Book 9, Question 21
Why Do Microwaved Foods Have Hot and Cold Spots?
Microwaved food has hot and cold spots because microwaves make strong and weak spots inside the oven! The water in food heats up where the waves are strong. Stirring, turntables, and letting food rest help even it out, so ask a grown-up to check that food is hot all the way through.
More fun facts
- Microwaves are waves, and like light, sound and ocean waves they have peaks and valleys.
- The hot and cold spots inside a microwave oven come from the size of those waves.
- You can map the hot and cold spots by heating a plate of marshmallows and seeing which ones puff first.
- The spinning tray helps food cook more evenly by moving it through the hot and cold spots.
- A microwave heats food because water molecules inside absorb the microwaves, heat up and warm the food around them.
Sources: Scientific American, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
Why does the microwave tray spin?
It moves food through the hot and cold spots so it heats more evenly.