[Hikari]

I get hungry and I put some of the pasta I had last night in the microwave (tortellini, no sauce so it's a finger food now). The plastic wrap on it was a little loose so some of it was dry. So I'm sitting here eating it and the top ones are kinda cold and pretty decent. Then I grab one of the ones on the middle layer, there were like three layers of them on each other, and it's warm hot. I gab a bottom one and it's burning hot.

I notice the hot one was kinda wet and the cold one was rather dry. Why is that? Is the wetter it is the hotter it gets in a micro wave? If I put something dry in would it even get warm? What exactly is this thing we call a microwave and how does it work?

[Storm]

Microwaves work by heating from the inside out. If my chemistry is correct, the microwaves (small energy waves) pass through the molecules of the matter, giving it more thermal energy. They are small waves, so can travel far through stuff. As a lot of thermal enegy is taken up in the middle, it becomes hot, which lets the rest of it gain more. Tried making the explaination simple, though it probably sounds like a complete pile of fuddle now!

Basically, they arent really the most reliable cooking thing. If I use a microwave, I tend to cook halfway, stir, then cook for the remaining time. That way its easier to ensure its all hot.

[Tifa]

I'm not good with microwaving mechanics so I can't exactly help there

But~ I have heard it's bad to use plastic wrap when you heat things. Something about cancer. (But doesn't everything cause cancer these days?) So we always use a paper towel, moisten it and put it on top of whatever we're heating. Works just as well.

If you put metal things in it, they explode.

Whenever cooking micromeals, I always cook for at least one minute more than the pack says. I guess I just don't trust microwaves.

I have one tip though; if you cook something for too long, it will become black and very dry and hard and chewy.

[Chez Daja]

Yeah, and don't put bread rolls in microwaves either...

It was hard as a rock.

I don't really trust microwavable food, because it's so damn bad for you. They discovered this really weird chemical in most microwavable foods, which could eventually lead to death.

Death? From food? Yeah, no ****ing way, thanks!

Anyway, though Storm summed up the microwave thingy.

Microwaveable food is crap. I tried to microwave semolina... it tasted like an unwashed penis. Not that I know what an unwashed penis tastes like; I just felt it was a newer joke, since my material was getting pretty old.

Damn.

[MrDomino]

Originally Posted by Storm

Microwaves work by heating from the inside out. If my chemistry is correct, the microwaves (small energy waves) pass through the molecules of the matter, giving it more thermal energy. They are small waves, so can travel far through stuff. As a lot of thermal enegy is taken up in the middle, it becomes hot, which lets the rest of it gain more. Tried making the explaination simple, though it probably sounds like a complete pile of fuddle now!

Basically, they arent really the most reliable cooking thing. If I use a microwave, I tend to cook halfway, stir, then cook for the remaining time. That way its easier to ensure its all hot.

That's actually a popular myth, that microwaves cook from the inside out, but it's not completely true. Here's an exact quote:

"Okay … how to microwaves work? It’s very cool. Microwaves emit their electromagnetic waves at a frequency that makes water molecules vibrate. Vibration creates friction, friction heat, heat cooking."

So, in short, the microwaves agitate the water molecules, thus making heat, which cooks the food. That would be the reason that the wet areas are hotter: more water molecules to agitate. That's why I always put a little bit of water on top of items that may have been left in the fridge for a long time before reheating them in the microwave. I also always use a cover, to hold the moisture (and steam) in, which makes for an altogether better meal!

They also had a little blurb on the TV show Mythbusters about microwaves, in which they talked about how microwaves work, too.

EDIT: Chez, I'd be interested in seeing a source for that quote. I hadn't heard about anything like that.

[MiwaMiwa]

Well, I can see this much, Chez and Govinda are right: Microwaveable food is crap. I hate microwaving food. I'd rather just take the time to heat it in the oven or on the stove.

Notice how if you make pizza rolls in the microwave, they are gross and soggy, yet if you make them in the oven, they are yummy and crispy? A prime example of what microwaves do to foods. Microwavable popcorn is CRAP too.

Chez: Is it a chemical reaction from the microwaves causing "death" or a certain chemical in some microwaveable foods (since I doubt it's all, since you can microwave your leftovers and what-not)...and what kind of "death" does it cause? (I put death in quotes since I doubt it's instantaneous. haha.)

[Georg Prime]

Hold your horses here people, I don't think microwaves need such a bad rep here! Where would we be without the creation of the microwave? I consider myself to be a connoisseur if you will, to the art of the microwave.

Now I'm not going to argue with what people have stated because most, if not all is pretty true. What people have to know is that you can't just stick anything in the microwave, heat it up and expect to be exactly how you want it. One must know proper cooking times, rotations, and stirring methods for microwave perfection. Even then, yes the microwave has a lot of limitations and some things just SHOULDN'T be cooked in a microwave. Like MiwaMiwa pointed out, if you want something crispy, don't use a microwave. If you don't mind your pizza rolls and bagel bites being slightly soggy and chewy though, then knock yourself out!

Now I agree most microwave dinner is crap, most meals are. This includes Banquet and Lean Cuisine among many brands. The thing Is I've had my parents work fulltime for a good half of my life, so I've learned to live off of microwavable foods, sandwiches and soups. (not that I can't cook things normally, because I can but sometimes you just need the food quick). I do owe my life to the fine Italian cooking of Michelina though. Honestly those microwaveable dinners aren't half bad, some of they are actually pretty damn good. I go through quite a few of them every week.

Microwave dinners aren't the only thing that a microwave are used for. Frozen burritos are always good in a microwave, soups are certainly not a problem and can be heated up quickly. Precooked hot dogs are heated up quick and easily in a microwave. Hell sometimes I'll even go for the dreaded microwavable breakfast burrito!

