The turntable in a microwave oven is designed to rotate the food during the cooking process. The direction of rotation can vary from one microwave oven to another, and it may not always rotate in the same direction for a couple of reasons:
Motor Design: The turntable rotation in a microwave oven is typically powered by a small electric motor. The motor design and construction can influence the direction of rotation. Some microwave ovens have motors that rotate the turntable clockwise, while others rotate it counterclockwise. The direction is determined by the motor's internal configuration and the electrical connections.
Random Starting Position: When you start the microwave oven, the turntable may not always begin rotating from the same starting position. It depends on the orientation of the turntable from the previous use and any small irregularities in the motor's starting mechanism. These factors can cause the turntable to begin rotating in different directions.
Reversing Mechanism: In some microwave ovens, there is a mechanism that periodically reverses the direction of rotation to ensure even heating. This mechanism is often found in higher-end microwave models and is intended to minimize hot spots by redistributing the heat more evenly. If your microwave has this feature, it will alternate the rotation direction at specific intervals during the cooking cycle.
Overall, the direction of rotation of the turntable in a microwave oven is primarily determined by the motor design and can also be influenced by the starting position and any reversing mechanism present in the oven. It is a normal behavior and does not affect the microwave's functionality or the cooking process.