Microwave Ovens - The Facts and Myths
Microwave ovens cook food with microwaves, a type of electromagnetic energy similar to radio waves used by radios and television sets. Microwave cooking uses one type of energy - microwave energy. Microwave ovens have three features which enable them to be commonly used in the cooking industry: they emit microwave radiation, they pass through solid materials, and they absorb food. With these features, it is possible to cook foods without using a lot of oil.
The microwaves emitted by microwave ovens are considered to be relatively safe. However, the effects of microwaves on humans have not been fully established. Microwave radiation safety standard published by the US Department of Health has determined that there is no risk of radiation-related health problems. The radiation emitted by microwave ovens is considered to be extremely high and does not pose a threat to health in normal circumstances. This means that microwave ovens should be used with caution.
Microwave radiation bursts from the oven when the cooking element is turned on. In an ordinary oven, heat rises and the bottom of the oven gets hot while the upper part stays cool. When the top part of the oven heats up, it causes the bottom to become hot and the heat radiates outwards. Thus, the heating effect reaches the entire room, making the inside of the oven dry and the food cooked very fast. A faster rate of cooking means that you don't have to spend a lot of time cooking. However, when this effect goes to the extreme, it could lead to burns.
The reason microwave ovens produce electromagnetic waves is because the material it is made of (copper) generates electromagnetic waves as it absorbs electromagnetic waves from the surrounding area. Microwave ovens use the same concept, only the microwave is used instead of the air or water molecules. These waves penetrate deeper into the foods and cook them more thoroughly. Microwave cooks are also known to be more accurate than conventional cooking. As long as you don't set the oven to high, you can still get good results.
Microwave ovens are powered by one of the three types of microwave radiation, which are electromagnetic waves, sound waves or microwaves. Electromagnetic waves are the ones responsible for generating the heat. Microwave radiation heats food by heating the outer surface, which is similar to how the sun heats metals by passing through them.
Sound waves are another form of microwave radiation. Sound waves travel through bodies of water and land. Thus, they too can generate microwaves. If you put an aluminum foil on the top of your microwave oven, the microwave radiation will go through the foil and travel to the center, where the center of the food is cooked the fastest. Heat generated by sound waves travels in a straight line.
Microwave ovens usually have some form of safety feature. However, since microwaves can generate radiation that's potentially harmful to humans, it's important to install the most suitable safety features. First, ovens with turn off buttons are preferable as these are more resistant to accidental presses. Second, ovens with automatic cooking modes are safer as these allow food to cook even faster. In addition, microwave ovens with automatic cooking menus are more convenient as you won't have to manually control the settings.
Microwave oven cooks using radio waves rather than heat radiation. Thus, they generate less heat than conventional ovens. Microwave cooks also tend to produce more stable temperatures as well, which help preserve food's quality. These features make microwave ovens an excellent choice for the home chef.
Still, despite their many advantages, there are some safety issues associated with microwave ovens. The most common issue is related to overheating. The food cooked in these ovens can get too hot, even when using auto modes. This happens because the food cooks faster than the usual half power required by most ovens. So, if you're using such an oven, make sure that the setting is adequate for your intended heat level.
If you're concerned about the safety of using a microwave oven, the best option for you would be to purchase a separate oven with a Magnetron heating element. A Magnetron is miniature versions of a regular home oven. The difference is that the frequency of the microwaves that the Magnetron produces is lower than what's required to cook food in a conventional oven. This allows the Magnetron to cook food without any visible signs of overheating.
Another important issue is related to the safety of using microwaves. It's well-known that microwaves travel through most surfaces, including food. Although microwaves do not pass through most glass and ceramic dishes, they can still produce very strong microwaves if the surface is coated with a thin film of aluminum oxide. However, since microwaves can't pass through metal, most people consider the presence of a magnetron unnecessary for cooking, except in extremely hot kitchens.