Running a microwave for 2 minutes at 50% power is not the same as running it for 1 minute at full power. The main difference lies in how the microwave distributes the energy during the cooking process.
When you run a microwave at 50% power, it cycles between full power and no power. It runs at full power for a certain amount of time and then switches off completely for the same amount of time. This cycle continues throughout the 2-minute cooking duration. The purpose of using reduced power is to give the food more time to heat up evenly without getting overcooked on the outside while still cold in the center.
On the other hand, when you run the microwave at full power for 1 minute, it continuously operates at its maximum power level for that duration.
So, even though the total cooking time in both scenarios is 2 minutes, the way the microwave distributes and applies the energy is different. As a result, the final outcome and the level of cooking may vary between the two methods. For some specific dishes, using reduced power might result in better cooking, while in other cases, full power for a shorter duration might be more suitable.