Microwave heating and the dielectric properties of foods

Microwave heating is highly popular in a variety of industrial and domestic applications. The major factor supporting the popularity of microwave heating is its rapidness which matches very well the current fast lifestyle of people. Other advantages of microwave heating are its ease of operation, low maintenance, and instant heating. The combination of traditional means of drying (such as hot air) with microwave technology can reduce processing times, produce higher quality foods, and provide flexibility in the selections of foods to be dried, thus it is widely used in the food industry. However, the occurrence of uneven temperatures during microwave food heating remains a major concern regarding the use of microwave energy.