Ever had a hankering for a hot meal when you’re out and about, but had to settle for a meal deal sandwich instead?
Well, the days of cold pasta pots may soon be over, as Japanese tool manufacturer Makita has unveiled a cordless, portable microwave oven.
The MW001G is able to deliver 500W of power for up to eight minutes to heat up your food, without being connected to a socket.
It weighs about 19.4 lbs (8.8 kg), so can easily be carried to a worksite, campsite or charging point, but a shoulder strap can be purchased and attached too.
The microwave is currently only available in Japan, and has gone on sale for ¥110,000 ($840, £670), but this excludes tax, the cost of the battery and charger.
The MW001G is able to deliver 500W of power for up to eight minutes to heat up your food, without being connected to a socket
It weighs about 19.4 lbs (8.8 kg), so can easily be carried to a job site, campsite or charging point, but a shoulder strap can be purchased and attached too
The microwave has a storage capacity of eight litres, and internal dimensions of 10 x 4.7 x 9.5 inches (255 x 120 x 241 mm), so Makita says it can ‘hold a large lunch box’.
‘Because it is a flat table, it is easy to clean and maintain,’ the company adds.
It is also perfect ‘for meals on site and in the car, and for disaster preparedness’.
The microwave has space for two 40V lithium-ion battery packs, but only needs one to function, so the other can be used as a backup.
When both are used, it gives the oven enough power to reheat around 11 lunch boxes or 20 cups of coffee.
However, inputting batteries with higher capacity can extend its battery life.
Two 2.5 Ah packs give up to eight minutes of cooking time, but two 33.5 Ah packs increase this nearly an hour and a half.
It can also be switched between providing 500W and 350W of power, depending on whether the user wants to conserve its charge.
But the MW001G isn’t just a microwave, it is also a portable phone charger.
On the back is a dedicated USB slot that allows the owner to use its powerful batteries to charge other devices, with a maximum output of 2.4A.
The top has a display which shows the operating time and battery life, and four buttons which turn it on, start cooking, stop cooking and switch between the two power modes.
While it doesn’t have a familiar rotating table, it does have a sponge filter which collects any crumbs or debris, and can be cleaned with a vacuum.
It has a storage capacity of 8 litres, and internal dimensions of 10 x 4.7 x 9.5 inches (255 x 120 x 241 mm), so Makita says it can ‘hold a large lunch box’
The company says it is perfect ‘for meals on site and in the car, and for disaster preparedness’
But the MW001G isn’t just a microwave, it is also a portable phone charger. On the back is a dedicated USB slot that allows the owner to use its powerful batteries to charge other devices, with a maximum output of 2.4A
The microwave comes with safety features, as it will power off immediately if the door is opened while it is on or it is tilted.
While currently only available in Japan, it is featured in a teaser video on the TikTok channel for Makita Netherlands, suggesting it will soon be released elsewhere.
While the company is most well known for making power tools, the microwave is not its first foray into portable cookware.
Makita also offers a coffee maker, kettle and cooler box, all of which are compatible with the same batteries that power its cordless screwdrivers and drills.
The official Instagram for Makita Denmark even released a promotional image of a Makita Air Fryer, but as this was put up on April 1, it is unclear if it is a practical joke.
They are all designed in the same teal blue colour, and with a rugged, toolbox-ready look.
The top has a display which shows the operating time and battery life, and four buttons which turn it on, start cooking, stop cooking and switch between the two power modes
The microwave has space for two 40V lithium-ion battery packs, but only needs one to function, so the other can be used as a backup
Trying to reduce your salt intake? Scientists develop an electric SPOON that zaps your tongue to enhance the salty taste of low-sodium foods
Scientists at Meiji University in Japan have developed an electric spoon that zaps your tongue to enhance the salty taste of bland food, giving you all the benefits of a sodium hit without the fear of your blood pressure sky rocketing.
It works with the help of electric waves to transfer sodium ions or ‘electric salt’ into your mouth.
The invention – which is expected to go on sale later this year for an as yet undisclosed price – is so effective that it enhances the salty taste of low sodium foods by 1.5 times, the researchers say.
The scientists, along with the beverage maker Kirin Holdings Co, hope that the spoon and bowl set will help improve people’s lifestyles, with the Electric Salt device launching in 2023.
Scientists at Meiji University in Japan have developed an electric spoon that zaps your tongue to enhance the salty taste of low sodium foods. Pictured: The Electric Salt spoon
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
