Posted January 30, 2011 at 10:07 PM
I have always wondered how microwave ovens work. I’m sure many of you all have as well. How exactly does a frozen meal become steaming hot after cooking in a microwave for only five minutes when it would normally take hours for it to even that at room temperature? Why does the microwave not work when there is metal in it?
I have always wondered how microwave ovens work. I’m sure many of you all have as well. How exactly does a frozen meal become steaming hot after cooking in a microwave for only five minutes when it would normally take hours for it to even that at room temperature? Why does the microwave not work when there is metal in it?
I found the answer to these questions and many more on how stuff works and eHow. Regardless, of how it works, the microwave has significantly changed the face of home cooking since it was first introduced into homes in 1967. Food can now be cooked within a few minutes rather than hours in a conventional oven. It has brought about a whole new category of food, microwaveable meals and snacks, that would not have been produced without the technology to cook it. Society has adapted to the needs of its consumers.
Many people in this day and age don’t really know how to really cook. All they really know is how to put something in the microwave, hit a button or two, and have the technology do all the work. This is why I take great pleasure in cooking homemade meals from scratch. Granted, I too use the microwave on occasion, but I do still know how to cook my own meals using more conventional methods too. Now I’m not saying it is a bad thing that people don’t or can’t cook; I’m just commenting on how technology changes the face of every day life.
This video shows an experiment that has been conducted by many people. I first saw this video in one of my classes as a fun video related to a chemical process or concept. I don’t know all of the science behind it, but the video is pretty entertaining. Please DO NOT do this at home as it is extremely dangerous, but do enjoy.
Recipe of the Day
Basic Meat Loaf
1 slice bread, torn in small pieces
¼ cup chopped celery
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
½ tsp. salt
⅛ tsp. pepper
1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef
¼ cup ketchup
Instructions
Mix bread, celery, egg, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Crumble ground beef into mixture; blend thoroughly. Press into 9"x5" loaf pan (microwaveable). Microwave on high until internal temperature reaches 150 degrees, 13 to 15 minutes. If using oven other than carousel, rotate meat loaf once or twice during cooking. Spread with catsup. Microwave at medium until ketchup is heated, 2 to 3 minutes. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes.
The original recipe can be found here.
They really have changed the way people cook, I actually have a couple of cookbooks which the recipes actually tell you to use the microwave over using the stove or oven. Several years ago I don't think that would have ever been the case.
That video is pretty crazy, I wonder what it is that makes the grape do that.
Yeah, cool vid. Would like very much to understand what that was all about, so please follow up.
Also, I think you have to touch on the major concerns with microwave cooking, which have to do with health. There are some worries that microwaving vegetables, for example, makes them less nutritious, and nutritionists in general are concerned about our intake of so much processed food, rather than whole/clean foods. So touching on these questions will be really important.
Great post--hope you follow up!
The coolest think I've ever seen in a microwave is a chip bag, like one of those personal Doritos bags. Check this video out.