Hamburger composition and microwave heating uniformity

The importance of recipe modifications on the microwave heating uniformity and dielectric properties of a hamburger was investigated in a household oven. Factorial design was used in the experimental setup, and data were evaluated by analysis of variance. Temperature was monitored by a fiberoptic device, infrared imaging, and thermocouples. Dielectric data of the hamburger components were measured by a cavity perturbation method. An analytical model for calculating microwave energy balance was developed and compared with experimental data, and numerical modeling was also used in the analysis, and the results were compared. Uneven heating is difficult to improve by recipe modifications only. The differences between the analytical and numerical modeling indicate that the uniformity of heating in relatively small loads is difficult to achieve.