Which power stations can run a microwave oven?

A microwave's power rating is easy to misread. The number on the front of the box is the cooking power delivered to the food, not the power drawn from the outlet. Panasonic's NN-SN686S series, for example, is rated at 1200 W of microwave power but lists 1480 W of power consumption. A power station has to supply the larger input figure. Generator charts list a typical microwave at 1000 running watts (Champion, and Generac for a 1000 W model), and an extension service list gives a nameplate range of 750 to 1100 W.

Generator charts do not list a starting surge for a microwave, but it draws close to its full input for as long as it is cooking. Look for a station whose continuous AC rating is comfortably above the input watts printed on the microwave's label or in its manual, not the cooking power on the box.

Because a microwave usually runs for only a few minutes at a time, its energy use is small even though its draw is high. A mid-size battery can handle many short heating sessions, as long as the inverter can carry the load. Smaller and older models often draw less, so check your own unit's label before you rule a station out.