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    • The Microwave: Friend or Foe?

    Posts: 60
    edited January 7 in Chit-Chat
    Hi all,

    I just got into a heated debate with some coworkers. It all started when I waltzed by the microwave during lunch time and two ladies told me to 'watch out!' When I asked why, they explained to me that the microwave was very dangerous! Again, I asked why. Neither of them knew and told me to look it up. Well, that was odd, I thought. If you are so scared of something, shouldn't you know why? For example, I'm scared of driving because I'm scared of car accidents. I've seen them happen, I've been in a car, I've been on a road, and have known victims of car accidents. If it is tangible, real, or proven throughout the ages, then I'll believe it.

    After doing some research on this subject, I've only been able to find blogs, not articles, of people's opinions on the topic. I've found no studies, no articles and no research proving either side of the argument is true or false.

    Can anyone tell me - are microwaves our friend or our foe?

    Peace!

    jes

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    Replies

    • Posts: 171
      I have heard quite a bit on this recently. Apparently the microwave degrades the nutrients in the food in some way. I have no idea if this is accurate or not. Reliable research has been scarce...

      I take my vitamins and don't worry about it. But just in case, I try not to stare through the window while it's cooking. :happy:
    • Posts: 621 Member
      I rarely use mine, except for leftovers.... Friend!
    • Posts: 60
      Wouldn't a microwave take less time to heat nutrient-rich food, therefore making it MORE healthy than stove top cooked nutrient-rich food?
    • Posts: 34,507 Member
      I don't have one. My stove works. But in past threads about this, no compelling evidence has been found to call them dangerous.
    • Posts: 3,653 Member
      Microwaves are fine, the universe is full of them.
    • Posts: 15,694 Member
      I don't have a mircowave at home - ours went out and we just found that we didn't need another one. I like having to think about what I'm going to eat. The mircowave just made it too easy to eat too much convience food.

      However, I don't believe they are evil. I use the one at work a few times a week to heat up left overs.

      To each their own, I suppose.
    • Posts: 611 Member
      Well, I never stood to close to an operating microwave when I was pregnant. No real reason, though. Probably just misplaced paranoia that there would be some radiation leakage. I'm sure it was unecessary and silly, but I did a lot of silly things while pregnant in the best interest of my developing baby.
    • Posts: 666 Member
      Comedy gold: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813515-i-threw-away-my-microwave-aka-death-box
    • Posts: 1,689 Member
      I have heard quite a bit on this recently. Apparently the microwave degrades the nutrients in the food in some way. I have no idea if this is accurate or not. Reliable research has been scarce...

      I take my vitamins and don't worry about it. But just in case, I try not to stare through the window while it's cooking. :happy:

      There have been studies on this. Here is a nice, very accessible piece from the public health people at Harvard: http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/Microwave-cooking-and-nutrition.shtml
    • Posts: 4,733 Member
      http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813515-i-threw-away-my-microwave-aka-death-box?hl=deathbox

      PS - microwave ovens are perfectly safe so long as you are not inside them while they are on.
    • Posts: 1,196 Member
      Hm I say Frenemy. haha - I personally like things cooked on the stove or in the oven much better than in the microwave. However, I'm not going to cook oatmeal or a cup of noodles on the stove, ya know?

      I've not done any research on the topic, but supposedly the radiation that microwave gives off is supposed to be harmful. Lord knows how true that is though. However, having that in my head, I usually walk away and do something else while the microwave is heating up my food, but I've never heard or read that it does anything bad to the food itself.
    • Posts: 2,485 Member
      A cook a large percentage of my food in the microwave.

      My face does not currently resemble that of the Nazi in Iniana Jones.
    • Posts: 28,072 Member
      There is no evidence that they are in any way harmful assuming used in the manner in which they are supposed to be used.
    • Posts: 150 Member
      I use mine at home for reheating leftovers and the occasional cheat "baked" potato .... Friend!!!
    • Posts: 792 Member
      Sure, we'd all love to use a stove all the time but when you're at work, what are you supposed to do? No one wants to always run out and waste money on meals. Friend!
    • Posts: 1,296 Member
      Microwaves are fine, the universe is full of them.

      Ding ding ding!

