Food preparation

An apparatus for heating an object by delivering microwave energy to the object, comprising:

• an interface configured to receive processing information using information stored on a machine readable element associated with the object;
• a device configured to detect microwave radiation absorption characteristics of the object at a plurality of frequencies;
• at least one radiating element;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• determine at least one instruction for heating the object by microwave radiation based on the processing information and the microwave radiation absorption characteristics of the object;
• and
• cause a source of microwave energy to heat the object by applying microwave radiation to the object in accordance with the at least one instruction;
• wherein the at least one radiating element is configured to obtain first information relating to the microwave radiation absorption characteristics of the object at the plurality of frequencies and provide the first information to the device, and wherein the at least one radiating element is configured to serve as part of a reading unit by receiving the information stored on the machine readable element.