Wikijunior talk:How Things Work/Microwave oven

Well, actually, not all molecules are resonating, just the ones of water. Otherwise you could not really cook with the thing; it would blow all food apart.
 * 2006-08-04: JH, R&D professional for White Goods Manufacturer


 * Thanks for the information, if you have anymore that could help expand the module that would be appreciated. --MJBT 06:26, 17 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Someone just added "I guess that is it". I reverted the page because such a comment does not add to the module and is more appropriate for the discussion page.--MJBT 06:26, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Heating Food
Microwaves DO NOT cook food from the inside out. Microwaves absorb (and thus heat) from the outside in. Microwaves are generated by the magnetron, so they initially exist outside of the food. The microwaves are absorbed by the food, and the deeper (thicker) the food is, the less the microwaves penetrate to the inside. The absorption decays exponentially, thus they initially are absorbed most on the outside. But the microwaves may not be totally absorbed by the outer layers, so may penetrate all the way to the center of the food, thus the food is completely heated. The "heated from the inside" is a complete myth, and upon even the most rudimentary questioning fails the common sense test.