When is a microwave oven dangerous




















According to one study, heating bacon in the microwave caused the least nitrosamine formation of all cooking methods tested 7. Another study showed that microwaving chicken formed far fewer harmful compounds than frying 8. Microwaving may minimize the formation of harmful compounds that can form when cooking at high heat. Many plastics contain hormone-disrupting compounds that can cause harm. A notable example is bisphenol-A BPA , which has been linked to conditions like cancer, thyroid disorders, and obesity 8 , 9 , For this reason, do not microwave your food in a plastic container unless it is labeled microwave safe.

This precaution is not specific to microwaves. Heating your food inside a plastic container is a bad idea — no matter which cooking method you use. Many plastics contain hormone-disrupting compounds like BPA, which can contaminate your food when heated.

For example, they may not be as effective as other cooking methods at killing bacteria and other pathogens that may lead to food poisoning. Sometimes, food heats unevenly. Using a microwave with a rotating turntable can spread the heat more evenly, and making sure that your food is heated sufficiently can help ensure that you kill all microorganisms.

Never heat baby formula or any food or beverage intended for small children in a microwave due to the risk of scald burns. If you microwave your food, make sure it is evenly heated to reduce your risk of food poisoning. Also, be careful when heating water above boiling point as it can erupt out of the container and burn you.

There is no evidence that they cause harm — and some evidence that they are even better than other cooking methods at preserving nutrients and preventing the formation of harmful compounds. Do you really need to worry about this? The short answer is, not really. Injuries from microwave radiation are very rare, according to the U. Food and Drug Administration. However, there are certain precautions you can take to keep yourself safe when using a microwave oven.

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation , or waves of energy that move through space, according to the FDA. Electromagnetic radiation takes different forms, including radio waves, visible light, X-rays and gamma-rays. Microwaves, like radio waves, are a type of of "non-ionizing radiation," meaning they don't have enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms, the FDA says. Mechanical abuse, a build-up of dirt, or wear and tear from continued use can cause door seals to be less effective.

Special equipment is needed to detect and measure the leakage. As Health Canada states: "Some early models of pacemakers were susceptible to interference from microwave ovens. Improvements in the shielding and filtering of modern pacemakers and a reduction in the leakage levels from newer microwave ovens have reduced or eliminated these concerns.

Most models today are not affected by being near a microwave oven, as long as the leakage is within the limits specified by Health Canada's regulation. Anyone with a pacemaker who gets dizzy or experiences discomfort around a microwave oven should move away from the oven immediately and consult a health care professional. Adjustment of applied voltages, replacement of the microwave power generating component, dismantling of oven components, and refitting of waveguides must only by persons who have been specifically trained for such tasks.

Do not test a microwave power generating component without an appropriate load connected to its output. The power generated must never be allowed to radiate freely into occupied areas.

Health Canada established the Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations , under the Radiation Emitting Devices Act in order to "govern the design, construction and function of microwave ovens that are sold, leased or imported into Canada. Information about measuring equipment for microwave oven leakage can be obtained from the suppliers and manufacturers of such instruments. The Radiation Emitting Devices Regulation requires that the measuring instrument must be capable of measuring a power density of 1.

The microwaves will bounce back and damage the internal mechanisms that help transmit the microwaves, Raghavan says. Register or Log In. The Magazine Shop. Login Register Stay Curious Subscribe. Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news. Sign Up. Already a subscriber? Want more? More From Discover.



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