Really how bad is microwaving your food?

skinnyitaliannn
skinnyitaliannn Posts: 187
in Food and Nutrition
Where I work our only source for cooking is the microwave. How horrible is it, really, if I cook my chicken and broccoli the night before and then pack it up with me and once I get to work microwave it to warm it up? Is that really damaging to my health? All I hear is how bad microwaving food is but unless I want to eat everything I make cold, it seems like my only way. What do you do?

Replies

  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Nothing wrong with using a microwave. Have at it.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    It's not bad at all. It's easier for bacteria to develop on food when it's constantly cooled and heated (especially heated and frozen repeatedly), but letting it cool once and then microwaving it again? No big deal.
  • skinnyitaliannn
    skinnyitaliannn Posts: 187
    Thanks :) I think some people just take it too far with the microwave ruins everything type thing. lol. but then again a lot of people on this site take LOTS of things way too far.
  • kiminikimkim
    kiminikimkim Posts: 746 Member
    Many studies were made on microwaved vegetables, since you mentioned broccoli, I only included this excerpt:

    "When it comes to vegetables, adding water can greatly accelerate the loss of nutrients. One study published in The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in 2003 found that broccoli cooked by microwave — and immersed in water — loses about 74 percent to 97 percent of its antioxidants. When steamed or cooked without water, the broccoli retained most of its nutrients."
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Many studies were made on microwaved vegetables, since you mentioned broccoli, I only included this excerpt:

    "When it comes to vegetables, adding water can greatly accelerate the loss of nutrients. One study published in The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in 2003 found that broccoli cooked by microwave — and immersed in water — loses about 74 percent to 97 percent of its antioxidants. When steamed or cooked without water, the broccoli retained most of its nutrients."

    But if you're microwaving frozen broccoli (which is the only broccoli *most* [not all] people microwave), you don't add water. The example of cooking broccoli in the microwave says it loses because it's cooked in water, not just because it's microwaved. The other examples are it being cooked without water. It's hardly a fair comparison.
  • skinnyitaliannn
    skinnyitaliannn Posts: 187
    Well I steamed the broccoli beforehand, the only reason I will be microwaving it is because I wouldn't like to eat it cold! lol
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Well I steamed the broccoli beforehand, the only reason I will be microwaving it is because I wouldn't like to eat it cold! lol

    Then I'd say you're fine. =)
  • Birdie
    Birdie Posts: 256 Member
    Even if it's safe food just tastes funny out of the microwave. Mine only gets used to melt butter and reheat old coffee.
  • bizorra
    bizorra Posts: 151 Member
    I've read that microwaving plastic can be bad, but I have no source to back this up.
    I use glass containers or a regular plate when I need to microwave something, and keep my plastic ones for cold stuff.
  • tragicpixie
    tragicpixie Posts: 71
    I don't know I think you'll be fine. I'm not sure I believe the studies that say microwaving food makes it less nutritious. If it works for you, I'd say you're safe using it once a day.

    On the other hand, I don't use a microwave unless I have to (like you said, work) because I think it messes up the texture of foods and makes things rubbery or soggy.
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    I don't like the texture of food cooked in the microwave - I prefer it in the oven where it gets crispy. But the microwave uses a lot less electricity, so is the more frugal option. And the quicker option. If I wasn't picky about texture, I'd use it.
  • tragicpixie
    tragicpixie Posts: 71
    I've read that microwaving plastic can be bad, but I have no source to back this up.
    I use glass containers or a regular plate when I need to microwave something, and keep my plastic ones for cold stuff.

    Yes, I didn't think of this because I haven't used plastic food containers in long time but microwaving in plastic containers can cause BPA or other chemicals to leech off into the food. I use ceramic bowls and glass things bowls: the bowls have plastic lids but I don't use the lid to re-heat and to be safe, I don't put the lids in a dishwasher. (Besides, since I stopped doing this I haven't lost a lid to the dishwasher heating coil either so it's also more practical for me.)
  • RadioactivePirate
    RadioactivePirate Posts: 212
    Many plastics are not meant to be heated up and will melt or give off nasty fumes etc. In general, unless it says "microwave safe," I do not put plastic in the microwave. Also you have to watch out because some containers are microwave safe but the lids are not.

    The only reason I've heard of NOT to cook food in the microwave is in the case of raw meat - because the microwave cooks less evenly than other heating methods, the possibility exists to cook your meat til it looks done and a meat thermometer reads the proper temperature but you still have pockets that are undercooked and thus unsafe to eat. Other than that, microwaving food is not bad for you at all and doesn't change the food in any way that heating it up by another method wouldn't do.
  • atxdee
    atxdee Posts: 613 Member
    i hate eatin cold food too but hate microwaving , avoid it if i can
  • kariberi84
    kariberi84 Posts: 186 Member
    If you cook it on the stove in water it will lose nutrients too.
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    I've read that microwaving plastic can be bad, but I have no source to back this up.
    I use glass containers or a regular plate when I need to microwave something, and keep my plastic ones for cold stuff.

    Yes, I didn't think of this because I haven't used plastic food containers in long time but microwaving in plastic containers can cause BPA or other chemicals to leech off into the food. I use ceramic bowls and glass things bowls: the bowls have plastic lids but I don't use the lid to re-heat and to be safe, I don't put the lids in a dishwasher. (Besides, since I stopped doing this I haven't lost a lid to the dishwasher heating coil either so it's also more practical for me.)

    This ^^^^^^ I have stopped microwaving anything in plastic containers - put it in glass or ceramic before you microwave.....
    Also any of the polystyrene type containers one gets take always in - I never tore food in those ......if I don't et it all I will put what is left over in a glass container in the fridge....
  • superhippiechik
    superhippiechik Posts: 1,044 Member
    I would worry more about microwaving the plastic.
  • RealMattHopkins
    RealMattHopkins Posts: 75 Member
    When I moved to my new apartment, I phased out virtually all plastic containers. It does leach chemicals in to your food if it is a poor quality, non-microwave safe plastic. I prefer my glass dishes that are safe. I can even use them in the oven so they are perfect. AND dishwasher safe. My mother actually uses plastic dishes... and it sickens me. Whenever I visit, she will pull something from the fridge and the plastic was used in the microwave, has alot of scratches and hiding spots for bacteria. Ugh. Glass is safe. You can literally boil the stuff if you have to and no smells or bacterial hiding spots exist.

    Germaphobe? Me? Maybe a little...
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    Where I work our only source for cooking is the microwave. How horrible is it, really, if I cook my chicken and broccoli the night before and then pack it up with me and once I get to work microwave it to warm it up? Is that really damaging to my health? All I hear is how bad microwaving food is but unless I want to eat everything I make cold, it seems like my only way. What do you do?

    Microwaves are the bomb.com :-)

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