Microwave Oven

All microwave ovens are not created equal. Just as microwave ovens vary in size, shape and color, their cooking power--or wattage--varies from oven to oven. Wattage affects cooking times, so it helps to know your microwave oven's wattage. However, according to the Campbell Microwave Institute, 88% of microwave oven owners don't know their oven's wattage, or they guess incorrectly. What's your watt?

It's a rare quiet night, and I'm ecstatic that I've found a "Law & Order" marathon on TV. All I need is something to eat that's good enough and not bad enough (translation: tastes good but not high-calorie). Potato chips should do the trick. Freshly made, oil-free chips, cooked in the microwave. That's right. Thinly sliced potatoes (or other produce) can be laid out on a silicon tray and microwaved. The results taste fresher than bagged fat-free chips, and the produce can be seasoned any way you like.

It's a rare quiet night, and I'm ecstatic that I've found a "Law & Order" marathon on TV. All I need is something to eat that's good enough and not bad enough (translation: tastes good but not high-calorie). Potato chips should do the trick. Freshly made, oil-free chips, cooked in the microwave. That's right. Thinly sliced potatoes (or other produce) can be laid out on a silicon tray and microwaved. The results taste fresher than bagged fat-free chips, and the produce can be seasoned any way you like.

A Sacramento mother was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing her 6-week-old baby by cooking her in a microwave oven, authorities said. Mirabelle Thao-Lo was found dead March 17 after officers were called to the home by paramedics, the Sacramento Police Department said. On Tuesday, officials said they were still trying to understand key events that led to what they described as a horrific crime. After responding to the home, investigators concluded the baby's burns were not explainable and realized they had an uncommon case, Sgt. Norm Leong said.

Health officials were examining a new microwave oven Wednesday after seven people, including an ambulance worker and a doctor, fell ill mysteriously in its vicinity. Two people remained in a hospital isolation unit following the incident, which occurred after the microwave and a TV set were delivered to an apartment in a suburb of this north England city, police said.

Question: My husband likes to prepare pickled eggs. In the past, he always sterilized the storage jars in boiling water, but recently he began using the microwave oven. I question whether the microwave kills every germ/microbe on both the inside and outside of the jars. We know that when working with eggs everything must be kept scrupulously clean, so I just want to be certain.

Microwave ovens have invisible high frequency waves of energy (microwaves) that are much like radio waves and bounce off the oven walls. They pass through non-metallic cooking utensils and are absorbed by the food. The energy from the microwaves causes rapid movement of food molecules, the friction from which produces heat to cook the food. Considered by most to be an excellent companion to conventional ranges, microwaves can cook most food in one-fourth or less than the normal cooking time.

Not everyone with an older kitchen wants a glossy high-tech look: Ernie and Judy DeGraff of Bishop, Calif., certainly didn't want to do away with the 1940s charm of their kitchen. They bought the house last June and have just finished remodeling the kitchen, including adding a built-in dishwasher, a pantry and cupboards, replacing a small electric water heater with a large gas one and adding the clever microwave oven shelf pictured here. They wrote me following the Nov.

Cooking is one of my favorite occupations when my wife is too tired to cook, which has been fairly often lately since she has been hauling old books around for the Friends of the Newport Beach Library. One of these days I expect to cook a dish in my wife's rather new microwave oven. That is, as soon as I can work up the courage to do it. If the dish turns out well, I may try some food on it. (Sorry about that one.) So far that microwave oven intimidates me.

Campbell Soup Co. is convinced that the microwave oven will revolutionize life styles like the advent of television did three decades ago. So it has created a research group with a simple mandate: Make each of Campbell's food products ready for microwave cooking within two years. Executives hope that the Campbell Microwave Institute will make Campbell a leader in microwave food products and consumer information.

As you read this blog, the device in front of you is bathing your body in an  electromagnetic field. It’s just a fact of technology. And it’s a fact of life. You can move to a commune in Santa Fe, you can climb the nearest mountaintop or lock yourself in your basement — but you’ll never be able to escape the electromagnetic fields that run through our world. As ubiquitous as they are, electromagnetic fields have gained a decidedly unhealthy reputation in some circles. (Just Google "EMF pollution.

I must take umbrage at Dan Neil's irresponsible remark that "a Prius drives like a microwave oven," although I shall admit I don't have Mr. Neil's experience in driving appliances. ("Insight in sight but Prius isn't waiting," Jan. 16.) In addition to the Prius, I own a Mercedes. Not only do I chiefly drive the Prius for the obvious reasons, but my personal experience respecting its handling and comfort precludes any merit to this desultory and misleading statement. If a microwave oven provides this kind of driving experience, perhaps it should be marketed.

A Dayton mother was convicted of killing her month-old daughter by burning her in a microwave oven, with jurors rejecting defense claims that someone else was responsible. China Arnold, 28, lowered her head after the verdict was read. Relatives in the courtroom cried and covered their faces with their hands. Arnold, who was found guilty of aggravated murder, could be sentenced to death. The jury was scheduled to return Tuesday to begin hearing evidence in the penalty phase.

Question: I answered a room-for-rent ad on my college bulletin board that said the room had a microwave oven. Since I don't have a lot of money, this feature was important and I used it a lot. The microwave broke, and now the landlady says she is not going to fix it because she feels I was using it too much. I need it fixed. What can I do? Answer: Since a microwave was listed in the ad, a workable one must be provided. This is called an "express" promise. The landlady has an obligation to repair the microwave or reduce your rent accordingly.

Reality television impresario Mark Burnett doesn't think his latest business will be half-baked. The man behind such hits as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" announced Tuesday that he had invested in microwave oven technology that aims to fully cook food. Burnett, 47, said he had a 25% stake in the firm, Microwave Science, which owns the rights to a trademarked technology called TrueCookPlus.

THE PREPPING HANDBOOK * The Democratic National Convention handed out hospitality kits to each of the 4,506 delegates, filled with California-grown raisins, oranges, tuna, olives, dates and wine, and a jar of "dietetic" fruit labeled, "Welcome Delegates -- Gov. 'Pat' Brown." * To accommodate feeding as many as 16,000 daily attendees, the Sports Arena installed "new radar ranges that can cook beef, bake potatoes and vegetables in a minute and 10 seconds."

Tempering crystallizes the cocoa butter in chocolate into a very fine, homogeneous mass. This process ensures that chocolate will have a high gloss, even color and texture and a crisp snap when broken. Since most chocolate is in this condition when purchased, cooks needn't be concerned unless they melt the chocolate for dipping or molding. This breaks the temper, and the finished products will "bloom"--be dull and grainy, with a whitish film--unless the temper is restored.

The microwave oven is a popular place to prepare foods, but zapping those leftovers doesn't necessarily make your food free of harmful bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers the following advice for safe cooking with the microwave oven: * Arrange meat and poultry pieces uniformly in a covered dish so steam can help kill bacteria and promote uniform heating. Stir the food and turn the dish several times. * After cooking, allow the food to stand for the time specified.

The microwave oven is a popular place to prepare foods, but zapping those leftovers doesn't necessarily make your food free of harmful bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers the following advice for safe cooking with the microwave oven: * Arrange meat and poultry pieces uniformly in a covered dish so steam can help kill bacteria and promote uniform heating. Stir the food and turn the dish several times. * After cooking, allow the food to stand for the time specified.

A University of Wisconsin student was charged Thursday with cooking a live parrot in a microwave oven, apparently to get revenge against a fellow student. Chad Alvarez, 23, son of the school's football coach, Barry Alvarez, was charged with one count of intentional mistreatment of an animal resulting in death and was ordered to return to Dade County Circuit Court for a hearing June 1.