What is exactly wrong with microwaving?? - Page 2

[leafwood]

Originally Posted by avendesora

A pot of boiling water would do the same thing. Yet we're generally unconcerned about what a pot of boiling water would do to our food.

I was going to say the same thing. I boil things to steralize them and that's the same way I cook my rice, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, etc.

[LianneM]

We moved ours into the garage and don't miss it. I was nervous at first but it has been such a good thing for us. At first I'd go out there to thaw something or whatever, but it got less and less and now I'm just done with it.

Just try it, challenge yourself to see how you can reheat foods (I use convection toaster oven often, as well as a steamer basket, pot on the stove, skillet, etc. It's actually pretty easy to reheat most things). Then challenge yourself to see if you notice a difference in taste. DH uses a microwave at work to reheat food for lunch and he says it basically doesn't taste like the same food. You don't have to throw it away, just give it a try!

[Elizabeth2008]

There is enough cause for concern to make me not want to use it. You know, they said DDT wasn't dangerous when it was first used. we know how that turned out! :

Almost everything can be done stove-top or in a toaster oven. I invested in a high quality toaster oven and i LOVE it. I re-heat everything in that, in my glass pyrex dishes. Sure, it takes a bit longer, but big whoop. My microwave is the kind that hangs above the stove, so i haven't gotten rid of it as it's not taking up counter space. But really, I probably use it once or twice a month at the most.

[dewlady]

I echo what Guavagirl said!
I have had so many "discussions " with dh about this. He is super sciency and challenged me to find reputable studies that supported ANY of the already mentioned claims. I found nothing solid.
by the way, we never had a microwave for the 1st 12 years we were together, but after this final conversation, I bought him one for a funny birthday present...basically acknowledging that I had no proof, i give up.
It still feels wrong, but I'm easily convinced that things are bad, even when it could be unfounded. Also, like he always claimed, he literally uses it to reheat his coffee in the morning because he is a sipper.
I have always reheated stuff on the stove and still do.
we use it minimally.

Interesting that on this thread I still haven't seen links to reputable studies done to prove that microwaves are dangerous.

AND YES. THAT IS A CHALLENGE!!!

(I'd still LOVE to prove DH wrong...)

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

Those of you without microwaves, how do you reheat food? Do you not do leftovers very often?

I often eat my leftovers cold.

But, I do still have a microwave. It's built in, and was here when we moved in. When it breaks, I don't plan to replace it. It's hard NOT to use it when it's so conveniently located and physically impossible to move to the basement. It's a combination oven/stove/microwave with the bottom of the microwave being the hood of the stove, and the vent fan and stove light buttons are on the microwave panel.

[Theoretica]

subbing...:

[MsVyky]

I'd get rid of my microwave in a second if I could find a convenient way to reheat tea. I'm infamous for drinking half a cup, and the rest going cold and having to reheat it several times before I'm through with it

(I hate go-mugs, they make tea taste funny, I like ceramics )

[ScarletBegonias]

Originally Posted by MsVyky

I'd get rid of my microwave in a second if I could find a convenient way to reheat tea. I'm infamous for drinking half a cup, and the rest going cold and having to reheat it several times before I'm through with it

(I hate go-mugs, they make tea taste funny, I like ceramics )

funny, even as a kid, i thought microwaves made even water taste weird!

[funkymamajoy]

My coworker used an electric coaster, kinda like a little hot plate, to keep his coffee warm. He could work on a mug of coffee all morning.

However, that might not be the safest option with little ones around.

[lorijds]

We don't have a microwave because it takes up too much space on our countertop and it's just one more appliance that we really don't need. I don't like the mushy way food cooks in a microwave, either, and it's difficult to control your cooking in it--veggies easily end up over cooked, for example.

I am not opposed to microwaves, though, and I agree with those who say that ANY heat affects food. I would need to see some serious studies to change my mind about the negatives specific to microwaves. I haven't seen any yet. I simply do not believe the elevated white count assertion. I evaluate lab work on a daily basis at work, and this honestly sounds ridiculous to me. I do buy that is destroys some nutrients by virtue of the "hot pockets" ie irregular heating. High heat destroys nutrients, period. It doesn't matter what mode of high heat is applied.

If you don't want to cook with a microwave, don't cook with one. Why do you need some sort of scientific justification to reinforce your food prep preference? If you like using the stovetop and oven, use those and be happy with it. KWIM?

