A method for applying a microwave treatment to a product, the method comprising the steps: a) providing a microwave system comprising a microwave applicator , an imaging device , a controller , and a microwave generator ; b) placing the product in the microwave applicator ; c) generating microwaves by means of the microwave generator at a pre-determined generated microwave power; d) directing the microwaves to the product in the microwave applicator ; e) subjecting the product to the microwaves at a pre-determined applied microwave power; f) capturing, by means of the imaging device , image data indicative of a temperature distribution of the product; g) controlling, by means of the controller and based on the image data, the applied microwave power to the product; h) measuring an amount of incident power by means of a power meter; i) measuring an amount of reflected power by means of a power meter; j) determining an amount of absorbed microwave power by subtracting the amount of incident power and the amount of reflected power; k) either one of - using the amount of absorbed microwave power as an approximation of the amount of microwave power that was absorbed by the product; or, - calculating an amount of cavity losses, and calculating the amount of microwave power that was absorbed by the product by subtracting the amount of cavity losses from the amount of absorbed microwave power; and, l) controlling, by means of the controller and based on the microwave power that was absorbed by the product, the applied microwave power to the product. a) providing a microwave system comprising a microwave applicator , an imaging device , a controller , and a microwave generator ; b) placing the product in the microwave applicator ; c) generating microwaves by means of the microwave generator at a pre-determined generated microwave power; d) directing the microwaves to the product in the microwave applicator ; e) subjecting the product to the microwaves at a pre-determined applied microwave power; f) capturing, by means of the imaging device , image data indicative of a temperature distribution of the product; g) controlling, by means of the controller and based on the image data, the applied microwave power to the product; h) measuring an amount of incident power by means of a power meter; i) measuring an amount of reflected power by means of a power meter; j) determining an amount of absorbed microwave power by subtracting the amount of incident power and the amount of reflected power; k) either one of - using the amount of absorbed microwave power as an approximation of the amount of microwave power that was absorbed by the product; or, - calculating an amount of cavity losses, and calculating the amount of microwave power that was absorbed by the product by subtracting the amount of cavity losses from the amount of absorbed microwave power; and, - using the amount of absorbed microwave power as an approximation of the amount of microwave power that was absorbed by the product; or, - calculating an amount of cavity losses, and calculating the amount of microwave power that was absorbed by the product by subtracting the amount of cavity losses from the amount of absorbed microwave power; and, l) controlling, by means of the controller and based on the microwave power that was absorbed by the product, the applied microwave power to the product. <EOS>