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Microwave ovens have been adopted by Australian households with remarkable speed. Over 5 million microwave ovens have been sold in Australia, and approximately 77 per cent of Australian homes contain one. It is plausible – but difficult to prove that microwave ovens have reduced time spent cooking. Most foods take less time to prepare in a microwave oven than a conventional oven; women’s cooking time has fallen during the microwave’s diffusion period, while microwaveable foods have become widely available. The microwave oven has influenced household food purchases and can reduce household energy use via several mechanisms.
