Story of the Microwave Oven


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The microwave oven first came to consumers as by-product of an experimental technology. In 1946, Dr. Percy Spencer, an engineer for Raytheon Corporation, was testing a device called a magnetron. By serendipitous accident, he realized the candy bar in his lab coat pocket had warmed. Curious about this phenomenon, he placed some popcorn kernels near the tube- they popped!

The next day, Spencer and a colleague observed the magnetron’s effect on an egg. The magnetron’s effect on the egg caused it to explode onto the faces of the observers. Dr. Spencer refined his device by building an enclosure to create a higher density field of electromagnetic waves. Food placed in this box achieved high temperature very quickly. A multi million dollar business was then born.

Raytheon quickly began developing a consumer unit, and applied for a patent before the end of 1946. In 1947, the first commercial unit to hit the market was tested in the kitchen of a Boston restaurant. The first units produced were just under six foot tall, weighed hundreds of pounds, and cost thousands of dollars.

Initial reactions to the microwave oven were cautious. The unit was cumbersome, and was water cooled. The refinements that took place in the following years, especially the air-cooled magnetron, ensured the microwave’s acceptance in the modern kitchen.

Businesses were now able to heat products more quickly than in the past, resulting in fresher products delivered to consumers. The microwave also gained popularity in unexpected ways, as manufacturers of leather, coffee, cork, and other products used the microwave to quickly heat and dry products.

Over the next 20 years, the microwave slowly evolved from a product the size of a refrigerator to the smaller, range top models more common today. The acquisition of the Amana company by Raytheon brought about introduction of the first counter top oven, a 100 watt unit that was safer and more effective than ever.

The 1970s saw an unbelievable success for the microwave oven, and a bevy of myths about the dangers of the oven became popular. Customers feared that the oven might cause radiation sickness, impotence, or blindness. As the oven became more popular, fears of the oven were eased. No one had acquired any of the supposed maladies that could be caused by the microwave oven‘s electromagnetic waves.

In 1975, sales of microwave ovens reached a landmark as they exceeded the sales of gas ranges. In 1975, Japanese homes were much more likely than American homes to have a microwave. By 1976, microwave ovens became more popular than the dishwasher in American kitchens. In 1976 the microwave had reached the kitchens of nearly 60% of American houses.

Today, the microwave has revolutionized the way Americans eat. The oven has evolved into a variety of forms to suit the diverse needs of the American home and business. Today’s consumer can choose from options like convection cooking, probe cooking, and sensor cooking. The savings of energy and time have brought great convenience to American kitchen. While once considered to be a luxury item, the fast pace of American life has made the microwave a necessity. The waves created by Dr. Percy Spencer in 1946 have now spread around the world, creating a phenomenon of global scale.

Boekel Scientific Laboratory Ovens

Reasonably priced and versatile Boekel Scientific laboratory ovens enable flawless performance of diverse analytical procedures such as drying glassware and samples, as well as research functions including dry heat sterilization, product age acceleration, evaporation, polymerizing plastics and annealing.

Select from a Variety of Models

To suit the unique requirements of different laboratory settings, Boekel Scientific laboratory-ovens are available in a variety of models and sizes. These include Oven Small 115V, Oven Small 230V, Oven Medium 115V, Oven Medium 230V, Oven Large 115V, Oven Large 230V and so on. These diverse oven models enable researchers to perform diagnostic studies with greater efficiency and obtain results with superior precision.

Designed with High-end Features

To provide effortless handling for the users, Boekel Scientific laboratory-ovens are incorporated with an array of innovative features. The major functionalities that are provided in Oven Medium 230V model includes:

• Bi-metallic thermostats

• Obtainable in three dimensions

• Aluminum coated interior

• Natural air convection feature

• Spirit filled thermometer

• Two alterable steel shelves with zinc plated tip-proof

• Double wall construction

• Glass wool insulation

Another feature of Boekel Scientific laboratory-ovens is they can attain the maximum temperature range in almost less than thirty minutes. Besides, they are available in different chamber volumes, length, width, height and weight measurements. These laboratory ovens are provided with two year warranty as well. Boekel Scientific laboratory oven models cannot be used for heating combustible materials or below 100°C temperature range.

Purchase from Industry Best Distributors

When planning to purchase Boekel Scientific laboratory ovens for your laboratory facility, make sure to find the best distributor in the industry offering quality services. Such a provider can assist you in purchasing the right oven model that suits your unique research specifications and budget limits.

