Cooking in Microwave ovens
The following is an exercise into the world of microwave cooking with a difference – we look at all aspects – technical and practical as well.
Technical View: If you are one of those who think that technology is best left to techies and nerds, skip to the practical section. Let us be practical.
Microwave ovens use magnetrons to generate electromagnetic waves at a frequency of 2450 MHz to induce heat in water, fat and sugar molecules in the food. Magnetrons require about 600 – 700 Watts of energy to drive them. The various power settings on the control panel actually turns the magnetron on or off as per the settings. Mercifully, the power is fed to the magnetron through a simple transformer and a power diode. Do not try to open up an unit if it fails or out of curiosity. The voltage doubler capacitor may have enough power stored in it to give a lethal shock even after switching off the mains supply. The magnetron lives close to the food chamber and its supply feeds carry enough amperes to make a toast of you. For your safety as well as all around you, opening up the internals of a microwave oven is best left in the hands of qualified service personnels.
If the required power were derived from a chopper power supply or to use the computer parlance – switch mode power supply, the resulting harmonics would have inundated the spectrum. Still microwave ovens emit enough low level power to swamp around the 2450 MHz frequency. Many cordless phones operating out of this frequency spectrum are not too happy sitting around in the same room with a microwave.
Practical View: This method of cooking works because of dielectric heating, which penetrates food deeper, depending upon the composition. As there is little distance between the source of heat and the food, the food is cooked faster. As a corollary, the nutrients are retained better with microwave cooking than through conventional means.Equally, there is a flip side too – the food does not get to that stage of appetizing browning or has the time to develop that delicious golden crust. Meat cooked over a slow fire laced with spices and herbs is always delicious. It is one of the reasons why microwave ovens are more used to reheat and pop corn kernels than regular cooking by many.There is one more use to which microwave ovens can be used about which many people are unaware – zapping microbes so ubiquitous in our kitchen. Our cutting board is easily contaminated with bacteria present in the meat being sliced. You will need to wash them with hot soap water after every use normally. After cleaning, splash water over them and keep them inside microwave for a couple of minutes for zapping the unseen microbes. Table linen and cloth tablemats can be sterilized inside microwaves. However, ensure that there is water on them for real results.
Bone-dry cloth or paper wrappers sit inside with little effect on them, as there is no water molecule to fire up. But don’t put your cutleries inside a microwave as the metal implements will act as antennas to absorb the microwave energy which manifests in the form of nasty sparking. Sustained sparking and operating an empty microwave can damage the magnetron, which is the most expensive component in a microwave.
Again use utensils, wrappers, glassware and containers specifically designed for microwave use inside a microwave. Some plastics disintegrate and the resulting carcinogens may leach into the food. Another issue about the microwave is its tendency to induce super heating in some foods under certain conditions, which can result in severe burns on the user. Covered soups or liquid food can burst into droplets of boiling liquid and steam when moved or handled immediately after cooking in microwave. Always let the food stay for sometime before handling them. Eggs display a tendency to explode inside a microwave.
Really cooking in microwave ovens:
Let us get into the meat of the matter – I mean we will see if we can make some scrumptious meal in our office microwave oven. I suggest some caveat here, as I am not so good in churning out tasty meals. So proceed with caution.
Chicken Nugget (has no relationship to the real ones sold in market other than the name):
Few shredded chicken pieces, marinated in a tablespoon of black soy sauce and powdered black pepper – about 200 gms
Egg white of one egg
Sesame seeds enough to coat the chicken
Method:
After marinating for a few hours, the chicken pieces can be dipped in the beaten egg white and then hauled over the bowl of sesame seeds. Keep the chicken pieces in several layers of kitchen paper inside microwave and cook under full power for about 4 to 7 minutes. Actual time to cook may vary depending on the chicken, microwave or the power supply conditions. Check by piercing the middle of chicken piece with a fork.
Not So Practical View:
I have cooked a dud CD inside a microwave, in a bid to lower my frustration and at first sight, it emerged unscathed. But on closer inspection, I could see that the thin metal film layer had resulted in some sparking and localized heating melting the plastic surrounding it. I should not be surprised at the results. Typically, a microwave oven’s magnetron produces about 500 watts of electromagnetic energy, which must have been concentrated in the small surface of the metal layer on the CD – vaporizing the metal. This is not recommended for the normal household microwave ovens.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided as-is and carries no warranty express or implied about the methods or techniques explained here. The author of this Blog or the site in which this appears will not be responsible for any consequence arising out of the use of this article under any circumstances. You will be advised to read the instructions of the manufacturer of the products.