Wanted to get some opinions on microwave usage

Personally, I don't have a microwave. I like my food cooked the old fashioned way and I hate the clutter of a microwave taking up my counter top. I would love a convection oven though!

Meh, there have been some "experiments" that seem to point to the danger of microwaves. Like the person who had two plants, and watered one with regular water and the other one with microwaved water, and the one with microwaved water died. But... that's not exactly a scientific study.

I personally don't own a microwave because it's just one more appliance taking up counter space, and it's too easy to buy and make unhealthy convenience foods like Hot Pockets if you have a microwave. And food tastes better when it's cooked and heated through conventional methods. But I don't necessarily buy the fact that microwaving your food is bad for you, in and of itself.

Although I will say, don't microwave water for your coffee or tea. Apparently (though rare) it can create more surface tension on the water, and when you put your spoon in it to stir it the water can come out and burn you. Same with baby food. My friend just burned her face with baby food last week, because when she put the spoon into the jar the food exploded out onto her face. So the moral of the story is, be careful with liquidy things and purees.

I use one at work, but still only use that 1-2 times a week. I'm not a fanatic about it, I have plenty of bad habits that will do me in but they still bother me a little. We don't have one in our home. I think it helps in stopping me from doing as much binge eating, because it makes cooking more of a chore then hitting a few buttons and having it ready a little bit later.

My boss gave me a lecture over a year ago....and I quit using mine with in days!. Her son did a science project and feed three plants water. 1. tap, 2. cooled microwaved water, 3. distilled water. The microwaved watered plant died!!!! the rest lived but the distilled was not as healthy. That was enough for me! But it is all up to you!

yep I'm a nuker from way back. the microwaves today are safer than when they first came out.

Microwaves are on the same side of the EM spectrum as radio waves. They are shorter than radio waves but longer than visible light. They cook the food because they are at a frequency that causes water molecules to vibrate. Movement = heat. No cancer causing agents there.

In some cases, microwaving can potentially damage some of the nutrients in food, but usually only if it is foods you wouldn't normally microwave, or if you overcook. Also be careful of what you cook your food in. Many plastics, especially older ones, have chemicals that can leach into your food when in the microwave. Your best bet is to use glass, or something new and made especially for the microwave.

Although I will say, don't microwave water for your coffee or tea. Apparently (though rare) it can create more surface tension on the water, and when you put your spoon in it to stir it the water can come out and burn you. Same with baby food. My friend just burned her face with baby food last week, because when she put the spoon into the jar the food exploded out onto her face. So the moral of the story is, be careful with liquidy things and purees.

I don't know if this is related to putting the spoon in or just movement. It's also pretty well known that sometimes when you first move something that did not appear to be boiling from a microwave, suddenly it is boiling. Some of my cookware seems to bring it on better than others (probably based on the shape of their opening and maybe what they're made of?), but I just give it a little jiggle and/or learn what the right cook times are and have no problems. More often, something that didn't appear to be boiling in the microwave starts to boil when you pour it, but that is usually harmless. I suspect putting a baby food jar with a smaller top than the rest of the container was probably a good way to make something explosive happen, but I'm not really a chem expert.

I will say, I learned from experience (my brother's) to never put a Pyrex on a stovetop. What happens is nothing short of terrifying - the whole thing explodes into millions of shards of glass. I'd take a little boiling in the microwave than that anyday.

My understanding of the radiation risks of microwaves are that they are only present if you are standing close to the microwave and it doesn't have a good seal. At that point, some of the waves can escape and also radiate you, which can disrupt your cells but may not lead to cancer. Still, not a good idea to press your head against it for the final countdown.

I do have a microwave. For some tasks it is a LOT more energy efficient than running a stove. Think about the energy use to heat up the entire stovetop or entire pot of water to boil a half cup... ridiculous. And in turn, crappy for the environment.

Although I will say, don't microwave water for your coffee or tea. Apparently (though rare) it can create more surface tension on the water, and when you put your spoon in it to stir it the water can come out and burn you. Same with baby food. My friend just burned her face with baby food last week, because when she put the spoon into the jar the food exploded out onto her face. So the moral of the story is, be careful with liquidy things and purees.

It is rare, but not impossible, so yes you should be cautious. Although I'm wondering why she heated baby food to the point that it would burn skin.

We're all going to die, anyway.

You're welcome. I enjoy cheering people up.

I plan on living forever. So far, so good.

And I thought microwaves were harmful only if you were in them?

One of my friends gave me a huge lecture yesterday about how bad that is & that microwaves cause cancer

I would stop listening to your friend.