I made a toaster waffle for myself this morning. Growing impatient, I popped it out before it was all the way done. As I was buttering it, I noticed parts of the waffle were still cold. Since there was already butter and syrup on it, I couldn’t put it back in the toaster. I threw it in the microwave for 20 seconds and it came out floppy instead of crispy. What gives?
In: Technology
Others have replied similarly, but in a nutshell it’s heat distribution.
The toaster applies heat from the surface and heat is only transferred inwards through the material’s specific heat properties. This in the case of bread it may burn the surface before the middle of the bread is barely warm.
The microwaves go through the bread much deeper and heat is produced by absorption of the wavelength of these waves that are optimised for water. Basically it heats the water in the bread best and first. There’s a bit of bias towards the wave source but it’s much lesser and also the plate rotates to minimise the bias.
Latest Answers