Do you know when it feels like deep down you suspect something’s wrong, but you’d rather not know it? Some of my friends comment about Accidentally Green’s posts in this way – they’d rather not know the truth, because ignorance is bliss.
I’ve had a similar question about microwave ovens for the past five years. I’ve wondered if they’re safe, but haven’t wanted to do any research because they’re just so convenient. Ever since my parents got their first microwave for Christmas in 1985, I’ve appreciated the quickness and convenience of the technology.
Could something so convenient be safe … or unsafe?
Image courtesy of hisks
Ready for my results?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any conclusive evidence revealing the definite safety or danger of microwaves. The World Health Organization and United States Food and Drug Administration both state that microwaves in good working order are safe. (Dr. Mercola did publish “The Proven Dangers of Microwaves” in 1994 – yet all of the research is about 20 years old.)
Many of my green blogging friends have stopped using microwaves ovens as a health precaution. Instead of popping food in the microwave, they opt for toaster ovens or stovetops. (I appreciate the helpful posts on Red and Honey, Keeper of the Home, The Humbled Homemaker and GNOWFGLINS.)
Microwave dangers
If you choose to microwave your food, there are some dangers. Microwaved food cooks unevenly, so you need to beware of hot spots. And any plastic or Styrofoam that’s microwaved leach chemicals into the food. If you choose to microwave food, only use glass or ceramic containers.
Microwave suspicions
While the government assures citizens that the radiation from cooking with a microwave isn’t something to worry about, some families choose to remove all sources of radiation from their homes.
Others suspect that the microwave ovens may alter the chemistry in food. But currently, there’s no definitive proof.
What to do?
Ultimately, any decision to microwave is up to you. They’re said to be safe. But if you’re looking for ways to reduce cancer risks, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to make the switch to conventional ovens and toaster ovens.
Personally, I’ve greatly reduced how much I’ve used my family’s microwave. While I use it to reheat leftovers, my family typically uses the timer feature when baking. Once our current microwave croaks, I don’t plan on replacing it.
Talk back
Do you use your microwave? If you don’t use a microwave, what’s your favorite way to reheat foods?
Today I’m linking up with Women Living Well.
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We haven’t had a microwave for about a year and a half. I had read some of the articles that you probably have come across, talking about the radiation and chemical alteration of food. We are in the military and have moved 5 times in 2 1/2 years. We bought a cheap $35 microwave after we were married b/c our first apt didn’t have one. Then we moved to a house that did have one, so we donated ours. THEN we moved to a house without one, that was about the time I started doing some research. We decided to try life without one, my husband ever so begrudgingly. Now, we live in a house without one and a tiny kitchen so even if we wanted one there is literally no room for any appliance on my counters.
We reheat using the stove top mostly for leftovers or single meal reheat. If it’s a big casserole I’ll either put it under the broiler or bake. We do use the crock pot a lot too, so we’ll keep soups on low for a couple days.
This post could’ve been written by me. When I searched for microwave research I couldn’t find anything solid enough to prove either position. So I decided to only use the microwave to reheat leftover if necessary (some reheat nicer on the stove anyways like soups, and often I use leftovers to cook something new) but I also think that we won’t replace it after it breaks…
I had read a lot on this topic and was waffling on the issue when ours broke down. We have chosen to not replace it. It is still hanging above the stove and works as a light/vent. We use it also as a nice bread box.
The hardest part was learning how to reheat leftovers on the stove top. After I figured out a few tricks, though, we were up and running. We really don’t miss it.
Pray do share said reheating tips! Or maybe this is the subject of another post – what to do in lieu of microwaving (handy tips on how to…). I know steaming is another way…
Hi Wanda,
If you’d like some non-microwave reheating tips, please check some of the blogs I linked to (I believe Keeper of the Home and GNOWFLGINS have great alternatives for reheating).
My cousin stopped using hers years ago because of dangers (which aren’t proven, yet). Something about using a microwave just doesn’t seem right or safe to me, but I have no proof, either. Microwaves were all the rage when we got ours (1984) and the same one is still working. We rarely use ours, and I’m waiting for it to die. I won’t replace it when it’s gone. If nothing else, I’ll have more counter space!
