Microwave yes or no? ?
Replies
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singingflutelady wrote: »
That thread was right around when I first started on MFP. What an introduction.2 -
I meal prep for a week at a time. Preportion my food. There's no way I could do that without having a microwave to heat up my meals.1
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finny11122 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »I love cooking and turning a bunch of ingredients into something amazing . Only proper cooking techniques can get those great results . You want top quality food , you got to put in the time and effort .
Cutting open a preservative laden ready meal and dumping it into a microwave is not exactly healthy eating .
Would warming up the same meal in the oven make it any better? If not, your point is moot.
No . Cheap ready meals are bad in an oven or microwave . People come to this site to eat healthier and lose weight . Cooking from scratch with good healthy ingredients is a million times better and tastier than any microwave food . I bet you have alot of - I am Nino moments in your kitchen .
I improved all my health markers, including normalizing a high glucose number, as well as losing 50lbs, while eating all sorts of microwaved 'diet' foods. I only ate what tasted good, and prepackaged microwave meals like Lean Cuisines made it easy for me to stick to my calorie goals. Before I started my weight loss phase I wasn't big into cooking, so using my microwave for premade meals met me where I was at. And the outcome was pretty spectacular
Op, I use my microwave several times a day-steamer bags of veggies, to warm up coffee, for refried beans, canned chicken etc.4 -
OliveGirl128 wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »I love cooking and turning a bunch of ingredients into something amazing . Only proper cooking techniques can get those great results . You want top quality food , you got to put in the time and effort .
Cutting open a preservative laden ready meal and dumping it into a microwave is not exactly healthy eating .
Would warming up the same meal in the oven make it any better? If not, your point is moot.
No . Cheap ready meals are bad in an oven or microwave . People come to this site to eat healthier and lose weight . Cooking from scratch with good healthy ingredients is a million times better and tastier than any microwave food . I bet you have alot of - I am Nino moments in your kitchen .
I improved all my health markers, including normalizing a high glucose number, as well as losing 50lbs, while eating all sorts of microwaved 'diet' foods. I only ate what tasted good, and prepackaged microwave meals like Lean Cuisines made it easy for me to stick to my calorie goals. Before I started my weight loss phase I wasn't big into cooking, so using my microwave for premade meals met me where I was at. And the outcome was pretty spectacular
Op, I use my microwave several times a day-steamer bags of veggies, to warm up coffee, for refried beans, canned chicken etc.
Exactly. This "If you're not doing it "(my version of) perfectly" you're doing it wrong" attitude that people have it utterly unhelpful. The healthiest thing a person is overweight can do is lose weight. Just because you (@finny11122) have an opinion on what is "best" doesn't make what other people do wrong or useless.7 -
Microwaves are just another way to heat food. I'm glad you're off that program. They make access to good food easier. Oatmeal, soups, steamable veggies, etc. I think a lot of the logic behind microwaves being bad for you comes from the fact that it also makes 'unhealthy' food a lot easier for people to get in quick, large quantities. (these foods aren't necessarily bad- but some people eat them over their calorie limit just because its easier to access)0
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This thread reminds me of my MIL, who is deathly afraid of microwave ovens, because "radiation". My in-laws live with us, and our microwave is built into the cabinet above the stove. It's funny to microwave something when she is cooking - she will quickly turn everything off and run out of the kitchen. Then she'll yell at me for standing in front of the microwave, because I'll get cancer.
She doesn't understand science, her world is one of magic and superstition. Microwaves don't cause cancer, the radiation isn't ionizing. The wavelengths are too long. If they did, then cooking at the stove would be even more dangerous, because the infrared heat coming off the stove top is shorter in wavelength and more energetic. But according to her, that's heat, not "radiation".2 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »I feel like this was a big thing in the 1980's before being wholly debunked. Around the same time we had one of those little plastic cards that you passed over the door seams on the microwave to make sure it wasn't leaking radiation at you.
My (off-her-rocker for all sorts of reasons) aunt insisted that if you stood too close to the microwave when it was in use you would become infertile.
I was super paranoid about for a while at like age 12 or so.
We were one of the first families I knew to get a microwave back in the day. My Mom was unsure of this thing, so she wouldn't let us be in the kitchen when she used it. She would hit "start" and then run to the next room. 6 -
Microwaves are just another way to heat food. I'm glad you're off that program. They make access to good food easier. Oatmeal, soups, steamable veggies, etc. I think a lot of the logic behind microwaves being bad for you comes from the fact that it also makes 'unhealthy' food a lot easier for people to get in quick, large quantities. (these foods aren't necessarily bad- but some people eat them over their calorie limit just because its easier to access)
Oh yes! Oatmeal! It is so much easier making old-fashioned oatmeal in the microwave than on the stove top. No standing there stirring, no pot to wash. I also love it for making buckwheat cereal too.1 -
I just use my microwave to heat water or reheat leftovers.
