What are microwaves?
Microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The term microwave refers to electromagnetic energy having a frequency higher than 1 gigahertz (billions of cycles per second), corresponding to wavelength shorter than 30 centimeters (wavelength that are shorter than radiowaves).
How does a microwave oven works?
The microwave oven uses microwave radiation to cook the food. The Cavity Magnetron consists of a magnetic field. The Cavity Magnetron transforms the energy into microwave radiation. The microwave radiation then heats the water molecules in the food. The molecules rise in the air. The molecules have a lot of room to move around inside the cooking chamber. The molecules will eventually run into each other. When they run into each other, friction is created. The friction then causes heat, which causes the food to cook. So, the over-all science behind the microwave oven is the microwave radiation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using microwave ovens?
Advantages:
(i) Microwave oven cooks many foods in about 1/4th of the time necessary on a gas burner. There is no wastage of energy.
(ii) It saves time in heating frozen foods. Thawing can be done in minutes or seconds.
(iii) Only the food is heated during cooking. The oven or the utensil does not get heated except under prolonged heating periods.
(iv) Flavor and texture do not change when reheated in a microwave oven.
(v) Loss of nutrients is minimized. (3-carotene and vitamin C are better retained by microwave cooking compared to pressure cooking and saucepan cooking.
(vi) After cooking in a microwave oven washing dishes is much easier as food does not stick to the sides of the vessels.
(vii) Food gets cooked uniformly.
(viii) Preserves the natural colour of vegetables and fruits.
(ix) No fat or low fat cooking can be made.
Disadvantages:
(i) Due to short period of cooking, food does not become brown unless the microwave has a browning unit.
(ii) It is not possible to make chapatti or tandoori roti in it. It cannot cook soft or hard boiled eggs. Deep frying necessary for puris, jalebis, pakoda, and vadas cannot be done in it.
(iii) Sometimes unwanted chemicals migrate to food from plastic cookware or food packages. Only "microwave safe" should be used.
(iv) The short cooking time may not give a chance of blending of flavors as in conventional methods.
(v) The operator should be careful in operating the microwave oven since any exposure to microwave oven causes physiological abnormalities.
(vi) If the food is greater than 80 mm the central portion is out of range of the microwave radiation will only heat by the normal slow process of conduction. It will be relatively uncooked while the exterior accessible to microwave is cooked in minutes or seconds.
Microwave-safe plastics
Some current plastic containers and food wraps are specifically designed to resist radiation from microwaves. Products may use the term "microwave safe", may carry a microwave symbol (three lines of waves, one above the other) or simply provide instructions for proper microwave use. Any of these is an indication that a product is suitable for microwaving when used in accordance with the directions provided.
Benefits and safety features
Commercial microwave ovens all use a timer in their standard operating mode; when the timer runs out, the oven turns itself off.
Microwave ovens heat food without getting hot themselves. Taking a pot off a stove, unless it is an induction cooktop, leaves a potentially dangerous heating element or trivet that will stay hot for some time. Likewise, when taking a casserole out of a conventional oven, one's arms are exposed to the very hot walls of the oven. A microwave oven does not pose this problem.
Food and cookware taken out of a microwave oven are rarely much hotter than 100 °C (212 °F). Cookware used in a microwave oven is often much cooler than the food because the cookware is transparent to microwaves; the microwaves heat the food directly and the cookware is indirectly heated by the food. Food and cookware from a conventional oven, on the other hand, are the same temperature as the rest of the oven; a typical cooking temperature is 180 °C (356 °F). That means that conventional stoves and ovens can cause more serious burns.
The lower temperature of cooking (the boiling point of water) is a significant safety benefit compared to baking in the oven or frying, because it eliminates the formation of tars and char, which are carcinogenic. Microwave radiation also penetrates deeper than direct heat, so that the food is heated by its own internal water content. In contrast, direct heat can fry the surface while the inside is still cold. Pre-heating the food in a microwave oven before putting it into the grill or pan reduces the time needed to heat up the food and reduces the formation of carcinogenic char. Unlike frying and baking, microwaving does not produce acrylamide in potatoes, however unlike deep-frying; it is of only limited effectiveness in reducing glycoalkaloid (i.e. solanine) levels. Acrylamide has been found in other microwaved products like popcorn.
Efficiency of a microwave oven
• They are reflected by metal. This is why the inside of the microwave oven is made of metal and the door is made of metal mesh.
• Radar uses microwaves because it can pass through cloud and dust and is reflected back by the metal surfaces of planes.
• Microwaves can cause molecules to oscillate causing heating through friction. This means microwaves can be used for cooking.
