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Using a microwave oven can reduce the nutritional quality of your food and pose a risk of contamination

The microwave oven is the favorite appliance of many people because it facilitates the preparation and heating of food. There are several recipes made entirely with your help (such as cakes, puddings, sauces, etc.). Some people no longer even have the conventional oven in their homes. But do you know what consequences this habit can have on your health?

Many people already know that the microwave should not be used if the hinge, latch or door seal is damaged. But why? The functioning of the device is based on the emission of electromagnetic waves that penetrate the food, from 2 cm to 4 cm from the surface, agitating the water molecules, causing them to rub against each other. This radiation can escape and harm your health if the microwave is damaged.

In addition, it is very important to pay attention to the type of container used in the appliance. You may already know that you can't put metal in the microwave, but plastic isn't a good thing either. The best option is to use tempered glass or ceramic containers. When plastic is heated, it releases greater amounts of items such as bisphenol A (BPA) (a chemical used to harden plastic that is linked to a variety of health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and infertility) and phthalates (which cause problems including liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as reproductive system abnormalities). Worn or cracked plastic containers tend to release even more of these substances. Foods such as meat and cheese tend to absorb these compounds.

Never use margarine containers or other containers designed to be used at low temperatures. These containers are not heat stable and chemical items in the plastic can migrate into the food during heating. Foam trays in which meats and cold cuts are sold are unsuitable for microwave cooking or defrosting. They are not designed to be heated and can melt and contaminate your food.

Covering a plate before reheating in the microwave is smart: it helps prevent splashing, keeps food moist and also helps distribute heat more evenly. Covering a plate with plastic wrap, however, is not smart. Heating food in a plastic-covered container can generate chemical gases that migrate to the food - even when the plastic is not touching the food directly.

In addition to all this, the type of heating in the microwave oven causes the nutrients in the food to be reduced.

Your guide to life without a microwave

You can choose to live without a microwave for several reasons, whether because of the various dangers mentioned above, to live a more minimalist life and have more space in the kitchen, or because you find the food more appetizing when it comes out of a conventional oven. Regardless of your reasons, check out the following tips, which can help you with this transition:

Plan your meals in advance

Do you usually defrost your food in the microwave? As with almost everything in life, planning will also help you with this task. If you know you're going to need to take something out of the freezer for dinner tomorrow, make sure you take it out tonight and put it in the fridge. After all, you won't be using the microwave to speed up this process. If you forget, you can keep the sealed package immersed in cold water in the sink.

use glass containers

Use glass storage containers instead of plastic. In addition to avoiding contamination with the chemicals in the plastic, you can place the container directly in the oven to heat leftovers from the previous meal.

Don't buy frozen meals

You may already know that frozen meals are not very healthy. They have preservatives and are not as nutritious. This is a good incentive to get rid of them and consume real food.

Buy corn for your popcorn

Microwave popcorn can be very practical, however it is neither very healthy nor sustainable. Buy the corn and pop your own popcorn so you'll save money (have you noticed how the bag of corn is cheaper?) and reduce microwave use. Click here and learn more about the dangers of microwave popcorn.

Buy a timer or use the cell phone alarm

One of the biggest advantages of the microwave is that it turns itself off after the set time, and this makes it much harder to burn your recipes. But if you have a timer or set an alarm, you can avoid burning your food by spending too much time on the phone.

In the beginning, it can be a little difficult to let go of this habit. But give it a try: keep it for a month or two and see how you get along without it. Having fewer things and being aware of your habits is key to increasing your quality of life. If after that time you are ready to live without it, donate or recycle. Click here to learn how.

Source: MNN