      Brb, exciting molecules in food causes friction as a by product. Danger danger.
    • Posts: 56,142 Member
      Hi all,

      I just got into a heated debate with some coworkers. It all started when I waltzed by the microwave during lunch time and two ladies told me to 'watch out!' When I asked why, they explained to me that the microwave was very dangerous! Again, I asked why. Neither of them knew and told me to look it up. ...

      You totally misunderstood them. That particular microwave is dangerous because it is on a shelf that is not big enough to hold it and is not properly attached to the wall. It is perched precariously and will eventually fall on someone as they waltz by. They weren't telling you to "look it up" they were advising that you "look up" as you waltz by so that you can pay more attention to the microwave and the falling hazard it has become.

      Please go thank them for caring about your safety.
    • Posts: 1,850 Member
      I hardly think they are dangerous unless you manage to fit yourself inside of one. That being said, I really don't like what it does to the texture of meat and bread. BLEH! Seldom use mine.
    • Posts: 666 Member
      1287506749_cat-in-microwave.gif
    • Posts: 780 Member
      (sarcasm font on) Don't you know - they are just one big DEATH BOX (sarcasm font off)
    • Posts: 114 Member
      Speaking as an engineer - all radiation is dangerous. This includes tanning booths, small space heaters, and yes - microwaves.

      However - microwave units have a protective shield on them which stops the harmful rays from hitting you. If you look at the front of the microwave - you'll see a netting type pattern. It's not plain glass because microwaves pass through glass and can harm you.

      The pattern is very important. Those holes which you're peering through are smaller than the physical size of a microwave. Thus - they cannot escape and harm you.

      Older microwave units, with cracks or tears may have some escaping.

      tl;dr: The microwave is fine - just be careful.
    • Posts: 646 Member
      Its my friend.

      exercise.png
    • Posts: 901 Member
      it's the way that microwas heats food that degrades the nutritional value. it's not bad for u though. micro waves are harmless. they pass through us all the time, no body is dropping dead from it.

      i use it for left overs. i prefer to use the oven most of the time though, just because i am a foodie and i think the microwave makes food taste bland. O:
    • Posts: 233 Member
      Speaking as an engineer - all radiation is dangerous.

      So the light coming from the incandescent bulbs in my bathroom will kill me? Speaking as an engineer, NO! Not all radiation is dangerous. Too much of _anything_ can be dangerous, but to say all radiation is dangerous makes me think they should take back your degree.
    • Posts: 114 Member
      So the light coming from the incandescent bulbs in my bathroom will kill me? Speaking as an engineer, NO! Not all radiation is dangerous. Too much of _anything_ can be dangerous, but to say all radiation is dangerous makes me think they should take back your degree.

      Not sure what type of response you are looking for - especially with a personal attack as such.

      My statement stands - and you took it to an extreme. Different forms of radiation are more lethal than others - and of course, intensity is important.

      Look up the wattage in your lightbulb - then look up the wattage in your microwave.
    • Posts: 60
      bahahahahahaha - that HAD to be it!
    • Posts: 4,733 Member
      show previous quotes

      Not sure what type of response you are looking for - especially with a personal attack as such.

      My statement stands - and you took it to an extreme. Different forms of radiation are more lethal than others - and of course, intensity is important.

      Look up the wattage in your lightbulb - then look up the wattage in your microwave.

      radiation only refers to the way waves propagate. there is nothing dangerous about that.

      radiation (i.e. RF frequency waves in this case) and radioactivity are not the same.

      i'm an engineer and i'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't express yourself properly, but your original post had mistakes and i was also tempted to correct you.

      the only worry one has with EM waves has to do with wave frequency, strength, and duration of exposure.
    • Posts: 2,242 Member
      I don't avoid them because of them being "dangerous", I avoid them because they make food taste like crap.

      We have one in our condo because it was there when we bought it, but we have a toaster-oven that we use WAY more for things we don't want to heat the oven up for (leftovers and such)
    • Posts: 4,733 Member
      I don't avoid them because of them being "dangerous", I avoid them because they make food taste like crap.

      We have one in our condo because it was there when we bought it, but we have a toaster-oven that we use WAY more for things we don't want to heat the oven up for (leftovers and such)

      microwaves are great for quickly boiling water. :)
    • Posts: 2,242 Member
      show previous quotes

      microwaves are great for quickly boiling water. :)

      I just use my electric kettle for that, it's always on the counter and it's quick.

      I'm actually pretty sure the only thing our microwave gets used for is popcorn lol
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