Question

The addition of aluminium to the packaging materials for better conduction in microwave is known as __________

• A. Susceptors
• B. Docking
• C. Coating
• D. Lamination

Hint:

Remember that susceptors are designed to create a "conventional oven" effect (browning and crisping) for foods like popcorn, pizza, and french fries when cooked in a microwave. The keyword is converting microwave energy to thermal energy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Microwave ovens heat food using microwave radiation, which primarily excites water molecules.
This process is very efficient for heating but does not typically brown or crisp the food surface, as conventional ovens do through conduction and convection.
To overcome this, special packaging materials are used.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
A susceptor is a material used in microwave packaging that absorbs microwave energy and converts it into thermal energy (heat).
It typically consists of a very thin layer of metal, like aluminium particles, vacuum-deposited onto a plastic film (like PET).
This film is then laminated to a paper or paperboard support.
When placed in a microwave, the metallic layer rapidly heats up to high temperatures, which then cooks the food by conduction and radiation, creating browning and crisping effects similar to a conventional oven.
Docking is the process of piercing dough to prevent blistering. Coating and Lamination are general packaging processes, but the specific technology for this purpose is called a susceptor.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The addition of aluminium to packaging materials for better heat conduction in a microwave is known as a susceptor. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.