Microwave- a modern gadget in our kitchen

Microwave oven is a cooking device used in millions of homes worldwide and is one of the greatest invention of 20th century. It has changed the way of cooking. It is not only used for re-heating food but also used for cooking boiling, grilling, roasting and baking. It is capable of preparing variety of delicacies in a faster and simpler manner, saving more time to spend in other important work. Cooking in microwave is simpler as the food does not stick or burn and hence does not need stirring.

Cooking in Microwave oven is different from conventional cooking. Microwaves use microwave energy to cook food. Microwave are Radiowaves which have a very interesting property. When radiowaves emmited in a frequency of 2500 megahertz they are absorbed by water, fats and sugars. When they are absorbed they are converted directly into atomic motion-heat. Microwave in 2500 mgz range also has one more interesting property, they are not absorbed by most of the plastics, glass and ceramic materials. Metal utensils reflects microwave energy hence any type of metal is not used in microwave oven.

The aroma and vitamins of food which gets lost in conventional cooking are retained in microwave cooking. Cooking in Microwave is healthier also as the food is cooked in its own juices, very little oil or fat is used in cooking.

Types of Microwave Ovens : There are three types of microwave ovens available in the market.

1. Basic Microwave : Used for simple cooking, heating and defrosting.
2. Microwave with grill : Used for cooking, heating, defrosting and roasting
3. Microwave with grill and convection : Used for cooking, heating, defrosting, roasting, baking and crisping.