Both of these have become a common appliance found in most kitchens, but some may still wonder about what sets them apart.
Microwave oven, or better known as microwave, uses electromagnetic radiation for heating and cooking. On the other hand, oven is a general term for a thermally insulated chamber which is used for heating, cooking or baking food.Â
They also differ in the following aspects:Â Â
The PhysicsÂ
Microwave oven heats food efficiently with safe radiation. It is equipped with an electron device known as magnetron, which generates microwave radiation to trigger the molecules in the food, causing them to vibrate, rotate and eventually generate heat. The heating process happens when the microwaves penetrate the food and create fiction from within. The greater the radiation, the faster the food molecules vibrate and the hotter the food. Microwave oven comes with a turntable plate and mirrored walls, so the food can be cooked evenly in a shorter time.
On the contrary, oven uses thermal insulation method to generate heat and bake the food. It consists of two heating devices; one is placed on the top while the other on the bottom. Within the heating devices, there are coiled bundles of copper wires. When there is electricity, these heating elements will generate heat. Fans circulate hot air, heating the whole chamber in order to cook the food evenly.Â
Cooking and Cost
Microwave oven can be used for multiple function of cooking such as pre-heating, defrosting, boiling, steaming and simmering. It can also perform the additional job of oven which is baking and make all types of cooking quick as well as efficient. With a microwave, a lot of time can be saved during cooking as you can immediately turn on the power instead of waiting for the device to heat up to a certain temperature. However, it is not suitable for deep frying food. Microwave ovens heat the food from inside out, so they have a higher cooking efficiency and use less electrical power than oven with as much as 75% savings in electricity.Â
Oven, however, is specially useful for roasting and baking foods like cake, meat, bread, cookie as well as other pastry. The greatest difference between microwave oven and oven is that oven cannot be used to reheat cooked food as the food might get burnt easily. Plus, you need to heat up the entire oven before putting your food inside as the copper coils need some time to generate heat. Additionally, oven takes a longer cooking time, therefore it consuming more electricity.
Effect on foods and nutrients
Microwave oven minimizes the loss of nutrients in food, as compared to oven. It cooks food uniformly and able to maintain the flavor and texture of the foods. Apart from that, microwave oven can avoid overcooking because it comes with different radiation intensities, ranging from low to medium and high. With controlled radiation, the surface of the food will not become too hard, dry or brown. Therefore, food which is cooked or reheated with microwave oven are more nutritious. Certain foods like fritters, pies or cookies can be baked in oven for that extra crispy crust and enhanced flavor. However, the direct heat from the oven can easily lead to uneven cooking, and once the food is overcooked, the texture and the taste of food will change.
