Heating Performance Assessment of Domestic Microwave Ovens

Authors

Krishnamoorthy Pitchai, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
Sohan Birla, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jeyamkondan Subbiah, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David D. Jones, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2010

Comments

2010 PROCEEDINGS, International Microwave Power Institute’s 44th Annual Symposium, DENVER, July 14-16, 2010

Abstract

Due to inherent nature of standing wave patterns of microwaves inside a cavity and dielectric properties of different components in a food, microwave heating leaves non-uniform distribution of energy inside the food volumetrically. Achieving heating uniformity plays critical role in improving the safety of microwave heated products. In this paper, we present a method for assessing heating uniformity within domestic microwave ovens. A custom designed container
was used to assess heating uniformity of a range of microwave ovens using IR camera. The study suggested that the best place to place food in a microwave oven is not at center but near the edge of turntable.