• They can penetrate non-metallic matter to a depth of around five centimeters. This means cooking is quicker because it is not relying on conduction.
Functionality of Microwave Oven
In a microwave oven, food is cooked by exposing it to microwave radiation. Microwaves are a form of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy. When this energy comes in contact with food, the absorbed energy causes the water molecules in the food to rotate. This movement causes friction between the molecules and produces a rapid rise in temperature. Microwave energy generated by the magnetron is transferred to the oven cavity through a wave guide section (2450 MHz (megahertz) for most conventional ovens). A mode stirrer spreads the microwave energy more or less evenly throughout the oven.
As Health Canada states, "Microwaves should not be confused with X-rays or other intense forms of energy. The microwaves generated by a microwave oven do not cause food or the oven itself to become radioactive".
Types of microwave ovens
There are basically three types of microwave ovens.
Convection type
Grill type
Solo type
Convection type
A Convection type microwave oven has a fan and a heating element to create air flow patterns inside the oven. The continuous hot air flow ensures optimum browning of the food evenly from all sides.
Convection modes are suitable for baking and can be used to make food crispier from both inside and outside. You can get the best convection oven recipe tips at.http://download.recipetips-now.com/?r=7&kw=micro-convection%20recipes
Grill type
Grill type microwave ovens are more focused on cooking foods like a conventional grilling, which browns food items, making them crispier from outside and juicer from inside. Many ovens feature grilling as a mode and this is ideal for making kebabs, tikkas and even parathas. Microwaves in grill mode can operate for a long period up to 99 minutes to prepare crunchy foods.
You can get the best grill recipes at http://download.recipetips-now.com/?r=7&kw=microwave%20grill%20recipes
Solo type
This type of microwave oven is the basic type that offers uniform heat distribution ideal for baking, reheating, cooking as well as defrosting food items. Solo ovens are sufficient for you if you don’t plan to use or combine grilling and convection modes in order to prepare lavish dishes.
You cannot make pizza or biscuits in a solo microwave as the food cooks all the way through at the same time and does not brown, so you would be unable to get crisp outsides with slightly softer insides etc. you can reheat ready pizza but it will be limp and floppy.
You can cook cakes in a microwave but again they will not brown. For this reason chocolate sponges or coated cakes are better.
large cakes cook better if cooked in a ring with a hole in the middle. Smaller cakes can be cooked in plastic cups turned out rolled in jam and coated with coconut.
here are some sites for recipes and cooking times
Top 10 Best Microwave Oven Brands in India:
With the growing demand of microwave ovens, numerous brands have entered in this segment resulting in large number of options to customers. Here is the list of Top 10 Best Microwave Oven Brands in India:
1. LG
Microwave Ovens manufactured by LG are way ahead in technology and features from other brands available in the market. Some of its attractive features are power convection, stainless interior, lightwave technology and multifunctional cooking.
2. IFB
IFB is next on this list which is a trusted name in home appliances brand in India and manufactures microwave ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and other appliances. IFB is known for manufacturing microwave ovens that are technologically advanced and packed with brilliant features like Keep Warm, Deodorize, Steam Cleaning and Multi Stage Cooking. These attractive features and long warranty period makes it one of the best choices for microwave ovens.
IFB is next on this list which is a trusted name in home appliances brand in India and manufactures microwave ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and other appliances. IFB is known for manufacturing microwave ovens that are technologically advanced and packed with brilliant features like Keep Warm, Deodorize, Steam Cleaning and Multi Stage Cooking. These attractive features and long warranty period makes it one of the best choices for microwave ovens.
3. Samsung
Samsung is ranked 3rd in list of top 10 best microwave oven brands in India on the basis of popularity. Samsung is a popular home appliances brand in India known for making appliances packed with cutting edge technology and unique features.
Convection, Grill and Solo are the types of microwave ovens offered by Samsung in the market. Some of its features are Triple Heating System, Tandoor Technology, Steam Clean System and Precision Cooking.
4. Electrolux
Electrolux is a popular microwave brand among the customers and made a distinct image in this segment.
Electrolux offers a complete range of microwave ovens under the categories of convection, grill and solo. Its important features are Smartware Technology, Tandoori Heater, 360 Degree Clean and Auto Cook Menus.
5. Whirlpool
Whirlpool is one of the largest home appliances manufacturer in the world and is also a famous microwave brand in India. Whirlpool is known for making microwave ovens packed with style, technology and innovative features like Jet Start, Speed Cooking, Auto Reheat and Auto Cook Menus. It offers microwave ovens under the two categories which are Crisp & Bake Range and Magicook Range. Whirlpool has captured a significant market share of microwave ovens by offering best features at reasonable prices.
