Who does not know what a microwave is? We are sure some of you have this handy cooking tool at your disposal to make it easier to process food quickly.
Although it has been widely produced, some people may not understand the potential and benefits of using a microwave. With that in mind, let us take a closer look at what a microwave is, its types, and its uses.
What is a microwave?
A microwave is an electromagnetic microwave-based device used to heat and warm food. In general, microwaves tend to be more energy-efficient and speed up cooking food.
This is certainly different from conventional ovens that still use electric or gas heating elements. So, what about its safety? Some manufacturers even provide a microwave safe label to assure you that the product used has been tested safe.
This will make it easier for you to heat food or cook various instant foods quickly. Besides, the microwave also has a function to instantaneously increase the food temperature so it can produce perfectly cooked food.
Also Read: Make the most of your food containers
How a microwave works
How does a microwave work? This modern household appliance can operate thanks to microwaves, an electronic wave ranging from 12.2 cm (about 4.8 in) to 1mm (about 0.04 in) long.
The waves that enter the inside of this item will absorb the water, fat, and sugar molecules contained in each food item. This allows the food to heat up as the molecules are heated evenly and quickly.
Then, how is the complete process? Microwaves have several main components including the magnetron, waveguide, and turntable. Initially, the main wave generated by the magnetron will be sent to the microwave chamber through the waveguide.
The heat energy that is generated will be evenly distributed by the turntable. These complex interactions ensure that the microwave heating process is effective for cooking and heating food faster.
Types and functions of microwaves
Several types of microwaves are divided based on their respective functions. Here is a brief explanation of each type for you to consider:
Conventional Microwave
The first type of microwave that is often used is the conventional microwave. This is one of the standard microwaves that is used to heat food efficiently.
The use of this microwave is to warm food or cook ready-to-eat food without taking a long time, when compared to using a gas stove in general.
Microwave grill
Just by the name itself, you can already guess that this microwave is equipped with a grill feature. This feature can be used if you want a crisper texture of food or cook it until browned.
In addition, the microwave grill has a larger space so you can cook steaks, grilled chicken, or toast in massive quantities.
Convection microwave
Next is a convection microwave equipped with a convection system to distinguish it from ordinary microwaves. This system helps regulate the circulation of warm air around food.
Thanks to this feature, your food can be cooked evenly with a crisper texture. This type of microwave is used to bake cakes, bread, or other dishes that go through the baking process.
Combination microwave
This last type of microwave is quite multifunctional because it combines various functions, ranging from microwave, grill, and convection functions into one. This will give you the flexibility to process several types of food through the process of heating, grilling, and frying.
Advantages of microwaves
