2007-08-29 22:58:30 · 10 answers · asked by Kathie 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Cooking by any means changes the molecular structure of food. Microwave cooking uses electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of around 2.45 GHz. This frequency is chosen because microwaves penetrate most foods, so it heats uniformly. It is also near the resonant frequency of the water molecule, so it's very easy for water to absorb the energy.
Most, if not all, of the molecular change comes from the heat. Since it's uniform, you don't have burning at the surface. You also don't need the large quantities of oil needed for frying.
There is some controversy about harmful effects of some artifact of microwave cooking. I don't know the basis of those claims.
2007-08-30 06:42:47 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, microwaves are essentially light, just with a lower frequency. They are made of energy which is imparted to the food which generates heat.
The heat genereated (which is just increased movement in the molecules) can change the food chemically.
2007-08-29 23:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by futuretopgun101 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
nope, just think about the name and the properties that it affects.
It's sending a small wave through the food, and how is heat created? The friction and vibration between molecules makes an energy. So when this "micro wave" goes through food it makes the molecular base in the food move causing slight expansion (noticeably sometimes) and causes the food to heat up!
2007-08-29 23:06:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, due to heat. When you cook an egg, the cooked egg is very different from a raw egg due to the unfolding of proteins due to heat. This is a molecular change called denaturation.
2007-08-30 03:14:06 · answer #4 · answered by supastremph 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm no expert but from what I understand of how it works, it jiggles the molecules around, and by doing so cooks the food, so yes.Conventional cooking also changes the molecules just via a different route.
2007-08-29 23:06:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course it does. ALL cooking methods do this - thats what cooking is. But its the heat and not the microwaves that cause the change.
2007-08-29 23:07:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
All food creates radiation, it is one of radiations natural sources, and microwaving it makes this worse. If people live of microwave meals they are much more likely to get cancer. So a microwave radiation probably knowcks a few electrons of the food, as thats what radiation does to everything.
2007-08-30 23:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by honourableone 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. What is does is dries up the water molecules in the food making it dry and then the heat waves is what causing it to heat up.
2007-09-02 14:09:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, it excites all the water molecules in the food. Heating it.
2007-08-29 23:03:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
No.
2007-08-30 14:37:04 · answer #10 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