Microwave Cooking: Experimenting with Poached Eggs
Have you ever wondered about the science behind microwave cooking? If so, you might find the following experiment interesting. Suppose you are poaching a chicken egg in a small glass dish in your microwave, and you want to know whether two eggs will reach the same temperature as a single egg, assuming they all cook for the same amount of time with the microwave set to a medium level of heat intensity. Let’s explore this quandary.
The Experiment
For the first experiment, poach a single egg in the microwave for some time, . In the second experiment, poach two eggs, each in their own dish, for the same amount of time, . The glass dishes used should be identical in size and shape.
The Results
When you compare the temperature of the eggs in the single-egg experiment to the temperature of each egg in the two-egg experiment, you may find that the eggs in the two-egg experiment have a lower temperature. Is this expected?
The Explanation
The reason why the eggs in the two-egg experiment may have a lower temperature is due to the physics of microwaves. Microwaves cook food by exciting water molecules in the food, causing them to heat up and cook the food. When there is too much food in the microwave, the microwaves have to work harder to excite all the water molecules, so not all the food may heat up evenly.
The Solution
If you want both eggs to reach the same temperature as one egg, try increasing the cooking time slightly, or try rotating the dishes halfway through the cooking time.
The Technical Details
Now, let’s explore some of the technical details of this experiment. First, how should we measure the temperature of the eggs?
The Thermometer Method
One way to measure the temperature of the eggs is to use a digital cooking thermometer. To do this, insert the thermometer into the center of the egg and read the temperature. Be careful not to touch the sides or bottom of the glass dish when taking the temperature, as this may give a false reading.
The Egg Test Method
An alternative method to measure the temperature is the egg test method. Place your hand about 5 inches above the dish holding the egg and hold it there for three seconds. If you can keep your hand in place for those three seconds without feeling any discomfort, the egg is not hot enough. If you can hold your hand above the egg for only one or two seconds, the egg is ready. And finally, if you can’t keep your hand above the egg for even a second, the egg is overcooked.
Conclusion
The experiment of poaching two eggs in a microwave can be a fun and educational way to explore the science of microwave cooking. By understanding the physics of how microwaves cook food, and experimenting with cooking times and techniques, you can achieve perfectly poached eggs every time.
Microwave Cooking
Microwave Cooking: Experimenting with Poached Eggs
Have you ever wondered about the science behind microwave cooking? If so, you might find the following experiment interesting. Suppose you are poaching a chicken egg in a small glass dish in your microwave, and you want to know whether two eggs will reach the same temperature as a single egg, assuming they all cook for the same amount of time with the microwave set to a medium level of heat intensity. Let’s explore this quandary.
The Experiment
For the first experiment, poach a single egg in the microwave for some time,
. In the second experiment, poach two eggs, each in their own dish, for the same amount of time, 
. The glass dishes used should be identical in size and shape.
The Results
When you compare the temperature of the eggs in the single-egg experiment to the temperature of each egg in the two-egg experiment, you may find that the eggs in the two-egg experiment have a lower temperature. Is this expected?
The Explanation
The reason why the eggs in the two-egg experiment may have a lower temperature is due to the physics of microwaves. Microwaves cook food by exciting water molecules in the food, causing them to heat up and cook the food. When there is too much food in the microwave, the microwaves have to work harder to excite all the water molecules, so not all the food may heat up evenly.
The Solution
If you want both eggs to reach the same temperature as one egg, try increasing the cooking time slightly, or try rotating the dishes halfway through the cooking time.
The Technical Details
Now, let’s explore some of the technical details of this experiment. First, how should we measure the temperature of the eggs?
The Thermometer Method
One way to measure the temperature of the eggs is to use a digital cooking thermometer. To do this, insert the thermometer into the center of the egg and read the temperature. Be careful not to touch the sides or bottom of the glass dish when taking the temperature, as this may give a false reading.
The Egg Test Method
An alternative method to measure the temperature is the egg test method. Place your hand about 5 inches above the dish holding the egg and hold it there for three seconds. If you can keep your hand in place for those three seconds without feeling any discomfort, the egg is not hot enough. If you can hold your hand above the egg for only one or two seconds, the egg is ready. And finally, if you can’t keep your hand above the egg for even a second, the egg is overcooked.
Conclusion
The experiment of poaching two eggs in a microwave can be a fun and educational way to explore the science of microwave cooking. By understanding the physics of how microwaves cook food, and experimenting with cooking times and techniques, you can achieve perfectly poached eggs every time.