Facts About Your Microwave Oven
August 11th 2009 17:49
Category: Home Accessories
Here are some of the common myths about microwave ovens. Find out which are true and which are purely myth.
Heating plastics in a microwave can be dangerous
This is actually true. You want to avoid putting any plastic in the microwave, as when heating plastics, even microwave-safe plastics, you are potentially releasing BPA, which can increase the risks of developing certain cancers. You will find BPA in plastics marked as No. 7, as well as 1, 2, and 5.
That means it's not safe to cook your frozen dinner in the microwave. Take the food out of the container and put it on a ceramic plate.
Metals get dangerously hot in microwaves
This is a myth. Metals reflect microwaves, whereas plastic, glass, and ceramic materials allow them to pass through. But, a thin piece of metal, such as aluminum foil, can act as an antenna, causing microwaves to arc off of them, forming sparks.
Microwaves leak unsafe levels of electromagnetic radiation
Another myth, most of the time anyway. It's pretty challenging to sort out what risks we may get from emitted power lines, cell phones, computers, clocks, microwave ovens, etc, and no one knows how much non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation it takes to cause cancer. The FDA does limit the amount that microwave ovens can leak, and for the most part, the levels are far below the level that will harm people.
As for looking into a microwave while it's working, it's suggested that because the window is shielded, there shouldn't be any significant leakage through the window.
If you're still worried, you can purchase a testing kit.
Boiling a cup of water in a microwave can cause it to explode
This is true. It is potentially dangerous to boil water in the microwave, as it can easily over-heat and boil over, scalding your hands or arms. If you heat water in the microwave oven using a ceramic or glass container, it can prevent bubbles from forming, which normally cool down the water, so the water can get super-over-heated and when disturbed, it can release violently out of the cup.
You can avoid risk by heating water only to the minimum amount of time needed, or place a wooden spoon or stick in the container when heating.
Microwave ovens cook food from the inside outside
This is a myth. Microwave ovens work on the outer layers of food first. The inner layers are warmed as the heat transfers from the outside inward.
You can't heat oils in a microwave
This is true. You will find that you can't heat oils, such as olive oil in a microwave oven very well because the molecules lack the polarity that is in water. This is the same for frozen butter because, the bulk of butter is oil, and the water that is in butter is frozen, keeping the molecules locked in crystal form.
Microwaves alter food in undesirable, possibly unsafe, ways
This statement has not been fully determined, yet it is highly unlikely that it is true. Any kind of cooking is going to change the chemistry of food. Cooking can reduce some nutrient levels, as well as increase others.
Microwaves do not necessarily alter foods in such as way that they are more harmful than other; some believe that because it takes less time to cook in a microwave, you're actually preserving some of the nutrients. But, even still, there is not enough data to confirm whether or not a microwave is affecting the nutrients of the food in a harmful way.
You'll probably find more studies saying using your cell phone is going to be more harmful than warming your food in a microwave oven
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