| Microwave ovens are a marvel of modern kitchen | | | | That much said, microwave ovens are a perfectly |
| technology. Many of us can remember a time | | | | safe way to reheat food. The air inside a |
| before microwave ovens when even heating the | | | | microwave does not naturally heat up and so |
| simplest leftover would require the oven to heat | | | | there will be no browning or crisping of anything |
| up and could take quite a while. Not only that, but | | | | reheated within the oven. For this reason some |
| such simple foods as a baked potato would take | | | | microwave foods will come wrapped in a material |
| a great deal of time where today it will be done in | | | | that will heat and then in turn heat and brown or |
| a microwave in a matter of a few minutes. While | | | | crisp the outside of the food that they package. |
| many understand the basics of a traditional oven | | | | Since microwaves are emitted from one side of |
| and how it works, they really don't necessarily | | | | an oven, many such ovens will be designed with a |
| understand what makes the microwave oven of | | | | rotating plate which is designed to help food cook |
| today's kitchen work. | | | | thoroughly. It is possible that the microwaves |
| Microwave ovens use microwaves. A microwave | | | | may not penetrate through particularly thick foods |
| is a type of electromagnetic radiation in a higher | | | | and this movement helps to make more even |
| frequency range than radio waves. It actually is | | | | distribution of the radiation as the plate turns. |
| around the same frequency range that some | | | | The wavelength of microwaves is around 12 |
| wireless network devices and some portable | | | | centimeters and for this reason, unless it is |
| phones use. This is the 2 gigahertz frequency | | | | damaged the waves should not escape the |
| range. Now, electromagnetic waves at this | | | | cabinet of the microwave unless it is damaged or |
| frequency can penetrate and affect waters, fat | | | | poorly designed. Microwave ovens have a |
| and sugars. When it does so, the atoms of these | | | | magnetron inside them which is the source of the |
| substance start to vibrate and become warmer | | | | radiation that is used to cook our food. If you run |
| and warmer as they continue to be exposed to | | | | a microwave without anything in it you will see |
| the microwaves. Human tissue can be affected | | | | sparks as the microwaves have nothing to be |
| by radiation in this range of the electromagnetic | | | | absorbed by and reflect and then collide with each |
| spectrum. The eyes are especially sensitive to this | | | | other. The same is true if you use a substance |
| frequency range. For this reason it is very | | | | that reflects the waves such as metal. Materials |
| important that you never operate a microwave | | | | that do not absorb microwaves are considered |
| that is damaged or the door or door latch is | | | | microwave safe and include plastics, glass and |
| broken. It's also important not to stand against a | | | | ceramics. |
| microwave while it is in operation. | | | | |