h a l f b a k e r yCrust or bust.
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At my work we have an amazingly low-powered, old microwave. It just took me about 9 minutes to cook my lunch, and I was dreaming of having a nice, new microwave that would cook it in 3. Then I wondered what the limitation on microwave power is. My guess is there's really no limitation, which has spawned
this idea.
The idea's for a very high powered microwave. Instead of a time based on your knowledge of the power of the microwave (1200 W x 3 minutes or 400 W x 9 minutes), you enter the energy you would like delivered (60 Wh). A very high-powered microwave starts and finishes quickly, and your food is done. 10 kW would take about 20 seconds - maybe we go for 100 kW to make it take 2 seconds. Sure, the wiring to this device would be beefy, but that's not too huge of a barrier.
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Imagine TV Dinners with energy parameters for cooking - making it more precise. I know microwaving croissants makes them soggy, but enjoy anyway! [+] MMMMmmm - 13 kW to happiness! |
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what if food came implanted with a mini EMP that released microwaves? you could remotely activate it and have instantly hot food. the only problem is the radiation, but you'd have hot food so that doesn't really matter. |
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food? even this philistine knows this is not food! |
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I'd want to taste-test some of the early guinea pig carnitas....I'm envisioning exploded containers and carmelized ingredients.....45 minutes at 425 F is not like 10 minutes at 1900 F.....I know it's not that simple, but I wouldn't cook a romantic dinner for two as my first test. |
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That said, wrap a damp paper towel around a stale croissant before waving for 15 power units. |
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Yeah, I expect some explosions and perhaps the need to add a setting to slow things down for certain types of food. I disagree about carmelized ingredients, but these issues will be addressed during the testing phase of development. |
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"10 kW would take about 20 seconds - maybe we go for 100 kW to make it take 2 seconds."
And watch that wheel on your electric meter explode! |
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I said wiring could be an issue - that includes the meter. There may be battery or capacitor solutions to reduce this - you should only have to store as much energy as it would take to cook a meal + losses. |
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I believe the rapid heating of the materials inside the "macrowave" would cause the temperature to reach the "flash point" of the materials contained inside, resulting in "incineration" of the "food" |
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[hb] Cruel of you not to include a link. From some preliminary research, it looks like the 15 minute warmup is to get a consistent signal - something you only need for communication and not for using microwaves for cooking. Water cooling is interesting - it wouldn't be difficult to add plumbing to do this. |
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[wasp] In the end, the materials will reach the same temperature as using the conventional method. Unless there are highly focused hotspots, I don't buy this. |
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I'm pretty sure that a 10 kW device would trip pretty much any single circuit in your house, not to mention a 100 kW device. Entering in the Wh value you'd like is a good idea, however; microwave foods could be labeled with a suggested heating Wh value. |
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You could always install a cell phone tower inside your kitchen... |
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I really don't think wiring will be an issue here. A capacitor bank will easily be able to handle this, leaving traditional wiring as a possibility. If you don't like that, wire it the same way you would a clothes dryer and it will cook in 20 seconds. |
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[humanbean] I removed your link to (vairaninc.com) because it doesn't go anywhere. |
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I think the energy needed should be in calories, for added confusion. |
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Wonderful. Or Calories (kcal, for those with logical unit systems). |
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I knew a guy who used to base jump (from towers, bridges, etc.) He climbed a microwave relay tower one day, not realizing that the metal rings (part of the release mechanism for emergency cutaway) would get really hot from the microwave eddy currents. He jumped, pulled the cord, and watched as the rings melted through the riser straps. He spent the next 18 months in a full body cast. He doesn't base jump anymore. |
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Caution: Do not base jump from the Macrowave. |
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use a bank of capacitors to power it. |
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//macrowave cremations// (sparks flying like crazy) "I told you to remove his fillings" |
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I know that the first microwaves that were marketed to consumers were like this, not in the prescribing an amount of energy but in the speed. I recall from a show I saw on the food network that the recommended cooking time for a well done steak was 12 seconds. |
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What, you can't wait for a pop-tart? |
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"Isn't there anything faster than a microwave??" - Homer Simpson |
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Hey lookey, I left another beer can in the freezer. I'll just take this knife and open the can... oh, pretty frozen solid... Ok, lets pop you in the Macrowave. Says "enter desired cooking power". I want my damn beer like, NOW, dick. Let's try 9,999,999kw... squeeeeee- K-A-B-L-A-M-!!!-!!!-!!! |
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Ha! I guess there should be some limit... |
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