The Cook Time Conversion Table
Package and recipe times assume an appliance you may not own. Microwave instructions are written for a reference wattage, usually 1000-1200 W. Convection needs about 25 F less than a conventional recipe. And a recipe timed for a 15 PSI stovetop cooker runs short in a 10-12 PSI electric multi-cooker. These are the adjustments.
The dataset
| Your appliance | Recipe written for | Adjustment | Note | Source class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microwave 700 W | 1000 W reference | Multiply stated time by about 1.4 | Package times assume a reference wattage, commonly 1000-1200 W | derived calculation |
| Microwave 800 W | 1000 W reference | Multiply stated time by about 1.25 | Check food temperature rather than trusting default minutes | derived calculation |
| Microwave 1200 W | 1000 W reference | Multiply stated time by about 0.85 | Higher wattage delivers the same energy in less time | derived calculation |
| Convection oven | Conventional recipe | Reduce temperature by about 25 F | Cook time may also shorten by up to 30% | standard/engineering reference |
| Electric pressure cooker 10-12 PSI | Stovetop recipe at 15 PSI | Increase time by about 10-15% | Lower pressure means a lower internal temperature | derived calculation |
Download
cook-time-conversion-table.csv (latest) · cook-time-conversion-table-v1.0.csv (version-pinned, stable for citation)
License: CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution, including for commercial and machine-learning use.
How to cite
Countertop Lab, “The Cook Time Conversion Table”, version 1.0, 2026. Available at https://countertop-lab.pages.dev/cook-time-conversion-table/ under CC BY 4.0.
Methodology & versioning
- Microwave factors are inverse-wattage arithmetic against a 1000 W reference, rounded to practical precision, and labelled as derived.
- The 25 F convection offset is the widely used standard conversion, not a per-model measurement.
- Pressure adjustment follows from the lower internal temperature at 10-12 PSI versus 15 PSI.
- Always verify with a thermometer. These are starting points for time, not a substitute for checking doneness.
- Versioning. v1.0 published July 30, 2026. The version-pinned CSV will not change; corrections ship as a new version with a dated note.
This is an equipment-specification reference, not cooking or food-safety guidance. Follow your appliance manual and use a food thermometer to verify doneness.