Why Do Microwave Ovens Cook So Fast And How Are They Different From A Convection Oven?

Microwave ovens are a man-made wonder!  They seem to magically cook food in no time. Put the frozen lasagna in, press a few buttons, watch the glass plate spin and voila! Piping hot lasagna is ready.

Microwaves generate high frequency radiation that agitates millions of molecules in the food. These agitated molecules vibrate and collide as they try to move around. Heat is created by the friction caused by these colliding molecules. We can visualize it as ‘inside out’ heating.

The core of a microwave oven is an instrument called a magnetron. A magnetron generates high frequency energy waves (these are what we call microwaves).

But what sets them apart from their cousin, the convection ovens? A convection oven heats differently.  It uses heating coils and circulation fans to heat the interior of the oven, which in turn cook food from the outside to the inside. The food is cooked more evenly than a microwave, but you may need to wait a little longer for that mouth-watering lasagna.


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