Then there is Satan's personal pasty, the HOT POCKET! Don't get me started on these things, as comedian Jim Gaffigan points out, when you cook it, it's either frozen in the middle still or boiling lava hot. Hell, this guy has a whole routine based around these things, it's fricking hilarious seeing that I have had some hot pockets from time to time. My mom always used to buy these things, you know what's worse though? LEAN POCKETS

Basically, yes microwaves are no substitute for an oven or stove. If you can cook whatever you are looking to cook on either, It would defnitely be better to do so. They aren't too bad though, and serve their purpose well for quick and easy heating up. You just have to know what to cook in it and what not to, and of course use it accordingly.

But Michelina, GRACIA! You are truely magnifico!

[Tiffany]

Actually you can make things crispy in the microwave, provided you use that special tray that they give you with the product.

Ever tried those Bistro things? You put the sleeve on them, and they're crispy when they come out.

Although honestly, I figured everyone knew that you have to take whatever it is that you're heating out half way through and stir it so it'll cook evenly. If you don't, you're going to get what Hikari got.

[Georg Prime]

Originally Posted by Tiffany

Actually you can make things crispy in the microwave, provided you use that special tray that they give you with the product.

Ever tried those Bistro things? You put the sleeve on them, and they're crispy when they come out.

Although honestly, I figured everyone knew that you have to take whatever it is that you're heating out half way through and stir it so it'll cook evenly. If you don't, you're going to get what Hikari got.

As Govinda pointed out pizzas aren't the best, but you are right Tiffany, many come with the silver heating surfaces and/or sleeves and pockets. These definitely help the crispy situation, but I still think using an oven yields MUCH better results for things like pizza that you wish to be crispy.

But yeah you just gotta know how to use the microwave and it can be your best friend, trust me.

[Hikari]

Okay … how to microwaves work? It’s very cool. Microwaves emit their electromagnetic waves at a frequency that makes water molecules vibrate. Vibration creates friction, friction heat, heat cooking.

That does sound vaugely familiar. So I should put water on food first after it dries out.

Originally Posted by Valentine

Microwaves work by heating from the inside out.

If food cooked from the inside out then the middle would have to be cooked as well as the rest of it, right. But things like microwavable pizzas always are uncooked there.

Originally Posted by General

If you don't mind your pizza rolls and bagel bites being slightly soggy and chewy though, then knock yourself out!

I do love my food that way. That's why I don't like ovens very much. Especially mine which burns food on one side and doesn't cook the other one.

Originally Posted by General

Then there is Satan's personal pasty, the HOT POCKET!

I love that. I've heard it twice on the way to school before. Isn't that also the guy the does frozen fish heads?

[Dimi]

Yum....hot pockets, sounds really good. Microwaving to me is fast and simple. I don't like waiting and putting things in the oven sometimes or even cooking anything. Takes much faster, but the bad thing though is and usually when I put a burrito or something like that in. it usually feels hot, but as you eat it and especially when you're halfway done eating it, you can still feel it cold and it tastes nasty.

The only thing best about it, is putting in popcorn! Just put it in and heat it up for about 3 minutes, well the average sized bag and it'll taste good. Like Dyluck said, you just gotta know how to use the microwave.

[Tiffany]

To clear things up:

Originally Posted by Physlink.com

Microwave ovens produce electromagnetic radiation of exactly the right wavelength to excite water molecules. When water molecules become excited, they heat up. Since most of our food contains a fair amount of water, we can heat up our food by selectively heating up the water inside the food.

Microwave radiation also passes through glass and plastic, which allows it to travel through tupperware and heat up the food inside. However, microwave radiation does not penetrate very deep into the food itself, so if you put something big into the microwave oven for a short amount of time, it'll be hot on the outside but still cool in the middle. To heat up something big like a turkey breast, the heat has to diffuse from the surface to the inside. Plan on putting at least a few minutes on the timer.

Since we all seem confused about how the microwave actually works. I remember watching something on Oprah about how exactly it works, but for the life of me couldn't remember it well enough to actually put as an explanation.

Originally Posted by Hikari

So I should put water on food first after it dries out.

I've done that with rice before I re-heat it in the microwave. That way it doesn't taste really hard and grainy, but like how rice tastes when you first make it.

[MrDomino]

I've become all too dependent on my microwave. It's kind of frightening, really. There can be an entire fridge full of foods like ground beef, chicken breasts, and so on, but if I can't cook it in the microwave, it just sits there . I'm just a horrible cook, though. On the other hand, I do make some rather decent sandwiches!

[Yuki-onna]

Microwaves are cool. It's like they sexually excite the food into being warm.

So that's what you're eating. Horny food.

No but really, I use it to heat up my coffee after I've fallen asleep again, to heat up my lunch before I go to worky, to burn cd's up. Yup.

Microwaves are excellent. Hope my brain doesn't fry in a few years after exposure.

[Merlin]

Microwaves really don't create quality food. They are designed for quick and easy cooking of food, so obviously that speed comes at a price. Its like comparing McDonalds to a 5-Star restaraunt. Unless you're really wierd(or a cheap bastard) you wouldn't consider McDonalds a place to get high-quality food. Same thing with a microwave. Its great for when you're in a hurry, but if you've got the time, do it the right way... with an oven.

[Sinister]

I once watched a special about this chef who made gourmet microwave food. Like gourmet brownies and pizza and stuff like that.

It's not my style, to be honest. A good old convection oven with burners and a outside charcoal grill is capable of every culinary task I can think of that's worth doing. Microwaves are still a vital tool for any kitchen...just not in the way that an oven will do.