Microwaves & Condensation!

[BernardinTring]

Recently taken delivery of van equiped with a microwave.
I have tried searching the site but without success and therefore sorry if this question has been previously answered.
If a microwave is used for other than say heating up a quick coffee or a defrost, i.e. cooking something for a reasonable period of time, say a casserole, do you experience in the actual inside body of the microwave what amounts to excess condensation? Which after use has to be dried out.
Never experienced any such problems with one at home.
As with most van installations the microwave is located in a locker and , yes, we did leave the locker door open in accordance with the instructions..
Any comment and advice would be appreciated.
Bernard.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Bernard.

Cooking a wet product like a casserole will inevitably produce quite a lot of water vapour, just like keeping a kettle boiling, so condensation is very likely to happen. Whether your is excessive or not I can't tell.

Condensation is always the result of warmer humid air coming into contact with cold air or surface. The reduction in temperature reduces the capacity of the air to hold its moisture causing the excess to condense out. You can't stop it happening unless you heat the whole thing up. You can reduce its effects by maintaining good ventilation that allows the humid air to escape easily and be replaced with less humid cooler air. Thats the mechanics of the condensation.

I don't know what you particular installation is like, but I'm pretty certain ventilation is the major factor here. Having a microwave in a small confined space will limit the amount of free ventilation it has. However that is likely to mean the whole microwave will get warmer which should reduce internal condensation, Alternatively, if the microwave installation has copious amounts of ventilation letting cold air into to the space, that might cool the walls of the microwave more encouraging condensation.

Its difficult to make a direct comparison with a home domestic.

The safest thing is to follow the instructions you have, but to raise the issue with your dealer and ask them to check the installation.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Bernard
More recent microvaves are fitted with ventilation slots either above or the side of the unit. Bailey some years ago did a retrofit ventilator. As far as I know all new Baileys come with venting for the very situation you describe. I don't know about other makes.
In addition to the Prof's points may I suggest you set the omnivent on extract low speed at all times the microwave is in use. It should be fairly close to the microwave.

 

[BernardinTring]

Mant thanks to you both for comments and advice. Very much appreciated
Bernard