Fundamentals of RF Solid State Cooking

Microwave oven technology is on the cusp of a revolution. Solid state electronics can now deliver comparable power levels to the magnetron which has been the engine of the microwave oven since the first products were launched seventy years ago. The new technology brings with it many new techniques that can significantly enhance the control of energy delivery. These techniques represent scope for innovation that will change the user’s experience of cooking with high power RF energy. The technical implications and possibilities are examined in this paper which should be of interest to engineers or food scientists keen to improve the results achievable with industrial or consumer RF heating appliances.