Why does heat from the microwave make bread floppy while heat from a toaster makes bread crispy?

Question

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

Answer 1

There is no heat in microwave oven per se. The microwaves excite the water molecules in the food which causes heat on the inside of the food. That’s why some microwaves safe containers don’t even get warm if you keep them empty in the oven. They only get warm from the heat radiating from the food which got hot from the microwaves exciting the water molecules in it.