| At the very outset, to know whether the microwave | | | | microwave oven's radiation. There are studies on the |
| oven cooked food is safer to use or not, you need to | | | | effects of microwave cooking that show both positive |
| have a clear knowledge of what microwave radiation | | | | and negative effects on food, just as there are current |
| is. They are a form of 'electromagnetic' radiation, that | | | | studies on the dangerous effects of radiation from cell |
| is, they are waves of electrical and magnetic energy | | | | phones. So the bottom line is to learn how to use them |
| moving together. | | | | safely and also follow some safety tips: |
| Microwaves used in these ovens are similar to the | | | | - follow the manufacturer's instruction manual for |
| microwaves used in radar equipment and in telephone, | | | | recommended operating procedures and safety |
| television and radio communications. They are in the | | | | precautions for your own model. |
| non-ionizing range of electromagnetic radiation, which | | | | - don't operate an oven if the door does not close |
| are very different from ionizing radiation. Ionizing | | | | firmly or is bent, warped, or otherwise damaged. |
| radiation includes the dangerous X-rays, gamma rays, | | | | - as an added safety precaution, don't stand directly |
| and cosmic rays and is extremely toxic, powerful and | | | | against an oven (and don't allow children to do this) for |
| penetrating. But again, non-ionizing radiation is what's | | | | long periods of time while it is operating. |
| used for microwave ovens and cellular telephone | | | | - you should not heat water or liquids in the microwave |
| devices. | | | | ovens for excessive amount of time. |
| Coming to its cooking qualities, they are convenient for | | | | - microwave ovens can heat liquid and solid foods |
| cooking as they pass through glass, paper and plastic | | | | unevenly, leaving some cooler parts and some scalding |
| and are absorbed by food, producing heat that can | | | | hot spots. There are two dangers in this: |
| reheat or cook the food. Moreover, there are no signs | | | | - Hot spots: Babies who have been given formula |
| that microwave cooking reduces the nutritional value | | | | heated in a microwave oven have gotten bad mouth |
| of food, in fact, some experts believe that microwave | | | | burns. For this reason, it is recommended not to heat |
| cooking may preserve more of the vitamins in food | | | | milk for a baby in a microwave. |
| because it cooks food more quickly, leaving less time | | | | - Cold spots: Cooking meat in a microwave can lead |
| for the heat to break down the vitamins, and uses less | | | | to uncooked spots in which bacteria can survive. This |
| water, which can leach out the vitamins. | | | | can lead to food-borne illness. To thoroughly cook |
| Many people are concerned with being exposed to a | | | | meat, it is safer to use traditional methods. |