8 MICROWAVE MYTHS WE SHOULDN'T BELIEVE

Some people tell scary stories about what microwave ovens can do to you. Here are some of the claims and why they’re untrue.

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They were invented by accident in the 1940s and since then microwave ovens have been part of the furniture in many homes, offices and fast-food restaurants. Early on, though, people heard that these handy ovens use radiation which made them think of nuclear power stations and weapons.

That’s when they started saying they’re “nuking” their food. And it’s also when myths about the dangers of microwaves started spreading, so much that some people won’t even stay in the kitchen while it’s running.

THE MICRO FACTS
Microwaves produce non-ionising radiation, a bit like a cell phone does. It’s low-energy radiation, the kind that’s around you every day. It works by shaking up water molecules (and to a lesser extent sugar and fat), which produces heat that does the cooking.

So that’s the fact and here are the myths.



1. MICROWAVING KILLS NUTRIENTS
It’s not untrue but it is misleading. Nutrients break down when they’re exposed to any kind of heat. So you also lose nutrients when boiling vegetables in water, for instance. The longer it cooks, the more is lost. Since microwaving is quick and needs very little liquid, it preserves more nutrients than methods such as boiling or baking, again according to Harvard Medical School.

2. MICROWAVES GIVE YOU CANCER
There is radiation when you use a microwave but it stays safely inside the oven, which is designed to seal tightly and switch off right away when opened. It doesn't shoot out X-rays or gamma rays like some sci-fi weapon, either. The worst that can happen, explains the American Cancer Society, is that an oven with a radiation leak can burn your skin. But for that to happen, the oven must be seriously damaged or tampered with.

Related article: Prostate cancer: The myths, facts and essential tips you should know

3. MICROWAVED WATER ALTERS DNA AND KILLS PLANTS
There was a video on social media of a girl doing a school project which supposedly proved that microwaves changes the DNA of water so much, it will kill plants.

Water might be contaminated by DNA from living creatures, but doesn’t have DNA of its own. Microwaving doesn’t change the molecular structure of water.

4. MICROWAVES CAUSE CATARACTS
Stare directly into a working microwave and your eyes could be exposed to leaked radiation which could cause cataracts. That’s what some people say. Can’t happen, because a functional microwave doesn’t leak radiation. The mesh on the oven window keeps the radiation inside as well.



5. BPA-FREE PLASTICS ARE ALL FINE TO USE IN A MICROWAVE
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical used to make clear, hard plastic, It can cause hormone-disrupting chemicals to leak into food. These days most plastics are BPA-free.

6. But a label that says “microwave-safe” doesn't mean much since it’s not set to an official standard. So the safest option is not to use plastic in microwaves. Use ceramics or glass instead.

Related article: 9 Surprising facts about eggs you might be getting wrong

7. MICROWAVING COOKS FROM THE INSIDE
Wrong. Microwaves cook from the outside and the heat moves inward. This explains why a microwave can cook a thick meat cut no deeper than about 2,5cm.

8. DON’T PUT TINFOIL CONTAINERS IN A MICROWAVE
It’s okay to microwave your TV dinner in its tin foil container. Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat so it also moves heat from hotter spots around the container. That ensures more even heating.

Some quick tips for foil containers:

• Use shallow foil containers, no deeper than 7,5cm deep.
• Take care to place the container in the middle of the glass base so it won’t touch the oven’s sides as it turns.
• Don’t cover with a foil lid because then it won’t cook at all.
• Do not use bent or damaged foil trays. Clean and dispose of (recycle) them.

Related article: The real truth behind 14 common old wives’ tales

Sources: https://www.health.com, https://www.cnet.com, https://www.which.co.uk, https://doctordavidfriedman.com, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com, https://kitchendance.com