The first time I ever heard that using a microwave was “bad for you” was a few years ago, in a little health food shop.
I was explaining to the store clerk how I make a certain recipe, and when I got to the part about using the microwave, she turned white as a ghost and literally screamed: “DO NOT use the microwave! It is the devil! It can kill you!”
While this didn’t cause me to stop using a microwave, it did open my eyes to the possibility that microwaves might not be as safe as I’d thought.
So are microwaves harmful?
Some studies say they are. However, some studies say coffee is bad, some studies say soy is bad, some studies say using cell phones causes cancer. Then there are other “some studies” that say all of this isn’t true.
People use microwaves every day—people like my great grandmother who lived to be over 100. (Then again, my grandma only used microwaves for a very short period of her life, as they obviously hadn’t yet been invented when she was a young girl.)
What to believe?
One could drive oneself crazy trying to figure it all out! And that’s not healthy either.
So until there is conclusive evidence that microwaves are dangerous, I’m going to look out for my mental health/sanity first and keep using mine.
What are your thoughts on the safety of microwaves?
Debate me, debate each other, debate yourself if you wish… just keep it respectful.
I use my microwave every single day. I also got my BA minor in genetics so I like to think I’m pretty well informed of appliances that will degenerate your body.
Microwaves send very small waves of radiation out that accelerate water molecules in food. The fast jostling of the water molecules creates heat (which warms your food) and that’s basically all they’re designed for.
That being said, yes, you lose moisture through this as you can see by any bubbling or steam after it’s done which is why the texture is so greatly changed. This act of accelerated water can be forceful, destroying cell walls in plant matter and can in some cases lead to the degeration of certain enzymes.
Older microwave models leaked radiation, which is why you were told not to stand in front of them. The amount given off, even by an older machine, has never been proved to cause problems in the body. For people going through chemo or radiation for cancer, it can be recommended “just in case” to stay away from microwaves, without any real evidence to support it.
I use my microwave mostly for heating up leftovers, other than that I love the hob or the oven. I could never find the appeal in toaster ovens, they confound me! I’m definitely not worried about adverse nutritional effects, especially since i don’t prepare vegetables in it. And while my microwave is tucked in a corner, i’ve definitely stood smack in front of it, face down, watching the annual easter Peep jousting tournaments.
There’s so much information and myths about microwaves I can’t fairly assess whether they’re safe or not. I do know I would be having cold lunches at the office without it and that is enough to make me a fan.
I use the microwave everyday. It saves on washing up, saves on time and saves on energy. I only cook for myself, so it seems silly to waste all the extra energy the oven would use. I mainly use it to cook oatmeal, vegetables and reheat leftovers though.
I have mixed feelings about microwaves. I grew up in a family that insisted against the microwave because of certain harmful properties from the waves. However, I think that microwaves are a quick and convenient way to heat up foods that otherwise might be a pain to warm. Thus, while I don’t use the microwave too often and prefer the stove as a heating means, I don’t mind using the microwave once in a while to heat something up quickly.
As so many people have commented, I too think microwaves are okay in moderation. And despite whether using one is “bad” for you or not, there will still be people who use them anyway (same as with the discovery of skin cancer correlating with tanning beds, red meat correlating with moderately elevated risks of several different types of cancers, and the findings that fried, grilled, and smoked meats generate carcinogens as they cook–lots of people still use tanning beds and eat red/fried/etc. meats).
Limiting the frequency of your intake and the quantities of the foods mentioned above, microwave usage, etc. minimizes your intake of carcinogens, which are dose related.
Personally, I don’t use the microwave too much because it seems like foods cooked on the stovetop/in the oven taste better (for whatever reason). And as for all the talk about cancers, I just sort of smile to myself and wait for more conclusive evidence to the matters because it seems like EVERYTHING supposedly causes cancer nowadays.
…
…Oh, I guess I’d better watch myself.