Choosing the Ideal Microwave – Some Tips For You

There are two kinds of microwaves. A regular heating style and a convection oven style. In a convention microwave, the food is cooked from a four way cooking system. It allows the food to be cooked better and faster, perfect for cooking meat and full dinners. A regular microwave can heat up meals too, but it just takes longer and you might have to keep taking it out to turn it around or take plastic off.

The counter top microwave can sit on any counter top. You can pick any size and choose from the colors of black, white or stainless steel. Most people do not mind it when the microwave sits on the counter, while others do not like the space it takes up. Many people also choose to have the microwave built in or when they buy a house or renovate a kitchen the microwave gets put into the kitchen plan. It can sometimes sit over a stove. Built in microwaves usually cost more money.

Microwaves come in various wattage, smaller ones are lower in wattage at around 500, while larger microwaves might go up to 1200 wattages. That means that there is more power and can cook or warm the food faster.

The cubic ft of a microwave can vary as well, a small one is considered less than 1 cu ft, while bigger ones are between 1 and 2.2 cu ft.

The features of a microwave can vary; the more advanced features are usually seen on a bigger microwave while the basic features tend to stay with the smaller versions. You can find microwaves with a genius sensor cook option that knows when your food has had enough power to it and stops, there is the finger proof coating on some, stainless steel door pad is another sanitary option. You can also by microwaves with push bottoms to open the doors, or a pulling handle. There is also the push button option for selecting features or a dial to turn. Inside the microwave there is usually a tray that pulls out for cleaning and is used to turn the food around while cooking.

It is important to take measurements with you and figure out what size of microwave you need. With specific measurements in mind you can decide how big you can have it in your kitchen space. If you are going to be using your microwave for cooking and re heating many dinners and frozen lunches, you might want a higher wattage one with a good name attached to it. However, if you are simply using your microwave to just reheat meals, make popcorn and warm cold beverages then a smaller one would be perfect to meet those specific needs.

How Are Convection Microwaves Different From Standard Microwaves?

Are you looking for the quality cooking of a conventional oven compacted into the size, convenience, and ease of use associated with a microwave oven? You can have all of that and more with a convection microwave oven. A convection microwave allows you to bake a pizza in nearly 30% less time, yet still achieve a crispy, golden brown crust. Several consumers are unaware of the many benefits that a convection microwave oven is able to offer.

Convection microwaves have the ability to operate differently than standard microwave ovens by using fans to blow hot air into the microwave cavity during the cycle, thus creating a uniform distribution of heat for all over even baking. This allows consumers to roast chickens, toast waffles, or even bake cakes using a convection oven. Standard microwaves are only able to offer one type of heating which uses radio waves (micro-waves) which are absorbed by water, fats, and sugars in foods and in response heat them up. One big difference between a standard microwave and a convection microwave is that standard microwaves are generally intended for just heating up food and not actually cooking or baking food.

In addition to greater abilities, a convection type microwaves also helps to save energy. On average, convection ovens typically use almost half the amount of energy that conventional ovens use. The reason convection ovens are able to save more energy is because the heated air is continuously circulated around the food being cooked, therefore reducing the needed temperature, and resulting in shorter cook times.

In addition to offering the benefits of convection, a convection type microwave ovens still offers the same benefits associated with a standard microwave when the convection function is off. Convection microwaves are often considered high-end kitchen appliances which do frequently warrant a higher price tag. However, having the ability to cook recipes with the convenience and speed of microwave, while still attaining the benefits of cooking in a conventional oven is usually worth the extra cost.

Microwave Oven Guide

If you are looking for a contemporary kitchen accessory that would help you to cook your meals quickly, then microwave ovens are the perfect solution. You can know the answers to frequently asked questions by using the microwave ovens guide. To begin with, the basic principle on which a microwave oven operates is microwave radiation. Food is cooked or heated in the chamber of the oven by passing microwave radiation through it, which usually has a frequency of about 2500 MHz.

A microwave ovens guide will tell you that these gadgets come with a humidity sensor, rotating turntable, control keypad and digital clock. Some other elements of such an oven are:

• A high-powered vacuum tube called Magnetron, which generates consistent microwaves.

• A Magnetron control circuit

• An enclosure called the cooking chamber to cook food quickly.

