Microwaves are a great innovation that help reheat food and drinks quickly. However, not all foods are safe to heat in the device because of how they work. Microwaves reflect waves from an electromagnet through the food, causing the molecules to vibrate and produce heat to cook. The heat is spread unevenly through the food or drink. This is why you may find food reheated in the microwave is hot at the edges but still cold within. If you’re reheating a dish that behaves this way, heat the food for thirty seconds and stir before returning it to the microwave.
Some materials, such as aluminium foil or anything metallic, shouldn’t be used in the microwave because they can cause a fire. You also shouldn’t put single-use plastics because they melt easily and can contaminate your food. Additionally, there are foods you shouldn’t heat in the microwave.
1. Water
Boiling water in the microwave for a cup of tea seems harmless. However, if you boil distilled water without impurities, it can reach boiling point without bubbling. When you add coffee or sugar, it can then splatter and cause severe burns. It’s also unsafe to boil water containing coffee or a tea bag. To avoid scalding your skin, boil water with a kettle or stovetop.
2. Eggs
Don’t cook any eggs in the microwave. Plenty of recipes online show how to make scrambled or poached eggs in the microwave. However, these recipes don’t show the risk of burns. Putting a raw egg in a cup of water to poach is risky because it can explode when you cut into it. The water can also splash on your face and burn you.
Don’t reheat boiled eggs, whether they have shells or not. In addition, cutting a hole into the egg to release moisture doesn’t prevent the explosion. Some manufacturers say you can heat an egg when you have poked the yolk with a pin. But this can still lead to burns.
Read also: Health: First Aid And Home Remedies For A Burn
3. Frozen meat
If you forgot to defrost your meat in time for a meal, you might try to stick it in the microwave. Even using the defrost function can cook the meat on the outside. Because of how microwaves work, the heat is spread unevenly. Cook the meat immediately if you defrost it this way to avoid the growth of bacteria. You risk food poisoning if you let it sit for more than eight hours.
The safest way to defrost meat is to move it to the fridge overnight. You can also leave the meat in room temperature water, changing it every thirty minutes to keep the ice melting.
Read also: Lifestyle: 10 Mistakes To Avoid While Handling Food
4. Broccoli
Studies show that cooking broccoli in the microwave makes it lose plenty of nutrients. The best way to cook broccoli is by blanching or steaming. Boiling and using a pressure cooker does cause some loss of nutrients. Superfoods: 7 Health Benefits Of Broccoli
Read also: 5 Step Recipe For Veggies
5. Thick sauces
The safest way to reheat thick sauces, such as pasta sauce or gravies, in the microwave is by heating them one serving at a time. Partially cover the sauce with a plastic lid or a serviette. However, the nature of the sauce traps heat and can make it splatter and cause a mess within the microwave. It also has a minimal risk of exploding in your face when you take it out and stir it. It’s safer to reheat such sauces with a stove.
6. Baby formula or breast milk
When you reheat baby formula or breast milk in the microwave, you can leave hot spots which can scald the baby. The safest way to reheat baby formula or breast milk is to place the bottle in hot water or warm it on a stovetop.
Check out:
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