Basically, have microwavable foods packaged with RFID tags in the packaging, and an onboard computer in the microwave with sensors that can read these tags and know how to set the time and power so the food comes out just right. This might be enhanced with some sort of temperature sensing device which can help fine-tune the cooking, and make reheating leftovers easier without needing an RFID tag to do so:)

Practical upshot: Instead of having to guess how much power and cook time your particular microwave has to be set to in order to match the food company's "reference microwave", only to find out whether or not you guessed correctly after the food's been ruined, you just throw the stuff in and shut the door and push start (and we could maybe even remove the start button while we're at it).

The program that calculates the time and temp should be smart enough to recognize multiple RFID tags and adjust accordingly, or warn about incompatible items (temp diff or cook time being too great).

There are a zillion ideas for RFID usage now, and this is one of them. If the microwave oven mfrs. and microwavable food mfrs. cooperate, things would be a lot better for the lazy cook.
-- Size_Mick, Feb 15 2004

Microwave Dinner Bar Codes http://www.halfbake...inner_20Bar_20Codes
Old school version used bar codes, and has now been baked. [krelnik, Oct 05 2004]

Don't forget the microwave will kinda wreck the RFID, but in essence an interesting idea.
-- DrCurry, Feb 15 2004


When you look at your idea the words of your post will appear in a text box below the idea itself. Make the changes you want to the bad sentences and hit the button to update your idea.
-- Aristotle, Feb 15 2004


How about using a barcode scanner like they have at supermarket checkouts which will have the preferred cooking option, plus temperature sensors might detect if the food has been frozen or thawed out.

It might make for more desirable microwave cooking and perhaps manufacturer-recommended (e.g. warm up food on low for x minutes, stand for y mins, nuke at full power for 30 seconds before serving)
-- S13dg3, Feb 15 2004


DOH!

Darned MTU values! My router got reset but it's one of those "easy to use" kind so I didn't notice, as it auto-connects without any sort of setup required by the user -- EXCEPT the MTU value is set to 1500 instead of 1492 (which is what my DSL company apparently needs).
-- Size_Mick, Feb 15 2004


"How about using a barcode scanner like they have at supermarket checkouts which will have the preferred cooking option, plus temperature sensors might detect if the food has been frozen or thawed out."

Well, I already mentioned the temperature sensors. As for bar code scanning, that would be fine except that I've seen how difficult some bar codes can be, having to orient them correctly and sometimes even that doesn't help. RFID wouldn't require you to put the package in in any special way so it could be scanned.

Humanbean, I have to assume that the folks who make the packaging will figure out how to embed the RFID tag so it isn't removable without visibly damaging the packaging.

DrCurry, microwave ovens operate at 2.51GHz, correct? Is there not a way to make an RFID tag that is immune to this frequency?
-- Size_Mick, Feb 15 2004


Once you start to cook it doesn't matter if the RFID tag gets fried, the oven will have got the information already.
-- suctionpad, Feb 16 2004


[suctionpad] exactly.

I thikn this is a superb idea. It could even have complex heat-rest-heat settings to get the right cooking, could tell you it was past best-before date, if it contains things you do not want to eat re alergies, pork, gluten or certain additives, and GM CROPS --- MONSANTO ARE YOU LISTENING??? YOU S.o.M-F.B.'s!!!!!

It shoudl be by law that all GM is RFID'd so we can avoid buying that Multinational illegally-patented HORSE SHIT.
-- timbeau, Feb 16 2004


With this idea you could, in theory, drop your food package with its RFID into your microwave/cooker combination's hopper and let it do it's work, possibly doing things like stirring at the right point or listening the frequency of popcorn pops.

It could also make a rude noise and refuse to cook it if the product information clashes with your diet, allegies, religious restrictions, ethical requirements or preferences. You could even take a portable version of this so you can spot what not to buy at supermarkets.

However the pressure will always be there for suppliers to try and get people to broaden their food preferences so they can start to eat their product range. Maybe they would try to sell you "waiver" RFIDs so you give yourself the odd GM "treat" ...
-- Aristotle, Feb 16 2004


Heh, I could even see this going a bit further with connectivity to the Web, where your microwave would get firmware updates and also upload a bunch of "anonymous" data about your eating habits, for marketing purposes :)

Also, these RFID tags could have expiration dates programmed in, which would cause the machine to produce a warning if a food item has expired. That would be a nice extra measure of safety.
-- Size_Mick, Feb 17 2004


I wanted to post the same idea :P

Face it. Microwaving should be automated. 99% of the time I enter the cook time on the back of the box, sometimes changing it slightly.

When RFID tags make their way into these boxes, let's demand that manufacturers put cook times on there too. Then smart microwaves can set the timers themselves.

Insert food, it cooks. And no more "your microwave may vary" BS. The smart microwave will know what volts it has or whatever the hell that stuff means.
-- squaredbee, Apr 04 2004



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