That sort of talk probably causes cancer. xD
I don’t have a microwave, but because of space constraints in my kitchen. Our toaster oven is more versatile. It’s conceivable that microwaves are harmful, but then again so are most things if you use them too much. I don’t think a little microwaving now and again will be the death of anyone.
They’re really not safe. BUT…I use it anyway 🙂 The holistic and natural community has shunned them for a million reasons. Who knows how much of it is truly prove-able. But there’s plenty of “research” that says they aren’t safe. However, like everything in life, we all have to draw our line in the sand somewhere. Some people would never dream of eating food that’s not organic and they would never drive anything by a hydrid car. Me? I eat non-organic food AND use my microwave. But I also am crunchy when it comes to parenting. It’s all a give and take and I Try not to obsess 🙂
xoxo
One more thing.. Will never microwave any food in any type of plastic… only glass…
Not sure why i feel so stongly but that whole plastic issue scares the heck out of me…
I’m pretty sure whatever I die of, it’s not gonna be from the microwave.
Though I do worry when I stand right in front of it or in front of the cracked one we have at work.
I just figure the odds are something else is gonna get me first (AND you will ALL post the world’s longest memorial blog in my honor with the caption, “It wasn’t the microwave”).
I used to think that using microwaves were really bad for you and that they could cause cancer. I would feel anxious every time I used one.
My science teacher then informed us that the amount of ‘microwaves’ coming out of the appliance did less harm to the body then the UV rays coming out of the sun.
Meaning that the sun could cause more damage to the body then a little microwave.
I like how easy and convenient microwaves can be, although food that is warmed on the stove/oven tastes way better then that of a microwave.
I just like how microwaves can defrost foods quick and if you’re too lazy to heat up the stove to warm soup or milk up, the microwave takes a very quick time!
I don’t see how they can be safe? Like I don’t think the door of the microwave can really hold back all of those micro-waves. but was is so bad about the microwaves????
when i microwave just like the commenter kandkfood I like stand far away and I DONT look at it. haha i heard that if you don’t look at the microwave you’ll be fine….maybe the microwave is self conscious
i’m making fudge babies this weekened!
I won’t lie. I fear the microwave. Ours broke last year, and we never fixed it. I didn’t use it anyway, but my husband prefers nuked sweet potatoes to oven-baked as he doesn’t like it to get all syrupy and sweet…there’s a crazy man story for ya, and don’t even get me started on his ability to cover everything in socks. Leaves his socks everywhere!!! Still love him though. 🙂
Just don’t know if all those microwave rays our good for our body. My theory is better safe than sorry, and using the stove-top for the melted banana trick works just as well. Trust me on that one. 🙂
I don’t know much about the whole microwave controversy, but I use it everyday…I have 3 kids, so it really makes things convenient. And with the cost of food nowadays, it makes it easy to reheat leftovers.
Every time I make something with chocolate now I think of you 🙂 I made chocolate-banana oatmeal this morning!
I go back and forth on this one – I’m impatient so I love the efficiency, but most foods do taste better/have a better texture when done in the oven or on the stove . . . Plus it’s more messy than my oven. Everything bubbles over and splatters; it’s kinda gross.
As for safety, I don’t know what to believe, but I lean toward trying to cut back on my usage of it, or be out of my (minuscule) kitchen when I do. I’m not very good with that but I’d like to be.
Also, food I throw together in 10 min using the microwave is never as satisfying to me as a meal I spent the time and effort on. My head’s not in it when I microwave.
We have one but I never really use it unless I need to heat up milk for cocoa.. lol. I personally don’t quite like the taste of foods done in the microwave so when I finally get my own place, if it doesn’t have a microwave, I won’t be bothered in the least.
I use a microwave for my last resort, I really try not to use it though! Though, for some people I know that is all the have and that is fine. People just have to figure out what works best for them and their personal preference I guess. Though, I would prefer if no one used one for energy purposes and health.