The working principle and use skills of microwave oven

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In modern kitchens, microwave ovens have long been an indispensable helper for many people. It makes food change from cold to hot in a few minutes, which brings great convenience to the fast-paced life. But do you really know why microwaves heat food so quickly? This article will take you deep into the world of microwave, starting from the nature of microwave, all-round analysis of the work of this common home appliance mystery. Understanding this knowledge will not only help you use the microwave oven more safely and efficiently, but also allow you to unlock more unexpected cooking effects.

(1)、What is Microwave?

Microwaves are essentially the 1 kind of electromagnetic waves with a frequency range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength of 1mm to 1 m. The most typical application of microwave in our daily life is microwave oven. The microwave frequency used in the microwave oven is 2450 MHz. The choice of this frequency is very clever. It is especially easy to be absorbed by water molecules in food. Simply understood, a microwave is 1 invisible wave that carries energy, and its mission is to transfer its energy to food.

(2)、Core heating principle

1. energy source: magnetron

The heart of a microwave oven is a tube called a magnetron. When you press the start button, the electricity is converted into microwaves, which are emitted from the magnetron.

2. energy Transmission: Waveguide and Rotation

The generated microwaves are introduced into the furnace chamber through a metal channel (waveguide). The metal wall of the furnace cavity will reflect the microwave. At the same time, the rotating antenna at the top of the furnace cavity or the rotating tray at the bottom can make the microwave scatter evenly in the furnace cavity to ensure that the food is heated relatively evenly.

3. molecular friction heat generation

This is the most exquisite microwave heating. Food contains a large number of water molecules, and water molecules have polarity (the 1 head is positively charged, the 1 head is negatively charged). In a 2450 MHz microwave field, the direction of the electric field changes positive and negative 2.45 billion times per second. In order to keep up with the rapidly changing direction of the electric field, water molecules also vibrate and rotate at high speed, colliding and rubbing violently with each other. This intense movement at the micro level is directly converted into macro heat. Therefore, microwave heating starts from the water molecules inside the food, both inside and outside.

(3)、compared with the traditional heating method

Compared with traditional heating methods that rely on heat conduction (such as open flame, oven heating from outside to inside) or heat convection (such as boiling, steaming), microwave heating has significant advantages:

1. efficient and fast

Microwave energy directly acts on food molecules without first heating the container or air, so the heating speed is extremely fast, the efficiency is higher, and the energy and time are saved.

2. uniform heating (relative)

If it can be rotated or stirred, the microwave can penetrate the food from multiple directions,

reducing the situation of "outer coke and inner raw.

3. retain nutrition and taste

Due to its short heating time, some vitamins in food (such as vitamin C) may be less damaged than long-term boiling. At the same time, it can maintain the color and taste of food to a certain extent,

However, microwave heating also has its shortcomings. It is not suitable for cooking that requires a Maillard reaction (producing a burnt flavor) or the formation of a hard, crisp crust (e. g. fried steak, toast). For large, thick food, still need to pay attention to whether the center heating is sufficient.

(4)、Is it safe to heat food in a microwave oven?

This is the concern of many people. Modern microwave oven design fully consider the safety, mainly through the following technical guarantee:

1. multiple seal design

The furnace door adopts a special sealing structure, the door is provided with a metal mesh shield, and the mesh size is much smaller than the microwave wavelength (about 12cm), which can effectively prevent microwave leakage.

2. interlocking safety device

The microwave oven is equipped with a door switch interlocking system. Once the door is opened, the magnetron will immediately stop working to ensure that the microwave will not leak.

3. food security

Microwave heating is essentially a physical process rather than a chemical reaction, and does not change the atomic structure of the food, nor does it make the food radioactive.

(5)、Microwave oven cooking skills and wonderful use

Once you have mastered the science of microwave ovens, you can make better use of this small kitchen assistant.

1. cooking skills

①. Uniform heating

Put the food into a ring, leaving space in the middle, which helps the microwave to penetrate evenly.

②. Covering food

The use of microwave special cover or wet paper towel to cover food, not only can prevent water evaporation, but also can promote uniform heating.

③. Segmented heating

For large pieces of food, can be used segmented heating method, halfway pause stirring or flip.

④. Skillful use of steam

Sprinkle a small amount of water on vegetables and heat them in a microwave oven to better preserve nutrition and color.

2. use smart tricks:

①. Fast cooking

Heat a small amount of water over high heat, add vegetables or fish and shrimp, cover and "steam" cooked for a short time.

②. Resurrection dry food

Will overnight bread, pastry spray a little water, low heat 10-20 seconds, can restore soft.

③. Easy Peel

Tomatoes and peaches are crossed at the bottom and heated for about 30 seconds. The skin will peel off easily.

④. Squeeze more juice

Lemons, oranges and other microwave heating 10-20 seconds and then cut, the juice rate is higher.

⑤. Melting and softening

Quickly soften butter, honey, melt chocolate (low temperature for a short time and stir).

Conclusion

From the energy conversion of the magnetron to the microscopic vibration of water molecules, the heating process of the microwave oven shows the perfect integration of science and daily life. By virtue of its unique principle of directly acting on water molecules, it achieves efficient and rapid heating, and to a certain extent becomes a right-hand man to retain food nutrition. Understanding its core mechanism not only allows us to understand the scientific basis of its efficiency and safety, but also allows us to use it more intelligently-avoiding its shortcomings and giving full play to its advantages.