| Quick, convenient and economical - but risky? The | | | | In theory, food should be cooked in such a way that |
| microwave has been with us for a long time now, and | | | | the temperature zone in which bacteria multiply fastest |
| is one of our most popular kitchen appliances. It pays | | | | (6 to 60 degrees Centigrade, roughly) is kept as short |
| though, to be aware of some of the possible health | | | | as possible, and final cooking time/ temperature should |
| risks involved in their use. | | | | be such that their demise is assured. The microwave |
| The first problem to consider is the microwave | | | | is good at doing the first bit, but not so good at the |
| radiation itself. The magnetron in the oven produces a | | | | second. Fast microwave heating can often result in |
| very high intensity alternating power food which makes | | | | 'cold spots' within the food, where any bacteria present |
| the molecules inside the food move about, causing | | | | may survive quite happily. |
| friction, and of course heat. | | | | Frequently, the outside of the food can seem really |
| The damage that microwave energy can do to living | | | | hot, while the inside is still cold. The rule here is to |
| organisms has been well known since the 1930s, and | | | | always go by the manufacturer's heating guidelines, |
| when microwave ovens began to be popular in the | | | | including the resting phase after cooking - this allows |
| home, studies carried out in the US demonstrated that, | | | | the internal temperature of the food to even out and |
| several models were well over what was then | | | | to continue to increase. |
| regarded as a safe emission limit. | | | | What about microwaves destroying the goodness in |
| Since then of course, standards for protection and | | | | your food and even causing cancer? There is not one |
| microwave oven construction have improved | | | | iota of genuine, acceptable research to even begin to |
| considerably, so we don't need to worry - or do we? | | | | support either of these notions. There is lots of |
| Part of the problem is of course that microwaves are | | | | speculation, but little real evidence. |
| invisible and they have no odour, so how do you know | | | | Here is the biggest risk to your health connected to |
| if you they are leaking from your oven and putting you | | | | your microwave. Simple overheating! It is the cause of |
| at risk? It has been generally accepted that if the door | | | | many, burning and scalding accidents every year, |
| seals of the microwave are in good condition, if the | | | | some of them serious. When you heat liquids in a |
| door of the oven sits firmly on its hinges and fits snugly | | | | microwave, it is possible for them to reach a |
| to the frame, there should be no problem. However, if | | | | temperature that is actually higher than their boiling |
| you are still worried that there might be, you can buy a | | | | point, and if that happens, the stem in the liquid cannot |
| microwave leakage detector and check to be sure. | | | | be released until the liquid is disturbed - by you |
| However, there are other dangers lurking in the | | | | removing the container or stirring it. The superheated |
| microwave. Bugs. Bacteria. Germs. Call them what you | | | | steam then literally explodes on to your hands or face, |
| like, these little creatures account for by far the | | | | with predictable results |
| greatest number of cases of food poisoning in the | | | | You can minimise the risk simply by stirring the liquid a |
| world today - and food poisoning can be much, much | | | | couple of times as you heat it. |
| worse than having an upset tummy for a couple of | | | | Finally, be sure to use microwave safe plastics in your |
| days. | | | | oven. Those from reputable makers will be marked |
| Just like conventional cooking, the microwave oven | | | | 'Microwave Safe', and you can use them with |
| relies on the production of heat to kill any of the | | | | confidence. Others, (often cheap imports) may leach |
| potentially hazardous bacteria that may be in our food. | | | | some really nasty chemicals into your food, so are |
| In order to destroy these bacteria, they must be | | | | best avoided. |
| exposed to a lethal temperature for a sufficient | | | | All in all, your microwave is a useful and very safe |
| amount of time. | | | | gadget - as long as you know the risks. |