While using this kitchen appliance, you should not use metallic containers to cook food. Since the microwaves get reflected by metals, such containers are not suitable to be used. However, it is interesting to note that the microwaves do not get absorbed by most of the ceramics, plastics, or glass. So, it is advisable to use containers made of these materials to cook food in an oven. Be careful to read the labels on such containers that say “microwave safe”, “microwave oven proof” or “heat resistant” before using them.

According to a microwave ovens guide, you will need to assess your requirements and decide on the money that you are willing to invest in buying a microwave oven. If you need continuous cooking power, you can decide to purchase a full-sized oven that comes with a big turntable, along with all the standard functions like auto defrost, popcorn button, keep warm function and delay start option – to name just a few.

In case you have some space or budget constraints, you may buy the mid-sized models that would need lesser space for storage, and not sacrifice on the cooking ability. If you would like to prepare brown and crispy food items, the convection microwave would be your ideal choice. People looking for compact ovens may opt for the small sized models, which are appropriate for studio apartments or dorms.

You can get knowledge about the various makes and types of ovens by either searching for them online or visiting the nearby stores that stock on these types of gadgets. Try to get quotes from multiple vendors so that you can compare prices and features, which in turn would enable you to make the most of your investment. So, do your homework today to buy your own microwave convection oven that would not only add to the glamour quotient of your kitchen but would also help you cook tasty and nutritious food in a jiffy.

Turkey Breast Cooking Time

It is easy to make a moist succulent turkey breast by following a few helpful hints:

* Place your turkey breast in a shallow roasting pan, to allow the heat to circulate well.

* Place one inch of water in the bottom of the pan to help keep your turkey moist and tender.

* Brush the turkey breast lightly with oil, and cover liberally with your favorite herbs, spices, or seasonings.

Make a tent out of aluminum foil and place this over the turkey breast to hold in heat for even cooking. You will want to remove the aluminum foil during the last hour and a half of cooking for a nice golden brown color.

Check the water level periodically and add more water if needed. This juice and herb infused mixture can be used to make nice turkey gravy after the turkey is done cooking.

The typical turkey breast cooking times for thawed turkey breast at 325 to 350 degrees in a conventional oven are:

* 2 to 3 pounds – 1.5 to 2 hours

* 4 to 6 pounds – 2.5 to 3 hours

* 7 to 8 pounds – 3 to 4 hours

It is perfectly safe to take your turkey breast directly from the freezer and cook it in the oven, without thawing. Just make sure to remove the neck and giblets first.

This will increase the the turkey breast cooking time by approximately fifty percent.

* Place your frozen turkey breast in a shallow roasting pan

* Place one inch of water in the bottom of the pan to keep your turkey moist and tender

* Brush the turkey breast lightly with oil, and cover liberally with your favorite herbs, spices, or seasonings.

Place a tent of aluminum foil over the turkey to hold in heat for even cooking, remove the aluminum foil during the last hour and a half of cooking for a nice golden brown color.

The typical turkey breast cooking times for a frozen turkey breast at 325 to 350 degrees in a conventional oven are:

* 2 to 3 pounds – 3 to 4 hours

* 4 to 6 pounds – 5 to 6 hours

* 7 to 8 pounds- 6 to 8 hours

It is important to cook your turkey breast at 325 to 350 degrees to make sure that it doesn’t dry out, and to maintain a safe internal temperature in the meat.

The best way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer. The minimum safe internal temperature is 165 degrees. If you pierce the breast with a fork, the juices should run clear.

If you use a convection oven it will reduce the turkey breast cooking times above by approximately 25 percent. To be safe use a meat thermometer to test for doneness

Following these easy tips will ensure that you have a delectable meal that everyone will be raving about.

Cruise Ships For Sale

We all know that cruise ships are great getaway on the high seas. But did you know that cruise ships in all shapes and sizes are available for sale? Depending on your budget, you could buy a cruise ship for a steal at $2 million, or the price can rise into the millions. The price depends on the size of the ship, passenger amenities and its condition. The metal used in building the ship is important too, because rust would prove to be a negative selling point.

Most cruise ships have staterooms, public rooms, cabins, scullery (pantries), dining halls, entertainment areas and swimming pools. Space for retail outlets such as bookstores, gift, souvenir shops and hair salons, may or may not be present depending on the cruise ship. A spa, health and fitness club, and sports bar are also built into most of the cruise liners. Sanitary facilities should be examined closely in all cabins and public areas to know what basic amenities are available.

