Over-designed Instructions

My microwave meal leads off its cooking instructions with a picture of a microwave and a big colorful “5 mins.” I put the bowl in the microwave for 5 minutes. I overnuked my food because someone thought it made sense to highlight the total time required, because it should only cook for 4 minutes and it rests for 1 minute. The 5 was clear and the 4 was buried in text. I don’t think I’m unusual in cooking it for 5 minutes.

Jeffrey L Cohen

Jeffrey L Cohen