Microwave ovens are highly versatile appliances found in almost all households. Convenient, quick, efficient and easy-to-use, a microwave oven has made cooking straightforward with little cleanup. But the question, “are microwaves safe?” keeps looming over it like a shadow. Some believe that microwaves produce harmful radiation and damage healthy nutrients. The fear of radiation doesn’t let people use it to its full potential. Microwave ovens emit radiation but are not hazardous to your food or health.
- Working of microwaves
Microwave ovens are a lifesaver for those who won’t or can’t cook. They are more common than toaster ovens in households because of their speed and affordability. Microwaves turn electricity into electromagnetic waves. These waves stimulate molecules in your food to heat it. Microwaves cook food much faster than traditional cooktops because microwaves begin the process from within the food and warm it up to its outermost layer. It is not that microwaves are unsafe; instead, your cooking methods are wrong. For extended warranty or microwave oven service, you can download the OneDios app and book your microwave service in a few seconds.
- Is radiation from microwaves harmful?
When used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, microwave ovens are safe and convenient for heating and cooking a variety of foods. Microwave ovens produce non-ionizing radiation, like the radiation from your cell phone-though, much stronger. Microwaves have metal shields and screens over the door that prevent radiation from leaving the oven, reducing risk and harm. It is always advisable to keep your face at a foot’s distance from the microwave. You can also book an appointment for an extended warranty and microwave service with the OneDios app.
- Effect on nutrients
Microwaving does not reduce nutrient value more than other cooking methods. Nutrients are lost in all forms of cooking, whether stove, boiling, frying or microwaving. While heating the food, some molecules break down, lowering the nutritional value of food. The main contributing factors are temperature, cooking time, and method.
However, the faster you heat your food, the less time there is for nutrients to break down – microwaves may have the advantage over traditional cooking when preserving the nutrients in our food. In some foods, due to less cooking time and temperature, microwaving may minimize the formation of harmful compounds that can form when cooking at high heat.
- Avoid plastic containers
Some containers or plastics contain harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalate linked to conditions like cancer, thyroid disorders, and obesity. When heated, these containers may leach compounds into your food. So, for this reason, never microwave your food in plastic container unless it is labelled as microwave-safe or BPA free or phthalate free. Plastic wrap is also safe to use in the microwave, so long as it doesn’t touch the food in the cooking process.
- Heating food properly
Microwaves sometimes are not as effective as other cooking methods at killing bacteria and other pathogens that may lead to food poisoning. That’s because the heat tends to be lower and the cooking time much shorter. Sometimes, food heats unevenly, like maybe in the case of meat. It’s also important to be careful when heating liquids. Microwave energy turns water into steam, and if that steam becomes trapped inside the food, the pressure will rapidly build until it is released by an explosion and may burn you or damage the microwave. For microwave service or repair of all brands such as LG, Panasonic, Samsung, IFB, etc., download the OneDios app today.
Conclusion
So, there we have all about microwaves being a safe, healthy, highly convenient, swift and efficient way of cooking your food. They cause no harm to your food or health if used correctly and appropriately. On the contrary, microwave ovens are even better than other cooking methods for preserving nutrients. Always use microwave-safe plastic, and do not stand too close to the microwave. Most importantly, cook food properly, i.e., do not underheat or overheat your food and always follow the instructions in the manual.
Whether you should use a microwave or not depends on you. The microwave oven requires periodic cleaning and maintenance per the manufacturer’s instructions. The maintenance and care are very straightforward; however, microwave service is needed once a year. Therefore, if you feel that your microwave service is due, download the “OneDios” app and generate a service request in a few clicks. You can also buy the extended warranty and AMCs for all microwave brands like Bosch, LG, Voltas, etc.
You can raise a service request in a few clicks without calling microwave customer care, Samsung microwave service centre, LG microwave service centre, etc. OneDios app is a one-stop shop for all your services, complaints against microwave oven repair, and extended warranty requests. Download the OneDios app and upload the details of your appliances today. It even logs when you last got your oven serviced and parts replaced. OneDios will also help keep track of your previous services, and you can fix your Microwave’s next service in advance. OneDios now also covers over 1350 postcodes in India.