The scullery usually is equipped with all necessary appliances including ovens (conventional, convection and microwave), stoves, toasters, refrigerators, coolers, pots and pans and all the ingredients to provide the guests with the best meals during their journey.

Passenger observation decks are on most cruise ships to allow passengers to enjoy the beauty of the sea while the ship is on the move. Most of the cruise ships also come equipped with a casino housing gaming tables like blackjack, roulette, poker, dice and slot machines. There is usually a satellite connection for televisions provided in all the mega liners to entertain guests.

Some of the most important amenities on a cruise ship are located in the pump room, chiller room and office rooms. Other important cruise ship information would include the security available for guests and their valuables, provisions to store perishables, makes and models of engines; space allocated for engines, generators and the rudder rooms. New cruise ships come with electrical fittings, heavy machinery such as the engines, other machinery such as those used for steering the ship, deck machinery, air compressors, fire, bilge and other necessary pumps in the pump rooms — all the equipment required for securing and mooring the ship.

Last but not least, the cruise ship must be equipped with lifesaving equipment, as well as first aid kits to handle any emergencies. Fire extinguishers with hoses and spanners, lifebuoys, life floats, rescue boats, distress signals such as flares, common bandages, medicine chest etc., form the major part of the emergency paraphernalia.

Before buying a cruise ship, the buyer needs to do some homework to make sure that the condition of the ship is acceptable, as well as all technical matters pertaining to the ship’s ability to function properly.

There are excellent websites on the Internet that provide details about various cruise ships on sale. Browsing through these will give you a good idea of the price range and amenities to look for in a cruise before signing on an agreement.

Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe

I will be catering several weddings this spring, so I came up with my own version of Italian wedding cookies, after many trials, and a few errors to produce a delicate buttery cookie that is made with ground nuts. There are several different types of these cookies which include the Mexican Wedding cookies, often coated with a mixture of cinnamon and confectioners’ sugar. The Russian Tea Cakes which can be made with ground hazelnuts, and Italian Wedding cookies which traditionally use ground almonds. All of them are delicious, and each recipe utilizes a different proportion of butter and flour. They are a very good suprise in you mouth, delicate little cookie. I would try all different types, or versions to figure out the one you like best.

These Italian Wedding cookies are buttery, delicate, and have a wonderful flavor. This is a very easy recipe to make, and they are worth the effort put forth for every cookie and crumble left.

Italian Wedding Cookies:

1½ cups unsalted butter

¾ cup confectioners’ sugar

¾ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups finely ground almonds

4 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste

3 cups of sifted all purpose flour

1/3 cup confectioners sugar for dipping

First, preheat your oven to 325 degrees if you have an electric oven and about 300 to 315 if you have a gas oven. Gas ovens cook much faster than an electric oven depending on the oven. If you have a convection oven I recommend turning the fan off if you can, it will burn the cookies before they are fully cooked.

First you will soften and mix the butter in a bowl, and you will sift and then add the ¾ cup confectioners sugar and salt to the butter. You will then mix the butter, and sugar with salt mixture until it is light and fluffy. You will now add the ground almonds and the vanilla bean paste. You will then add the sifted flour in until it just mixed, you do not want to over mix, or overwork the dough. The cookies will not be very light in texture if you do.

Take about one teaspoon of dough in your hand at a time, and roll it into a ball. You will then place the rolled cookie dough balls on the parchment paper or an ungreased cookie sheet if you do not have parchment paper. You will then bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes. You will want to watch the first batch fairly closely and turn halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. You want to make sure to get them cooked but not too brown. Once the cookies are done you will remove from the oven, and cool the cookies for about five minutes, and then roll in the left over confectioners sugar.

You will then hold these little delicate cookies until you are ready for service.

How to Braise – Inexpensive Cuts of Meat Make Delicious Soups & Stews

Wintertime is the ideal time for soups and stews. And the best meat to cook in these dishes is the meat that is generally the cheapest, because it requires longer cooking and more care. These are the meats that do well when they are braised.

Braising is simply cooking meat by first searing the outside in hot oil, then covering with liquid and cooking for a relatively long time, either on the top of the stove or in the oven. Both top-of-the-stove and oven cooking require cooking with less heat.

