Abstract: Microwave oven and method in which the microwave energy pattern and the load are moved relative to each other, and the rate of movement is varied to control the amount of heating in different portions of the load. In some embodiments, a rotator causes the microwave energy pattern to be modulated within the oven cavity. The microwave power at different points in the oven cavity is measured with the rotator in different angular positions, and the angular velocity of the rotator is varied so that the rotator spends more time in angular positions where more heating is required. In other embodiments, the load is rotated, and the angular velocity of the load is varied so that the load spends more time in angular positions where additional heating is required.