6. Godrej
Godrej is next on the list which is one of the most trusted home appliances brand in India for its quality and durability. Godrej manufactures microwave ovens that are way ahead in other brands in terms of technology, features and style. Some of its brilliant features that makes Godrej a top choice among various brands are Auto Deodorizer, Multi Stage Cooking, Auto Reminder, InstaCook Menus and Jet Defrost.
Pizza & Kebab Maker, Convection, Grill and Solo are the types of microwave ovens offered by Godrej in the market.
7. Panasonic
Panasonic is ranked 7th in list of top 10 best microwave oven brands in India on the basis of popularity. Panasonic is one of the largest electronics and home appliances manufacturer in the world and known for its high quality and technology blended products.
Panasonic offers wide range of microwave ovens in different types which include Grill, Convection and Inverter. Some of its features that makes it a distinguishable microwave brand are Powerful Steam Function, Inverter Technology, Auto Cook Menu, Inverter Turbo Defrost and One Touch Sensor Cooking.
8. Onida
Onida is one of the most trusted brand in India and known for making innovative products packed with great features.
Onida offers a complete range of microwave ovens under different types which are Barbecue, Convection, Grill and Solo. Some of its features are Deodorizer, Auto Cook Menu, Calorie Meter, Steam Clean and Multi Stage Cooking.
9. Kenstar
Next on this list is Kenstar. The product line of Kenstar includes microwave ovens, coolers, irons, water heaters and other appliances.
Kenstar provides wide range of high quality microwave ovens which are stylish and durable. Multi Stage Cooking, Sensi-Grill, Auto Cook Menu and Digital Jog Wheel are some of the features of Kenstar Microwave Ovens.
10. Bajaj
Bajaj is ranked 10th in list of top 10 best microwave oven brands in India on the basis of popularity. Bajaj is a large diversified group that has business in different domains like automobiles, finance, home appliances, etc.
Bajaj provides microwave ovens with great features at optimum prices. Some of its important features are Digital Timer, Easy Jog Dial, Auto Cook Menus and Keep Warm Function.
Price list of the top ten brands:
Brand
|
Solo
|
Convection
|
Grill
|
LG
|
5,990
|
10,990
|
7,490
|
IFB
|
4,755
|
11,650
|
6,273
|
Samsung
|
5,373
|
9,990
|
5,455
|
Electrolux
|
4,490
|
7,990
|
6,990
|
Whirlpool
|
5,000
|
7,790
|
4,700
|
Godrej
|
4,790
|
7,490
|
5,790
|
Panasonic
|
10,440
|
10,490
|
6,990
|
Onida
|
4,810
|
7,990
|
5,490
|
Kenstar
|
4,290
|
7,490
|
4,990
|
Bajaj
|
3,799
|
7,490
|
5,363
|
The above price list is based on the online price starts and this may vary in different shopping sites.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Based on the reviews, the most recommended brand is Panasonic because it comes with” inverter technology” which may be new to you. Like I said if you’ve never come across this type of microwave technology before, you’ll be surprised at how simple an idea it is. Conventional microwaves only use one level of heat even though you can change it. What this essentially means is that if you choose a lower power level on a “normal” microwave it will still use all the power available but pulses instead.
Inverter Technology doesn’t work like that. Instead, it uses what’s called true microwave energy. So if you want low, you get low! This stops items of food being cold in the middle but hot on the outside. In short, this technology gives you even cooking all the time so you get the same results you would with an oven but much faster!
In fact, this technology has been so well received, the Culinary Institute of America has named it their choice of microwave cooking and you can even download recipes especially for Inverter Technology.
Since I’m a thoughtful type, I thought it would be a good idea to pass my findings on to everyone-else .Hope this article will help you to make a better choice.All The Best!!!!
References:
http://www.gcsescience.com/pwav49.htm
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/microwave
http://www.gcsescience.com/pwav49.htm
http://www.publishyourarticles.net/knowledge-hub/articles/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-microwave-ovens.html
http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/2301764/chapter10_3.pdf
http://www.cromaretail.com/types-microwave-oven.aspx
www.lg.com/in
www.ifbappliances.com
www.samsung.com/in/home
www.electrolux.in
www.whirlpoolindia.com
www.godrejappliances.com
www.panasonic.com/in/home/
www.onida.com
www.kenstar-appliances.com
shop.bajajelectricals.com/appliances.aspx
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081108015459AAHAZYT
http://www.ovenshopper.com/panasonic-genius-nn-h965bf/
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