) Shallow bowl or pie plate, uncovered. Stir every 30 sec. High (100%) 1/4 to 1/2 cup 1 to 1 1/2 min 1 cup 2 to 2 1/2 min Fruit, refrigerated (warming) Place on floor of microwave. High (100%) 1 medium 15 sec Snacks (crisping popcorn, pretzels, corn chips or potato chips) Napkin-lined basket, uncovered High (100%) 2 cups 30 to 60 sec 4 cups 1 to 2 min Vegetables or Fruits, frozen (thawing) Remove outer wrap from box; pierce box or bag with fork. Place on paper towel. Turn over after half the time; drain. Medium-low (30%) 9- to 12-oz pkg 6 to 10 min 16-oz bag 8 to 12 min Water (boiling) Glass measuring cup High (100%) 1 cup 2 to 3 min