Never use it to actually "cook" anything.0 -
finny11122 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »I love cooking and turning a bunch of ingredients into something amazing . Only proper cooking techniques can get those great results . You want top quality food , you got to put in the time and effort .
Cutting open a preservative laden ready meal and dumping it into a microwave is not exactly healthy eating .
Would warming up the same meal in the oven make it any better? If not, your point is moot.
No . Cheap ready meals are bad in an oven or microwave . People come to this site to eat healthier and lose weight . Cooking from scratch with good healthy ingredients is a million times better and tastier than any microwave food . I bet you have alot of - I am Nino moments in your kitchen .
That's just untrue.
with the exception of sodium(which is only a concern if it's a concern) There's nothing inherently superior about cooking vegetables or meat on the stovetop vs a microwave.
Typical dinner is 2x
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/quick-n-eat-fully-cooked-choice-angus-patties-12ct/178397.ip
1x https://www.walmart.com/ip/Green-Giant-Steamers-Cheesy-Rice-Broccoli-12-oz-Bag/10813709
1x https://www.birdseye.com/product/mixed-vegetables-4/
Plus a couple slices cheese.
What's unhealthy(other than the red meat... spare me the sermon)
I've lost 20+ lbs and gotten faster and stronger...
I'm living in a tiny basement apartment due to a work situation and this meal has been absolutely a key component of my weight loss.1 -
My sister has this great way of cooking asparagus in the microwave that tastes as good as other methods. I don't do it that way because I am used to doing what I do, but her asparagus is no less nutritious than mine.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »My sister has this great way of cooking asparagus in the microwave that tastes as good as other methods. I don't do it that way because I am used to doing what I do, but her asparagus is no less nutritious than mine.
Would you mind asking if she'll share her secret? If so, either post here or DM me, please? I haven't had success with asparagus in the microwave at all - sauteing or broiling has worked well, though. Since only I eat it at my house, it's not something I get often, as I probably won't cook all of it before it goes bad. But, if I could microwave it, I might be able to do so as part of lunch at work.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »My sister has this great way of cooking asparagus in the microwave that tastes as good as other methods. I don't do it that way because I am used to doing what I do, but her asparagus is no less nutritious than mine.
Would you mind asking if she'll share her secret? If so, either post here or DM me, please? I haven't had success with asparagus in the microwave at all - sauteing or broiling has worked well, though. Since only I eat it at my house, it's not something I get often, as I probably won't cook all of it before it goes bad. But, if I could microwave it, I might be able to do so as part of lunch at work.
If you like that roasted flavor from browning, you really can't get that in the microwave. But if you want to duplicate steaming, put it on a plate with a small amount of water, invert another plate on top, microwave from one to about five minutes depending on the amount of food and your microwave strength.0 -
No. Steamed asparagus sucks.0
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I think she just puts them in a shallow bowl and wraps them loosely in a wet paper towel. It's a form of steaming. (I like asparagus steamed, but usually sautee them.)0
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I used to teach high school seniors how to cook entire meals in a microwave. If you are living in a college dorm you may not have access to stoves/ovens like you do a microwave. Microwave cooking done right is a lot healthier than eating out all the time.5
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snickerscharlie wrote: »JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I use my microwave to thaw frozen meat...
I forgot about that! I do this all the time, too. I used to have to defrost meat in the fridge or on the counter all day in order to have it be thawed by dinnertime. And I can't tell you the number of times I've taken out pork chops for dinner in the morning and then not actually felt like having porkchops when dinnertime rolled around.
By using the microwave, the meat stays safely frozen and I can decide right before dinner what's for dinner.
An InstantPot is great for this as well. Just dump them in frozen.
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finny11122 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »I love cooking and turning a bunch of ingredients into something amazing . Only proper cooking techniques can get those great results . You want top quality food , you got to put in the time and effort .
Cutting open a preservative laden ready meal and dumping it into a microwave is not exactly healthy eating .
Would warming up the same meal in the oven make it any better? If not, your point is moot.
No . Cheap ready meals are bad in an oven or microwave . People come to this site to eat healthier and lose weight . Cooking from scratch with good healthy ingredients is a million times better and tastier than any microwave food . I bet you have alot of - I am Nino moments in your kitchen .
What if I buy expensive ready meals?
Seriously though, I know a lot of healthy people that eat microwave meals regularly. Like every day regularly.0 -
This thread reminds me of my MIL, who is deathly afraid of microwave ovens, because "radiation". My in-laws live with us, and our microwave is built into the cabinet above the stove. It's funny to microwave something when she is cooking - she will quickly turn everything off and run out of the kitchen. Then she'll yell at me for standing in front of the microwave, because I'll get cancer.
She doesn't understand science, her world is one of magic and superstition. Microwaves don't cause cancer, the radiation isn't ionizing. The wavelengths are too long. If they did, then cooking at the stove would be even more dangerous, because the infrared heat coming off the stove top is shorter in wavelength and more energetic. But according to her, that's heat, not "radiation".