We currently use it FAR more than I would prefer. However, the micro we have is staying with our house when we moved because it’s attached to the vent above the stove…and we don’t have one for the new house we’re moving into. Our plan: to live without it and see the other creative ways we can do things. I would much rather a toaster oven…it encourages me to not cook things in plastic because, well, it would melt. ;)
The only proof you need is to do a science experiment: boil water on the stove, and when it cools water a plant with it. Boil water in the microwave and water another plant with it (obviously the same species of plant). The one with microwave water will die.
We have not used microwave since 1995. we got rid of that, since we really want to live a healthy lifestyle all around. Couple of things happened for us to link some information and make it a decision: what kind of heat/energy is used that can cook in few seconds or minutes…that was the first question that came about. When we found out what was the heat source, it was simple to understanding that radiation use to cook/heat our food was not a healthy choice. I mean, what else does it need to happen to convince us, it is not a healthy option? so, rally that was enough for us to bail out and toss microwave out. we use toaster oven and stove to heat up. it is perfect and we love it! we are also organic food lovers and it would be pretty darn stupid to use with these great healthy-no chemicals-no pesticide organic food anything else then some little heat from a stove or toaster oven. :)
The second thing was, we were told by my boss @ the time, she was a chiropractor, this same study that Mercola mentioned. That was over the top enough info for us to double over effort to boot our microwave out of our life for good.
I beg to differ. Microwaves split the structure of food, makes it something different.
A nurse once warmed blood up in a microwave before a transfusion , the patient died, it changes the atomic structure of what it’s heating.
It is also strongly recommended and advised not to heat baby milk or food for children in these things. It makes you wonder why? There may not be any strong evidence for either but there is obviously something serious enough (such as blood transfusion example) to make us wary.
Mobile phones were considered safe but since they have caused tumors and cancers (which have increased massively) , so what are these microwaves doing to our food and to our already overburdened systems?
Being on a special diet to control a chronic disease I was told to never heat my food in a microwave oven. When you do the nutrition value of it is destroyed.
Is the risk worth it?
We still have one and plan of keeping it. We don’t use it all that much, but I ALWAYS use glass containers and not plastic. I primarily use it for boiling water, melting butter, and defrosting. Most of the time I use the stove, oven, or toaster oven for routine cooking. However, there sometimes are days when I have 30 minutes to prep dinner for the family and eat it… no microwave to heat up leftovers would mean a drive thru dinner instead. The stove and toaster oven are sometimes just not fast enough. I’ll choose microwaved and home cooked over fast food any day.
If we think about chemical structure, cooking in the oven or heating on a stove also changes foods… soup becomes less viscous when heated, cookie dough becomes cookies, beef changes color as it cooks, solid cheese becomes a liquid when heated, fruits and veggies get mushy when cooked or baked, salt dissolves in hot water, etc. This happens regardless of the cooking method. There are far bigger things than microwaves to worry about, IMO.
I LOVE your illustration of cookie dough becoming cookies in the oven, Pam! :)
Six years ago, I read in “Body and Soul” (now “Whole Living”) Magazine the dangers of microwaving plastic. So I stopped microwaving plastic and decreased my microwave use. However, when my daughter (now six; I was pregnant with her when I read the article) was born, I did use it a bit more to reheat coffee, heat up veggie burgers as opposed to the electric grill as it took longer (and time was of the essence when I wanted to feed myself while feeding my hungry baby). I know I used it more for that when my son (now three) was born.
We live with my in-laws and I was hesitant to use their stove when we first moved in, as its gas and I’m not used to gas. (Several months ago, we were visiting and I tried using it and I got gas in the house and my husband got pissed at me, when he knew I wasn’t used to using gas. I turned it on, I thought, like his mother showed me…) Anyway, so I used it to warm up frozen vegetables, veggie burgers soup… Sometimes it was more convenient when I wanted to heat something for dinner and the stove was already in use. (We live with his parents, his younger sister and our two kids. I”m the only vegan, but my MIL enjoys cooking and creating alternative meals for my three-year-old and me. Okay. He’s vegan too. I meant the only adult.)
When I do use the microwave, I use one of my Corning bowls. I will use a bowl for my veggie burger and use the same bowl for dinner. (They do not have a dishwasher and they use paper or foam plates– a habit that irritates me, but my husband is doing it too AND doing it for our daughter, which I loathe. Different discussion.)
I just view microwaves as a necessary evil. If heating up my frozen veggies, or my veggie soup, or veggie burger, or a baked potato (which I learned to do here) is the most unhealthy thing I do, then I’m still better off than, say, going to a fast “food” restaurant and buying a bag of French fries.