Microwave Safety

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Smaller and cheaper than ever before, microwaves have come a long way in the past few decades and are now a staple piece of kit in most family kitchens. With the ability to cook meals in minutes, microwaves fit perfectly with today’s busy lifestyles.

 

Of course, as with any piece of electrical equipment, it’s important to use your microwave safely. Following the manufacturer’s instructions will help prevent injury as well as avoiding illness caused by food poisoning.

 

It’s important to check your microwave regularly – never use a microwave that has a damaged door, or signs of damage elsewhere. Always follow the instructions for the food you are cooking. For example, check ready meals to see if the container is suitable for microwaving and if not; decant the food to a microwaveable alternative.

 

Check that food is completely cooked all the way through before serving. Be aware that food can become incredibly hot after being cooked in a microwave, so may need to sit for a few minutes before serving. Also remember that ready meal containers can sometimes soften slightly when cooking so you may need to wait a minute for them to regain their firmness.

 

Some people worry about the effects of radiation caused by microwave ovens and the possibility that they could cause cancer. Studies have failed to show a clear link between microwaves and cancer and most experts suggest that the small amounts of energy given off are unlikely to cause harm. However, to be on the safe side, you may wish to stand away from the microwave when it is in use.

 

You can find more information about the possible links between microwaves and cancer at: www.cancerresearchuk.org

 

Categories: cancer, check, Food, microwave, Microwaves, nbsp

Is Your Microwave Killing You? Not According to the Evidence

Though it has completely revolutionised cooking convenience, many people believe microwaving to be a major health concern. Let’s be honest; the idea of cooking by using an oven that passes electromagnetic waves over food doesn’t exactly smack of wellness! These waves excite water molecules, causing heat-generating friction which cooks your food. But does that radiation really hamper your wellbeing?

 

There are several reasons why people are afraid of the microwave effect:

 

1. Potential carcinogenic toxins (or, in other words, cancer)

 

2. Zapping all the valuable nutrients from food

 

3. Long-term brain damage

 

4. Unknown by-products in microwaved food that the human body is unable to metabolise

 

5. Alteration of male and female sexual hormones

 

6. Weakened immune system

 

7. Mental health problems, such as memory loss, lack of focus and emotional instability

 

However, even though these are commonly asserted fears, finding evidence for these claims amongst distinguished, highly researched and peer-reviewed journals is pretty much impossible. On a technical level, microwaves emit radiation. However, these radiations are not damaging to DNA by any means. The radiation emitted from microwaves – as well as radio and mobile phone towers – is known as non-ionising radiation and researchers are still struggling to show that there’s a definitive link between this kind of radiation and cancer.

 

Seeing as a few studies have managed to show a correlation between cancer and non-ionising radiation, let’s take a micro second to dissect the possibility that microwaves cause cancer. Even if the radiation is nuking your food, this does not instantly mean that these radiations then become passed on to your body or the environment. The microwave has been gracing kitchen counters every since 1954, so if it really was doing that much damage to everyone’s wellbeing, we’d all be walking round with severe cancer, radiation poisoning, retardation and malnutrition. Ok, maybe we wouldn’t be walking around, but you get the point.

 

Finally, if you’re concerned about the nutritional content of the food that has been microwaved, don’t forget that chemical reactions happen to any food which is cooked. Whether you steam it, bake it or sauté it, you will lose the vitamin B and other water soluble nutrients from your veg. One study has even found that exposing food to electromagnetic rays can actually kill bacteria, making it much safer to eat! So, as long as you use your microwave responsibly and make sure it’s in a good, working condition, I wouldn’t worry about it.

Categories: cancer, cancer nbsp, Food, ionising radiation, Microwaves, nbsp, radiation