Question

Can infrared rays cook meals like microwaves can?

Answer 1

Microwaves use an alternating magnetic field, which excites water molecules in the food because it generates a force (water has a high dipole moment).

Infrared rays are basically heat waves, which would cook food in a rather different way. It simply increases the kinetic energy of the molecules through direct energy transfer, rather than indirectly through water like the microwaves do.