Does microwave cause mostly superficial heating?

I was talking to chat gpt and it said what I pasted down below. Does it contradict itself when it says the heat warm the food from inside out? Is what it is saying correct?

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Yes, it’s true that microwaves cause mostly superficial heating in food or objects, but they can still heat them significantly, depending on the intensity and duration of exposure. Here’s how microwaves work and why they primarily cause superficial heating:

How Microwaves Heat Food

  • Microwaves (the type of electromagnetic waves used in microwave ovens) are absorbed by water molecules in food. These waves cause the water molecules to vibrate rapidly, creating friction, which generates heat.
  • The heat produced can warm the food from the inside out, but the rate of heating often depends on the moisture content and density of the food. Thinner foods or those with more water content will heat up faster and more evenly.

Superficial Heating:

  • Superficial heating happens mostly when microwaves interact with the outer layers of the food, especially in dry or dense materials (which don’t allow microwaves to penetrate deeply).
  • Microwave ovens tend to heat food unevenly, which is why the outer parts of the food might get hot while the inside can still be cool, unless stirred or rotated.

Penetration Depth

  • Microwaves can penetrate food or objects only a certain distance—usually a few centimeters at most, depending on the food’s moisture content and the microwave frequency.
  • Thicker or denser materials (like meats or dense objects) can cause the heat to be more concentrated on the outer layers, leading to superficial heating. However, some microwaves are designed to penetrate deeper in certain situations (e.g., defrosting meat), and they can heat food more evenly.

Conclusion

While microwaves cause superficial heating in many cases (especially with denser materials), they can also heat objects more deeply depending on the material being heated, the power level, and the exposure time.

So, yes—superficial heating is common, but microwaves can still generate significant heat depending on the circumstances. Does that clarify how microwaves work for heating?