Microwave ovens have already entered our lives and now it is difficult to imagine an ordinary day without heating food in this box. The device has existed for more than half a century. And all this time his work has been accompanied by legends. You can still hear fears that microwaves are harmful. Stories of dangerous waves and high temperatures are retold. Allegedly, they not only kill vitamins, but also provoke cancer. Let's figure out how a microwave oven actually works. But first of all, let’s find out what the temperature is and how many degrees in its inner chamber.
Effect of operating mode on power
The amount of electricity consumed depends on this characteristic of the microwave oven. Additional features in it include load on the networks.
The choice of a particular mode is directly proportional to the final performance of the device. For example, heating a bowl of soup takes less time and does not require the highest temperature than cooking any dish.
The mechanism has several heating options. The choice and application of a particular mode depends on the need for action.
Key operating mode levels
- Short. Consumes minimal energy. Suitable for heating food, used when defrosting food.
- Below average is used when thawing frozen meat and fish.
- The middle one is responsible for quickly heating ready meals. Suitable for cooking based on simmering.
- Above average is convenient for raising the temperature of water, brewing drinks and sauces, and baking poultry dishes.
- Maximum is a rarely used mode. It differs in the intensity of cooking. When you select a higher value, the magnetron begins to work more intensely. Accordingly, the power level increases.
Most devices already have levels programmed into them. You just need to select the one you need.
Some microwave ovens require manual setting of appropriate modes. Nowadays, microwave ovens with the function of remembering the modes used are increasingly appearing on the home appliance market. This makes working in the kitchen much easier.
Important: it is necessary to pay special attention to the functionality and power of the microwave when turning on several household appliances. Microwave performance is significantly reduced when the power supply is overloaded.
Conclusion
The microwave oven has become an integral part of kitchen appliances. Multifunctionality and practicality allow it to be used in various areas of cooking. With proper consideration of the functions of the microwave, homework in the kitchen will become simple and enjoyable.
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The main difficulty in cooking food in the microwave is in the oven itself. More precisely, in its power in watts. Recipe writers do not always indicate this technical parameter, which can ultimately play a cruel joke on your culinary masterpiece. For example, if a recipe was tested on an 800-watt oven, then when using a 1200-watt oven you will be left with shriveled, tasteless disappointment. Of course, this is not so critical for corn or scrambled eggs, but muffins will easily burn. Therefore, corrections need to be made.
How to find out the power of a microwave oven
The power of the microwave is definitely indicated in the instruction manual. To avoid rummaging through a pile of third-rate papers, look for the value on the stove itself. This can be a large sticker on the front side or a small label on the back. Typically, the power rating ranges from 600 to 1,500 watts. Often the meaning is present in the name of the model. By the way, the international designation for watt is W, and the domestic designation is W.
If the fame of Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage haunts you, you can find out the power of a microwave oven with a small experiment.
Attention! Be careful with overheated water.
Pour 200ml cold tap water into a heatproof glass and microwave it. Set the maximum power and watch when the water comes to a boil: 1.5 minutes - 1,200 W, 2 minutes - 1,000 W, 2.5 minutes - 800 W, 3 minutes - 700 W, 4 minutes - 600 W. Let us repeat, this should only be done if your stove is tightly built into the kitchen furniture.
Armed with this information, you can make adjustments and adapt to the original recipe.
What to do when the powers do not match
If your stove is more powerful than the reference one, reduce its power by a direct percentage. For example, when you have 1,000 watts and the recipe uses 600 watts, set the power to 60%. A little more complicated: if your microwave produces 1,200 watts and you need 800 watts, reduce the power to 70% (round up 66.67%).
Of course, in the opposite case, if your oven is weaker than the reference one, you will no longer be able to adjust the power - you will have to increase the cooking time. You'll need about 10 extra seconds for every 100 watts and every minute of cooking. For example, if the recipe calls for 2 minutes at 1200 watts, you will need 2 minutes 20 seconds at 1000 watts.
What types of microwave ovens are there?
In addition to the power of the microwave oven, it is necessary to consider other factors that affect heating and defrosting. For example, the type of microwave: they are conventional (solo), convection and inverter.
In solo stoves there is nothing except a magnetron - a high-voltage device that produces ultra-high frequency (microwave) electromagnetic radiation. These are the simplest devices with a minimum of additional functions. They are mainly suitable for heating cooked food.
Convection ovens, in addition to the heating element, have a built-in fan that directs hot air around the food. In this case, heating occurs faster than in a conventional model. Here you can already roam around and use the most complex recipes.
Inverter microwaves offer more even heating at lower power settings. What is their advantage? Let's just say that if you turn on another type of oven at 50% power, this means that the microwave will constantly change its power from zero to one hundred percent. Inverter technology provides a constant 50% power throughout the entire operation, which is especially useful during defrosting.