I had an aunt who used to tell me I was killing my children by warming their bottles in the microwave. They all survived.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »I love cooking and turning a bunch of ingredients into something amazing . Only proper cooking techniques can get those great results . You want top quality food , you got to put in the time and effort .
Cutting open a preservative laden ready meal and dumping it into a microwave is not exactly healthy eating .
Would warming up the same meal in the oven make it any better? If not, your point is moot.
No . Cheap ready meals are bad in an oven or microwave . People come to this site to eat healthier and lose weight . Cooking from scratch with good healthy ingredients is a million times better and tastier than any microwave food . I bet you have alot of - I am Nino moments in your kitchen .
What if I buy expensive ready meals?
Seriously though, I know a lot of healthy people that eat microwave meals regularly. Like every day regularly.
This would be me. My frozen meals often have 15 - 20 grams of protein (which is my focus right now) for around 300 calories. Last week I had a lean Cuisine chicken in sweet BBQ sauce that had 20 grams protein for 280 calories. Can't say that's unhealthy.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »I think she just puts them in a shallow bowl and wraps them loosely in a wet paper towel. It's a form of steaming. (I like asparagus steamed, but usually sautee them.)
That's how I cook mine.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »finny11122 wrote: »I love cooking and turning a bunch of ingredients into something amazing . Only proper cooking techniques can get those great results . You want top quality food , you got to put in the time and effort .
Cutting open a preservative laden ready meal and dumping it into a microwave is not exactly healthy eating .
Would warming up the same meal in the oven make it any better? If not, your point is moot.
No . Cheap ready meals are bad in an oven or microwave . People come to this site to eat healthier and lose weight . Cooking from scratch with good healthy ingredients is a million times better and tastier than any microwave food . I bet you have alot of - I am Nino moments in your kitchen .
What if I buy expensive ready meals?
Seriously though, I know a lot of healthy people that eat microwave meals regularly. Like every day regularly.
This would be me. My frozen meals often have 15 - 20 grams of protein (which is my focus right now) for around 300 calories. Last week I had a lean Cuisine chicken in sweet BBQ sauce that had 20 grams protein for 280 calories. Can't say that's unhealthy.
That's a good one, in my regular rotation. I think my fave is the Fiesta Grilled Chicken, I add a little hot sauce and a serving of frozen mixed veggies. There are a bunch now with 19-22g of protein, but those two are regulars for me 0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »I think she just puts them in a shallow bowl and wraps them loosely in a wet paper towel. It's a form of steaming. (I like asparagus steamed, but usually sautee them.)
We have a steamer that's made for use in the microwave. It has a tray for the veggies/whatever, which has holes in the bottom and you put water in the bottom below the tray. The lid has a sliding vent on top. Put water in, put veggies in, put it in the microwave and hit the sensor "reheat" button, voila. We steam veggies (zucchini, brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, etc.) in the microwave several times per week, it works great. Looks exactly like this:
[ETA:] We also use the microwave to slightly warm up/soften Halo Top ice cream for dessert afterward!
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wi_denisha wrote: »My question is do you use the microwave or not
never owned one, but that's basically because i'm really stingy with counter space and seriously resent objects that use it up unless they're essential to daily living. aka coffee machine and now blender.
i use the ones at work and have never had a nutrition-related opinion on them.
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I heated my breakfast in the microwave this morning, but that really is just a feeble attempt to make this zombie thread bump for @jofjltncb6 @WinoGelato @nutmegoreo (who until just now I thought was nutmegro and have been saying it that way in my head forever) relevant (The good links are on page 3 I think) 1
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@nutmegoreo (who until just now I thought was nutmegro and have been saying it that way in my head forever) relevant
You're not alone @pinuplove lol Nutmegro is how I've always said it too
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/17/health/17real.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/microwave-cooking-and-nutrition
Same conclusion: "The cooking method that best retains nutrients is one that cooks quickly, heats food for the shortest amount of time, and uses as little liquid as possible. Microwaving meets those criteria. Using the microwave with a small amount of water essentially steams food from the inside out. That keeps in more vitamins and minerals than almost any other cooking method and shows microwave food can indeed be healthy."
So use it, but be careful not to overcook/overheat your food. Perhaps set wattage at 70%.1 -
Personally, I don't have a microwave. I enjoy this lack of convenience.0
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rankinsect wrote: »It's true that certain foods lose nutritional value when cooked (and others gain nutritional value)
https://www.precisionnutrition.com/10-ways-to-get-the-most-nutrients
Your statement resulted in a fair bit of reading on my part. Thank you 0 -
I heated my breakfast in the microwave this morning, but that really is just a feeble attempt to make this zombie thread bump for @jofjltncb6 @WinoGelato @nutmegoreo (who until just now I thought was nutmegro and have been saying it that way in my head forever) relevant (The good links are on page 3 I think)
#realmvp1
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