When you microwave two plates of food under the time it would take to fully microwave only one plate of food, several things can happen:
Uneven Heating: The two plates of food may not heat evenly. Since the microwave's energy is divided between the two plates, each plate receives less energy compared to when there is only one plate. This can result in one plate being heated more than the other, leading to unevenly heated or partially cold food.
Longer Cooking Time: Splitting the cooking time between two plates means that each plate receives less time to heat. As a result, both plates may end up undercooked or require additional microwaving to reach the desired level of doneness.
Temperature Discrepancies: If the two plates contain different types of food or have different starting temperatures, they may require different cooking times to reach their respective desired temperatures. Microwaving them together can result in one plate being overheated while the other remains undercooked.
Texture and Quality Changes: Uneven heating and shorter cooking times can affect the texture and quality of the food. Some portions may become overcooked or dried out, while others may remain undercooked or cold.
To ensure even and thorough cooking, it is generally recommended to microwave one plate of food at a time, following the recommended cooking times for that specific dish. If you need to microwave multiple plates, it's best to do them separately or rotate their positions in the microwave during the cooking process to promote more even heating.