Finally
And remember, the operation of the microwave is affected by the power supply. So, in the hot summer, your home’s energy system may experience increased stress due to air conditioners, fans, freezers and other household appliances. In this regard, the stove will not be able to work in the usual mode and you will have to constantly look at your dish being prepared. For convenience, set a timer with a short interval and track your progress.
Author's rating Articles written 698 Article author Vasily Mikhailovich Sviridov Published: 11/22/2018 Modified: 11/24/2018 Reading time: 3 minutes This article has: 0 comment(s)
The power of a microwave oven characterizes its productivity. The higher this indicator, the faster the oven heats the food. But the powerful device has one drawback - increased energy consumption. Of course, everyone wants the golden mean - something fast and inexpensive. How to achieve this? We reveal the secrets in our article.
Maximum microwave temperature
Electromagnetic waves pass through food and cause molecules to vibrate faster, causing heat.
Water particles in food heat up . From the school course in physics and chemistry, we remember its boiling point. This means that the maximum temperature that will occur in the microwave is 100℃.
Different substances react differently when exposed to waves. So, ceramic and glass dishes are microwave-proof, but an iron container can get seriously hot.
Reference. If an incandescent light bulb hits the stove, it will light up because the temperature of the tungsten filament will rise to 2000℃.
Temperature and power
As we have already said, the heating of a microwave oven is related to its power. Typically, buyers choose models designed for 800-1000 W. They heat food up to 100 degrees in just 1 minute. It will take half a minute to heat up to 50 degrees.
The maximum temperature inside the chamber, or rather, the dishes in it, does not exceed 100-110 degrees. According to the principle of operation of the microwave cabinet, waves enter the food, affecting water molecules, due to which they heat up. Read more about the processes occurring in a microwave oven on the page “How a microwave oven works.”
How does a magnetron work?
The magnetron, the so-called “heart” of the device, creates the radiation. It is a diode with copper walls. While working, it releases heat, which goes outside the body with the help of a radiator and is not involved in the process of heating food.
The magnetron does not operate continuously. To heat food to the highest point, the sensor operates for about a quarter of a minute (depending on the parameters of the specific model). Afterwards, the magnetron turns off, “rests” for a few seconds and continues to work like a refrigerator motor-compressor.
Knowing the operating temperature of the magnetron, you can use simple mathematical operations to independently calculate how quickly and by how many degrees the food will warm up. So, a glass of water will take 0.5 minutes if the oven operates at the highest power.
Unfortunately, the heating rate is not always satisfactory. The manufacturer is often not involved in the quality of operation of an electrical appliance - it all depends on the stability of the voltage in the network. If you experience interruptions, install a stabilizer.
If the voltage is lower than the standard 220 V, a 750 W microwave oven will heat a glass of water 2 or even 3 times longer than at normal voltage. It will take 2-5 minutes to reach a hundred-degree temperature, which again depends only on the network parameters.
Microwave oven modes
We devoted an entire review to this topic: “What microwave modes are there?” But since temperature, power and modes are closely related, let’s highlight some points:
- To boil water, prepare juice or other drinks, select a maximum heat of 100 degrees.
- For chicken dishes or heating already prepared food, an average power of 70 degrees is enough.
- Baking fish, meat, and cooking soups work well at 50 degrees.
- Defrosting requires only 25-30% of the total power of the device.
- What should the temperature be to keep pre-cooked food warm? 15 or 20 degrees will be enough to keep your dinner warm.
General information about microwave power
- The power source is a magnetron - a very important element of every microwave oven. It is similar to a light bulb. When the mode is turned on, this part begins to produce ultra-high-frequency waves. They are responsible for heating food.
- Power determines the capabilities of the microwave. This parameter determines how strong the kitchen assistant can be heated and what dishes can be prepared.
- Measurement occurs in watts (W) and kilowatts (kW).
- The indicator directly depends on the size of the structure. The larger the volume of the furnace, the greater the needs of the device. Accordingly, this increases electricity consumption.
Maximum performance is the main consideration when purchasing. The indicator level ranges from 600 to 1,500 watts. The higher this criterion grows, the more efficient the work and the wider the functionality.
Several microwave functions directly affect the amount of power generated:
- volume of equipment;
- equipped with built-in functions.
For example: a solo microwave, equipped for heating food and defrosting food, emits the least amount. Varieties of models also intended for grilling and baking consume the greatest amount.
Power of different types of microwaves
The modern market is constantly updated with new models of equipment. Microwave ovens are no exception. Manufacturers regularly release new inventions with a growing list of features.
Among the wide variety, several categories of household appliances can be distinguished.
The most popular and budget option. Small inventions with the smallest amount of productivity. This oven is suitable for heating food, preparing hot sandwiches and light desserts, and defrosting.
