Microwave ovens have a rotating base plate, also known as a turntable, to ensure even cooking of food. The rotation of the turntable helps distribute the microwave energy more uniformly throughout the food, preventing hotspots and ensuring that all parts of the food receive similar exposure to the microwaves.
The mechanism that rotates the base plate in a microwave oven is relatively simple. Here's how it works:
Turntable motor: At the bottom of the microwave oven, there is a small electric motor specifically designed to rotate the turntable. This motor is usually located in the center of the oven's cavity.
Drive coupling: The turntable motor is connected to a drive coupling, which is a small plastic or rubber piece that fits onto the motor's shaft.
Turntable support: The turntable sits on a raised, rotating turntable support, which is designed to fit into the turntable track on the bottom of the microwave oven's cavity.
Coupling on the turntable: The turntable has a corresponding indentation or hole in the center that fits onto the drive coupling.
When you start the microwave oven, the turntable motor is activated, and it begins to rotate. As the motor turns, it transfers its rotational force to the drive coupling. The drive coupling, in turn, engages with the matching hole or indentation on the bottom of the turntable. As a result, the turntable starts rotating on the turntable support.
As the microwaves are emitted from the magnetron (the microwave-generating component) in the microwave oven, the rotating turntable ensures that the microwaves are distributed evenly across the food. This rotation prevents certain spots in the food from being overcooked while others remain undercooked.
Some microwave ovens also have the option to disable the turntable rotation when using oversized or rectangular dishes that may not fit well on the rotating plate. In such cases, there may be a turntable on/off feature that allows you to stop the rotation manually.
The rotating turntable is a critical feature in microwave ovens, contributing to their ability to quickly and efficiently cook food while maintaining evenness and consistency throughout the cooking process.