# Cooking with what KIND of light?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-what-kind-of-light/10531>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 17, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-what-kind-of-light/10531 "2000-04-17T23:57:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-what-kind-of-light/10531/1 "2000-04-17T23:57:00Z")

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There’s this new oven that G.E. has introduced and is advertising ad nauseum. They claim it cuts cooking time a lot (you can make a batch of chocolate chip cookies in a couple of minutes). It also claims that it’s not using microwaves. The other claim is that you get ‘normal’ (non-microwave) oven results, IE chicken w/ crispy skin, etc.

What it doesn’t say is how it works. The only claim they make is that they “cook with light”. Well, whoopee! If I remember my basic physics, **ALL** ovens cook with ‘light’ (ie: infra-red raditiation).

So, assuming they’re telling the truth about the results, what _kind_ of light are they using? Microwaves? Infra-Red? Gamma-rays? or for that matter, Laser beams?

Anyone have any idea how this product’s supposed to work?

(Their URL is below)  
[Advantium Oven](http://www.geappliances.com/advantium/home_fr.htm)

Fenris

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-what-kind-of-light/10531/2 "2000-04-18T00:40:00Z")

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Didn’t the EZ-bake oven use a forty-watt? Maybe they gave it a better frame and upped the wattage. Good question though, wondered the same thing after seeing the (very annoying) ads.

* * *

Once in a while you can get shown the light  
in the strangest of places  
if you look at it right…

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-what-kind-of-light/10531/3 "2000-04-18T00:44:00Z")

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Halogen light, if I remember correctly.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

* * *

Teach your kids to bungee jump.  
One them might have to cross a bridge someday.

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-what-kind-of-light/10531/4 "2000-04-18T01:11:00Z")

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**mangeorge** is right. From the FAQ on the page posted in the OP:

> [@](#):
>
> 1. Do I have to replace the lights in my oven?  
> GE has gone through significant reliability testing when making Advantium and has specially designed **halogen cooking bulbs** designed to last the life of the product.

## Bolding is mine. Next time it is hot enough to cook an egg on the roof of my car, I am going to make a side of bacon on the headlights.

Once in a while you can get shown the light  
in the strangest of places  
if you look at it right…