What foods should never be microwaved to protect your health?
There is no doubt that the microwave saves precious time, especially when you live in a big city. You’re always in a hurry, trying to catch the bus and get home on time. Then it’s time to cook, but you feel so tired already… And here is the ally of families in a hurry – the microwave. But stop! Do you know how to use it properly? This small electric appliance can be very dangerous for your health. To avoid any problems, check what foods should never be microwaved.
Is it dangerous to cook food in the microwave?
Sure, a microwave can reheat all your leftovers, but you should avoid that. So to answer briefly: Yes, reheating some foods in the microwave can be dangerous to your health and even cause food poisoning.
What foods should never be microwaved?
The microwave can easily be replaced by the oven. It will take a few extra minutes to heat up your meal, but your health is more important, so be patient. When you get home, turn on the oven first and while you shower, your food will be ready for dinner. This is especially necessary for the following foods that you should never microwave.
Chicken
There is evidence that you can get salmonellosis from chicken that has been cooked in the microwave. This is especially dangerous for children and the elderly people.
Potatoes
This vegetable often contains a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum that can be killed during cooking in the oven. But the microwave can’t do that. It can even multiply it.
Mushrooms
It’s safe to cook mushrooms in the microwave, but reheating them is a very bad idea. You can get a bloated stomach.
Shrimps
Shrimp will not be toxic if you reheat them in the microwave, but they will have a gummy texture. This is because microwaves use electromagnetic radiation, not conduction, which heats the food from the inside.
Different types of blue cheese
Blue cheeses are made primarily of mushrooms and milk. When heated, they give off an unpleasant odor because the two products do not absorb microwaves in the same way.
Oils
The reason is simple. Microwaves heat food or liquids by sending electromagnetic waves through the water particles, causing them to vibrate and heat up. But oil doesn’t contain water, so it can’t actually be heated.
Rice
Why shouldn’t you reheat rice? Well, rice contains spores of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause food poisoning. By reheating it, you can encourage their multiplication. In short, rice is one of the foods you should never put in the microwave and if it has been cooked more than 24 hours ago, it is better to throw it away.