Thanks to its small size, it consumes minimal electricity.
Equipped with a grill are suitable for preparing more complex dishes.
The amount of power and energy burned becomes greater.
Models with grill and convection are the main assistant for any housewife. Suitable for preparing a wide range of dishes and baked goods.
Efficient to use due to high power level.
Microwave oven with grill functionality, convection and steam generator. The most powerful and expensive type in the microwave category.
Includes 4 devices at once:
- Microwave;
- grill;
- oven;
- double boiler.
Thanks to the inverter mechanism, it should regulate power and, accordingly, save energy.
You should choose a microwave oven based on its use. If the purchase is made solely for heating food, there is no need to purchase a model with a steam generator. A solo microwave oven is perfect for this.
Help: the magnetron starts immediately when the device is plugged into the network. To avoid unnecessary costs for electricity, experts recommend disconnecting equipment from the network at times when it is not in use.
Tips for choosing temperature conditions
- The most powerful level is suitable for the largest volume products. As a rule, these are drinks or liquid dishes. Heat the milk/water/soup at 100°
- Above average power is about 75% of maximum. 75° is ideal for small volume and medium density dishes. It could be an omelette, processed cheese. In addition, such heating will allow you to make small cutlets or a cupcake in a mug.
- Average power is half of the maximum . 50° is suitable for heating already prepared dishes. They are also used in recipes that do not require constant simmering. Ideal for roasting meat.
- Below average, 25% (up to 25°) of maximum power. Mode for defrosting food or ready meals. Used to bring butter to room temperature, defrost berries/vegetables/meat.
- The lowest power level (below 25°) can be useful for maintaining the condition of already prepared dishes and products. It is on it that you can dry herbs and finely chopped fruits.
A microwave oven is one of the favorite household appliances of any housewife. It allows you to heat ready-made food. This makes it possible to stock up for future use or buy semi-finished products, which makes our life easier.
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Relationship between temperature and microwave operating mode
The waves have a high frequency and a short length, about six and a half centimeters. Consequently, the food is heated unevenly. And many have already encountered this feature. The creators of the electrical appliance included many different functions in it. Any mode has a completely different degree of radiation. Its power affects the temperature of the food.
Most microwave ovens have a power of approximately 1 kilowatt - it will take one minute to boil a glass of water.
Microwave operating modes change specifically the proportion of the largest data. This means that we have the opportunity to change the speed, but not the temperature. This property is the main difference between a microwave and an oven and is worth remembering.
In addition, the magnetron of a microwave oven is not constantly in operation, it takes breaks. Thus preventing failure or overload. The magnetron has metal cooling plates.
In conclusion
When choosing a microwave model, special attention should be paid to the power of the device. The maximum and operating temperature depends on this indicator. All modern microwave ovens are equipped with special sensors that allow you to set the appropriate temperature for preparing a specific dish. Thanks to its versatility and practicality, heating or cooking food in a microwave oven is not difficult.
A microwave oven is an indispensable attribute of a modern kitchen. It is used to heat food, defrost meat or fish, and prepare new dishes. One of the main characteristics on which the operation of the device directly depends is its power.
Useful tips
- What temperature should be selected in a 750 W microwave for the grill to cope with its “duties”? Manufacturers note that everything depends on the volume of water contained in certain products.
Are you planning to cook a large piece of meat using the grill? It will take more time than processing fish or chicken - they are more watery and require less time.
- Do you like to pamper your family with desserts of your own “production”? Make sure that the sugar is inside the product. The baked goods heat up quickly and may burn due to melted sugar crystals.
- Cooking raw vegetables and fruits requires a minimum of time - they contain plenty of water. For pies, cakes and casseroles, set the power and temperature to medium so that they do not burn on top and are well baked inside.
When choosing a suitable model, look not only at the brand, functionality, cost, but also at the parameters. Pay special attention to power capabilities and temperature conditions. If you don’t want to figure out which program to choose for a dish, look for a stove with automatic programs. In them, for most dishes, all parameters are already set by the system - nothing will burn, nothing will remain raw. Good luck with your choice and trouble-free operation!
Temperature or power
The operating principle of any microwave oven is based on the power of the unit. As a rule, housewives purchase devices with a power of 800-100 W. This means that when you select the operating mode at maximum power, the food will be heated to a boiling point of 1000C in one minute. Accordingly, in 30 seconds of operation, the product will heat up to 500C. But in reality, not everything is so simple.
The maximum temperature of a microwave oven, or rather of products placed inside the oven, cannot be higher than 100-1100C. This is a generally accepted indicator of boiling point. After all, the functioning of microwaves is based on electromagnetic radiation. UHF waves penetrate deep into any product placed in the oven. Due to the effect of waves on water molecules that are present in any product, food is heated.
Cooking in the microwave