The best beef cuts to use would be chuck or shoulder, leg or round, shanks, and stew meat (listed separately here because it’s often a collection of the odds and ends or trimmings left after butchering the rest of the animal. My personal favorite is beef shank; it has a lot of collagen or connective tissue that provides great flavor and texture after it’s been cooked a long time. It used to be very inexpensive, but I’ve found recently that it costs about the same or a little more than stew meat. Still a pretty good bargain, and it does taste great.

In making a chicken stew, I stick to using legs and thighs. Their meat stands up to stewing better, retaining the flavor of the bird. Breast meat just doesn’t hold up and seems to lose all its flavor. The chicken can be lightly sauted before being covered with liquid (the traditional fricassee), but you don’t lose much by just putting the pieces in a pot and covering with water.

The traditional method of braising beef would be to season the meat with salt and pepper and then sear it quickly in hot oil to brown it on all sides. This accomplishes two things: the searing of the meat helps to hold the juices in, and the caramelizing of the exterior adds depth to the flavor of your liquid. When the meat is browned, it is removed from the pan and flavorings are added for a quick saute. (In the professional chef world, the flavorings are called mirepoix, a mix of onion, celery, and carrot, all chopped. The ratio is 2 parts onion to 1 part celery and 1 part carrot.) The vegetables sauted until they just start caramelizing, another part of the depth of flavor of your stock. Then the meat is returned to the pan and liquid is added, usually just water, to cover the meat. Bring the whole thing to a simmer and cook until the meat is tender.

The cooking can also be done in a 300 degree oven, but I’ve never been very successful with that. The need to peek and stir is too well ingrained; opening the oven and pulling the whole thing out so I can give it a stir just doesn’t work for me.

You can also skip the entire part about the vegetables. While they do add to the flavor, not having them handy should not deter your braising efforts. The stew I grew up with did involve searing the meat, but then all was covered with water and onion and carrots added an hour or so later. And it was a pretty good stew!

Mirepoix also adds to the flavor of the broth in braising poultry. It is not sauteed, but rather added to the pot along with the stock. The vegetables here need to be a smaller chop than that for beef, because you’re cooking the whole thing for less time, generally not more than an hour or so.

If you’re making a stew, you might want to thicken your broth. The chef way would be to make a roux of equal parts butter and flour, cooking it a bit to take away the flour taste. Then you’d whisk in your stock and cook until it thickened. However, you can also make a slurry of flour and cold water to add to your broth. Whisk the cold water into some flour to the consistency of milk. Slowly add a bit at a time to your simmering stock, whisking well, until you get the consistency you want.

Master these simple techniques for making delicious soups and stews. You’ll save money while you proudly serve tasty meals. And there’s nothing quite like a house filled with the aromas of gently simmering pots of good food.

Solar – How to Build Your House For Solar


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Solar is not in the future. Solar is now. If you are planning to build, design your home for solar. If you prepare for solar, your investment will pay off. Here are some tips to help you plan.

First, what direction will your house face? If your house does not face south, does a side of the house, or a garage face south? The solar panels must face south.

Second, your windows and doors should be energy efficient. Double insulated windows help keep the heat out and the cool in.

Third, your house should be insulated with foam. I do not believe in sealing the attic because then you will need to pump fresh air in for your air conditioner. But I do believe in foaming the rafters and exterior walls. In an old house, they did not design the roof to ventilate the heat out. I recommend foam. If you can not do that, then place 4′ by 8′ foam sheets across your rafters. Keeping the heat out is the best way to keep the cool in.

Next, buy appliances for your home that are energy efficient. Some things we can’t do without, like a refrigerator. But you can buy an efficient one. When buying an oven, purchase a convection oven. It uses less electricity. Get a gas water heater. If you don’t have gas, get a solar water heater with electric back up. Your fixtures should all be energy efficient. If they are older fixtures, then change them out.

Also, you want your air conditioner to be efficient, not big. It is recommended 800 square feet per ton, depending on ceilings and windows space. Do not over (air) condition or buy bigger thinking you will get more cool air. It does not work like that.

If you have a raised house, insulate underneath, as much insulation as possible. There are experts that will come to your home to see how much leakage you have in your home through your windows & doors to see loss of heat and air conditioner. They put a blower in one of your windows and use smoke to see leaks.

These tips will help you get started designing and getting ready for solar. The more efficient you become, the less solar you have to buy.