Microwave: principle of operation, device, interesting facts

A microwave oven, or microwave oven, is almost an indispensable attribute of any Russian cuisine. Why is this household appliance so common? The point is its speed - the time of heating in the microwave oven is measured in seconds, whereas on the plate it takes much longer. Convenience also plays an important role - the microwave is small in size and can fit even in the smallest "Khrushchev". And if there is no plate and there is no way to put it? The microwave oven can replace it in many ways!

How the microwave came into being

The father of the microwave oven is rightly considered the American physicist Percy Spencer. He developed radiators of ultrahigh frequencies, and during his experiments drew attention to the fact that the organics heated up under the influence of microwave. How exactly this happened, the story is silent, but there are two most common versions: one of them, he absent-mindedly forgot the sandwich on the appliance, and when he remembered about it, he was already warmed up. The second version claims that Spencer wore a chocolate in his pocket, which naturally melted under the influence of ultrahigh frequencies.

Use in everyday life

One way or another, after discovering the "food" properties of microwave radiation in 1942, already at 45 a physicist received a patent for his invention. And two years later, in 1947, the US military warmed up their breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the microwave oven. Whatever the microwave did, the principle of the operation of its mechanism was not worried by the military - the main thing was that it produced a quick result. True, the microwave in the 40's was still "not the same" - the weight of the device exceeded 300 kilograms!

Further on, the company began to work Sharp - already in the 62nd it released "to the people" the first model of a consumer microwave oven. She did not cause a special burst of interest, because the consumers were deterred by the use of microwave radiation. Later, the same company invented the "rotating plate", and in the 79th - the electronic control system.

What does the microwave oven consist of?

The microwave oven consists of several obligatory details:

1. Transformer.
2. The magnetron in the microwave is, in fact, the radiator of ultrahigh frequencies.
3. Waveguide, through which the transmission of radiation to an isolated chamber.
4. The metallized chamber is the place where the products are heated.

Additional elements of the microwave are: a rotating stand for more even heating food, electronics for controlling different modes, a timer, a fan.

How does the microwave warm food?

Despite the apparent "magic" that a microwave oven possesses, the principle of operation is absolutely scientific and logical. Virtually any food contains molecules of water and other elements that have both a positive and a negative charge. In the absence of a magnetic field, charges in molecules are randomly distributed. A strong magnetic field instantaneously organizes electric charges - they become directed strictly in accordance with the course of the magnetic field lines.

The peculiarity of microwave radiation is that it "turns" dipole molecules not just quickly, but unimaginably - almost 5 billion times per second! Molecules move in accordance with a change in the magnetic field, and the highest "switching" speed literally creates a friction effect. It is thanks to this that the products in the microwave oven warm up in a few seconds.

Microwave Oven Types

What are there microwave ovens and how do they differ among themselves:

1. Solo-oven, or microwave oven. Refers to the most budgetary models and is intended only for defrosting and heating food. As a rule, such microwave ovens have a mechanical control and are quite reliable, since there is nothing to break.
2. Microwave with grill and convection. These microwave functions go both together and separately. The grill is an additional heating element, which is located most often under the ceiling of the chamber, and a rotating spit. Convection is the circulation of hot air inside the chamber, which provides an additional and more even heating of food. Such microwaves, as a rule, refer to the average price category and work both on mechanical and electronic control.
3. Multifunction microwave ovens. A lot of modes, of course, convection and grill, the function of a steamer, and also a whole set of culinary solutions for your kitchen. Of course, such serious household appliances are classified as expensive and are controlled by sophisticated electronics.

Despite the difference in detail, a microwave oven for $ 20 and for 200 is the same microwave. The principle of operation is the same.

What else are the microwave ovens different from each other?

1. The volume. Household microwave ovens differ with each other, but not too much. But industrial microwaves are quite different - they can warm up several dozens of servings at once.
2. Type of grill. It can be ceramic, quartz or tenovym. With the same semantic load, they differ in detail: for example, a quartz grill warms more evenly and spends less electricity, but a tenon grill can work more intensively, and it can also be easier to launder.
3. Method of coating the inner walls. They are also several - painting under the enamel, strong enamel and special coatings (bioceramics and antibacterial). Painting - the cheapest and short-lived, the enamel is better, although prolonged and intensive use also leads to its uselessness. Special coatings can be called eternal. The disadvantages are high price and fragility in relation to impact loads. And yes, there is still a stainless steel - an excellent option for those who are not ready to fork out too much for the microwave. A durable, reliable, beautiful looking coating easily withstands prolonged and intense heating. The disadvantages of stainless steel include the complexity of washing - a few cleanings with abrasive agents create a mesh of micro-scratches on its surface, into which the burnt fat "hooks" all its molecules.
4. Types of management. There are only three of them - mechanics, buttons, touch panel. Mechanics are cheap, easy to use, reliable, a disadvantage is the accuracy of timing. Buttons are more often broken, but time can be set to second per second. The disadvantages include the accumulation of dirt on the control elements, which requires additional time for rubbing. The sensor is beautiful, stylish, dirt does not accumulate, you can program the cooking process. Disadvantages - it breaks more often than others, is much more expensive. Repair microwave, especially expensive, the service is not cheap, so it is worth considering: is it worth to take with the sensor?
5. Modes of operation of the microwave oven. They can be from 3-4 in cheap models, up to 10-12 in the most expensive ones. Of the main modes can be identified the following: full mode - frying meat, baking vegetables. Medium-high, 3/4 power - fast heating of undemanding products. Medium - cooking soups, cooking fish. Medium-low, 1/4 power - defrosting products, "soft" heating products. The smallest, about 10% of capacity, is intended for defrosting "capricious" products like tomatoes, and keeping in hot form already hot products.

