Something that I’ve noticed across most of the microwave ovens that I’ve used is that when they hum while cooking food, I can pick out 2 distinct tones. One of them is pretty clearly 60 120 hz, the 2nd harmonic of the AC power frequency. The other is consistently a minor 7th above that (which would be somewhere around 106-108 212-214 hz depending on the exact ratio). What causes this 2nd frequency to be produced?

Edit: after checking against a tone generator, the low frequency is actually 120 hz, double the grid frequency. The question is still the same, just an octave higher.

    • Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Collecting dust. Popcorn.

      Literally nothing is cookable in a microwave without it being disgusting

      • ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works
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        11 months ago

        Maybe you’re just doing it wrong. It’s a poor craftsman that blames their tools. I don’t get mad at the toaster for being bad at boiling water.

        • Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          I’ve been trying to think of things that a microwave is better for, and could only think of melting butter. Though a small saucepan does that too.

          A fan oven or a frying pan or a grill all cook stuff 10x better than a microwave

          A craftsman wouldn’t use the worst tool for the job, after all

          • Therefore@aussie.zone
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            11 months ago

            Microwaves are fantastic cooking tools, and I’m pretty confident you’re not using yours to its potential. Defrosting, reheating, steaming, boiling. Does it all in half the time with half the mess. All those settings on the keypad do something good. Most people just wack a few numbers in and let the microwave literally cremate the food on full power. Those reheat and defrost settings apply microwave then switch to low or no power, leaving the applied heat to radiate internally before repeating. Different densities and starting temperatures are accounted for.

            Obviously you wouldn’t cook a stir fry or a steak in a microwave. Potatoes before roasting though? Dumplings? Frozens? Yes please Mike.

            • HerrBeter@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              Mashed potatoes :

              Dice small, 10-15min

              Rice:

              1,5dl water to 1dl rice, 10-12min

              I could go on. It’s a big water heater

            • ilinamorato@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              It does passable baked potatoes too, but if you microwave it for about half the time and then toss it in some oil, kosher salt, and pepper and put it in a hot oven, you get great baked potatoes in far less time than in the oven alone. You’re basically boiling the middle and baking the outside. Great combo.

      • Primarily0617@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        frozen peas

        it strikes me as weird that somebody operating on your level of elitism considers microwave popcorn acceptable

      • CameronDev@programming.dev
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        11 months ago

        Disgusting how?

        I mostly use mine for reheating stuff, but cook the occasional two minute noodles or frozen pie. Never had it be disgusting, at worst it can be cold if not done long enough. Cutting the food up and stiring it around halfway through helps.

        • accideath@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Yup, also primarily use it for reheating food. Sometimes, when I’m lazy and just want sth to eat, I’ll make myself microwave potatoes. And I also use it to defrost frozen vegetables or fruit sometimes.

          However, when I was living in a one bedroom apartment, which didn’t have an oven in the kitchen-corner, I had a microwave with integrated oven and with that I was able to bake myself anything that fits into a pizza sized round baking tray. Still love that thing. It’s a 30 y/o hand me down Siemens from my uncle that still works perfectly. It’s also rather large (about twice the size of a normal microwave) and sadly doesn’t fit into my current kitchen…

      • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        What do you think is happening to the popcorn when you put it in the microwave?

        Anyway, microwave popcorn is disgusting.