How a Microwave Works – Nowadays, almost every home is equipped with a microwave as a means of heating food. This device is very practical and efficient, especially for modern families who have little time to prepare dishes.

But have you ever wondered how a microwave works? Why does microwaved food heat up so quickly?

What makes the heating even so that food can be delicious and appetizing even if it was previously stored in the refrigerator?

How a Microwave Works?

Actually, to heat food with even results, we can use an oven. However, ovens work with the help of heating elements that rely on stoves.

Meanwhile, microwaves use electric current, specifically microwave radiation. The waves in the microwave have a frequency of 2500 MHz or 2.5 GHz. These waves are then absorbed by components such as fat, sugar, and water contained in food.

This process is very interesting because the waves absorbed by the food will trigger the molecules in it to move faster thus generating heat.

This is why foods that have a higher water content will heat up faster in the microwave. By using these microwaves, heating and cooking starts from the inside towards the outside of the food. This is why microwaved food can be heated evenly and perfectly.

Inside the microwave, there is a rotating plate that serves to rotate the food during the heating process.

This helps to ensure that all parts of the food get the same exposure to microwaves, thus cooking more evenly.

Interestingly, the container we use to heat our food will usually not heat up as much as the food itself.

The container will only feel warm, thanks to the microwave design that minimizes heat transfer to the surface of the container.

Even so, it is still important to use protection or gloves when removing food from the microwave to avoid exposure to excessive heat.

And in addition, there are other types of microwaves called convection microwaves that work similarly as a small oven.

With this type of microwave, there’s an extra heating element and fan that able to circulate hot air around the cavity thus letting us bake and or roast foods inside the microwave.

Also Read: “How to Clean a Microwave? Come on In and Get Answers! “

Microwave Safety

Even though the microwave is considered one of the most reliable cooking appliances, there are some concerns surrounding the microwave.

Through the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the FDA sets and implements performance standards for electronic products, including microwaves, to ensure that radiation emissions do not harm public health.

One important regulation is the Federal Standard (21 CFR 1030.10), which limits the amount of microwaves that can leak from an oven during its lifetime to 5 milliwatts (mW) of radiation per square centimeter at a distance of about 2 inches from the oven surface.

This limit is set well below levels that could harm humans, providing assurance that microwave use is safe.

Interestingly, the microwave energy will decrease significantly as you move away from the radiation source.

For example, measurements taken at a distance of 20 inches from the oven will only show about 1/100th of the value measured at a distance of 2 inches.

This shows that the microwave is designed with user safety in mind, so you can use it with peace of mind without worrying about the risk of harmful radiation.

Other than that, in Indonesia, microwaves also need to be certified first before being sold and distributed in the market.

The certification itself is called the SNI certificate, that regulates most if not all of the products, procedures and/or services sold or provided in Indonesia.

There are several tests that’ll determine the quality and safety aspects of the microwave, and all of them are clearly stated in SNI IEC 60335-2-90:2010 and SNI IEC 60335-2-25:2010.

So there you have it! The explanation about how a microwave works that we’ve prepared just for you!