Microwave oven doppions

One of the most interesting additional functions for a microwave oven is the supply of hot steam. This supplement does not allow the products to dry out, and they also prepare much faster. This can also be added to the ventilation of the camera - despite the seeming insignificance, for many housewives this function has become salutary - now their vegetables do not smell of fish, and the fish - with apples.

Camera dividers. Different grills allow you to prepare several servings at the same time. The lack of this function can be attributed to the lack of rotation, which makes the heating of food less uniform.

"Crisp" - a special plate for microwave, allows you to cook it in the same way as in a pan. Made from a heat-resistant alloy, it "holds" the temperature to 200 degrees.

Mica. What for mica in a microwave? It protects the waveguide from various contaminants, and increases the service life of the device.

Function of double radiation. How does such a microwave oven work? The device and operating principle of such a microwave oven differ only in the presence of two sources of high-frequency radiation. This allows you to achieve a better and even warming up of food.

Built-in cookbook. Not a cheap function, but for those who like to eat deliciously, without spending a lot of time and intellectual expenses, this is it.

The necessary safety rules when using a microwave oven

Quite often, ordinary people are worried about the question whether the microwaves are dangerous to health. The principle of its operation, of course, is based on microwave radiation. But you do not need to be afraid of it.

A fully serviceable microwave oven poses no greater danger to the consumer than a computer or television. Contrary to persistent myths, radiation from a microwave is not radioactive or carcinogenic, and the microwave after a couple of months of work does not begin to "fonit."

Microwave radiation can actually cause a serious burn, but to achieve this from your home microwave oven, you have to sweat - even the cheapest models are equipped with multi-level protection. And, for example, you can not put your hand into the turned-on device - the automation will immediately turn off the power.

What kind of dishes should I use in my microwave oven

It is best if the microwave dish you are going to use in the microwave oven will be specialized, with the appropriate marking. It includes, for example, sets of glassware from heat-resistant glass. If you do not have one at hand, then pay attention to the following recommendations:

1. Glass. Excellent material for microwave, if it is not too thin, and there are no cracks and chips.
2. Porcelain and faience. Suitable materials, if they are completely covered with glaze and are not painted with metallic paint. Again, porcelain or earthenware should not be mechanically damaged.
3. Paper. Suitable material, but with assumptions - the paper should be dense, not colored, and it is better not to use it for a long time.
4. Plastic. Yes, but only specialized. Today, many companies produce entire lines of plastic containers for heating in microwave ovens. Ideal for an office worker who does not want to go broke for business lunches and hikes in a cafe.

The most unsuitable dish for a microwave is metal. From high-frequency radiation it starts to spark, and it will soon send you to look for a place where microwave repairs are being carried out.

How to care?

The instructions for the microwave oven help you in this. It indicates which special detergents should be cleaned. There is no shortage in them, and it's worth buying them right away, with a microwave. Do not delay with cleaning - repeatedly heated and compressed fat on the walls of the camera you have to painfully long to wipe, cursing everything in the world, and daily cleaning will be reduced to a few light movements of a rag. If you still achieved the formation of "ancient deposits", then before washing, put a glass of water in the oven for a minute and turn on the maximum mode. Fat and dirt will be blurred and washed many times easier.

A little humor ...

One lady in the United States won a lawsuit after she "doused" her cat in the microwave oven. In the statement of claim, she pointed out that she did not know that "you can not dry cats in a microwave oven."

Despite the generally known fact that raw chicken eggs in the microwave are exploding, enthusiasts around the world are trying to come up with a way to get around this problem - pierce the hole in the shell, wrap it in a special film. But, despite all their efforts, the eggs still explode.

Recently blew Internet fake message that the new model iPhone can be recharged from the microwave. It is not known how many owners of smartphones were led to this rally, but dozens of photos with ripped iPhones speak for themselves.