Symptoms
- Some parts of frozen food thaw or start cooking while other parts stay frozen
- Defrost by weight setting seems inaccurate
- Manual, lower-power defrosting works better than the preset
- Problem is more noticeable with irregularly shaped food
Likely causes
- CommonIrregular food shape or size causing uneven thawingThinner parts of food thaw and can start to cook before thicker parts even soften.
- CommonIncorrect weight entered for weight-based defrost presetsThis setting estimates time based on weight, so an inaccurate weight throws off the result.
- PossibleFood not flipped or rotated during a longer defrost cycleMany defrost cycles expect you to flip food partway through.
- PossibleReduced magnetron output affecting all functionsIf regular cooking also seems weaker than before, this could be a broader output issue.
What to do
- Weigh food accurately before using a weight-based defrost setting, rather than estimating.
- Flip or rotate food partway through the defrost cycle if your manual recommends it, which most models do for larger items.
- For very irregular shapes, consider using a lower, manual power level and checking food every minute or two instead of a single preset.
- Separate food into more evenly sized or thinner portions when possible before freezing, which helps future defrosting.
- If regular cooking (not just defrost) also seems weaker than it used to be, refer to the slow-heating guide, since this points to an overall power issue rather than defrost specifically.
- If defrost specifically remains inconsistent despite correct technique, this is more a food-shape limitation than a fault to repair.
When to call a pro
This usually doesn't need a technician; if overall heating power seems reduced across all functions, refer to the slow-heating guide instead.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.