[lovbeingamommy]

I HATE THE MICROWAVE and I'm running into the same problem as a lot of pp - changing DH's mind! He's an engineer , and completely challenges me to find solid, peer-reviewed info about this. I can't, and it's so frustrating. He goes along with most of my wonderful, crunchy self, but this is one thing I can't get him to budge on :

I'll be : ing in this thread

[elfimka]

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

I would love to get rid of my microwave but struggle with doing so because I can't figure out how to heat some things up without it. For example, I make a big pot of steel cut oats and then we reheat it for the next few days for breakfast. How would I eat it up without my microwave? I have a toaster oven that just dries it out and putting it in a pot on the stove is hard because all the liquid has been cooked out and it just sticks to the pot. I've tried adding a bit of water and that helps a little.

Bright_eyes, first of all, yay for steel cut oats! I recently discovered them and they taste way better than rolled oats. I'd try using a double boiler to reheat them. I bought my double boiler from Ikea for $5 and it's been great.

As far as leftovers, I just reheat everything in the wok with a couple tablespoons of water.

Oh, and as far as thawing, listen guys! My mom suggested this and it works well: use a small tabletop fan and direct the wind from it on the frozen meat. It thaws the food faster than running cold water and you don't have to waste the water either.

[elfimka]

Originally Posted by lovbeingamommy

I HATE THE MICROWAVE and I'm running into the same problem as a lot of pp - changing DH's mind! He's an engineer , and completely challenges me to find solid, peer-reviewed info about this. I can't, and it's so frustrating. He goes along with most of my wonderful, crunchy self, but this is one thing I can't get him to budge on :

I'll be : ing in this thread

Ugh, exact same thing with my husband. He agreed not to use the microwave in our home, but he looks at me like I'm a crazy crunchy uninformed hippie. "Whatever you wish, darling. I won't use the microwave if you feel so passionate about it, however, you really have no reason to be so concerned, there is no scientific proof that it's harmful."

Yeah. Sure. Not yet. And I don't feel like waiting around for the science to finally discover something.

I think that, even if there is no "solid peer-reviewed info" on it, only suggestions that it could be harmful to your body, it's already enough not to use it. Especially when it's not hard to do same exact things the old fashioned way.

Kinda like with ultrasounds. All OBs will tell you there is no harm, but there are suggestions that it has radiation effects on the baby and it should only be used if medically necessary. Why screw with it and take chances?

[lovbeingamommy]

Originally Posted by elfimka

I think that, even if there is no "solid peer-reviewed info" on it, only suggestions that it could be harmful to your body, it's already enough not to use it. Especially when it's not hard to do same exact things the old fashioned way.

Kinda like with ultrasounds. All OBs will tell you there is no harm, but there are suggestions that it has radiation effects on the baby and it should only be used if medically necessary. Why screw with it and take chances?

: EXACTLY!!!! :

[annethcz]

Like a few others, I have no problems using a microwave. I can't find any solid evidence that microwave usage is bad. Although the food is altered in a microwave, cooking in general alters foods.

I don't use my microwave very often, but I'd hate to get rid of it because it is SO MUCH more energy efficient than using the oven or stove.

[choli]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

Supposedly if you put a wet sponge in a microwave for 60 seconds it kills like 99% of the germs. I'd hate to think what it does to the nutrients in my food!

If you boil a sponge for 60 seconds the same thing happens. So I guess you won't be boiling any food now that you know that

Heh. Should have read the whole thread before being a smart a$$, I see others have covered this.

[ScarletBegonias]

i don't understand the "well any cooking alters your food" argument. of course it does! it is the WAY microwaves alters your food that is the problem.

i'm sorry, but boiling your food and forcing polarity to change so quickly that it heats your food is two *entirely* different methods of changing the molecular structure of food.

the fact that the nazis invented the microwave is enough for me not to want to use it. : besides all the other problems with microwaving - poor taste, hot pockets, ummmm..... CANCER!

what about the fact that it HAS been proven that microwaved breastmilk and formula loses nutrients?

what about the nurse who microwaved blood for a patients' transfusion and the patient died from the altered blood?

what about microwave sickness?

what about the fact that people with pacemakers should not stand too close to a microwave in use?

100 years ago, people, including most doctors didn't believe in GERMS. how much different is this issue? the evidence, imo, speaks for itself. just because there are no peer reviewed studies, that we know of, does not mean that microwaves are harmless or without dangerous health side effects.

[ScarletBegonias]

Originally Posted by lorijds

I simply do not believe the elevated white count assertion. I evaluate lab work on a daily basis at work, and this honestly sounds ridiculous to me.

just because it sounds ridiculous to you doesn't mean the results aren't valid.

have you actually read dr.hans ulrich hertels research?

have you read the summary of the Russian investigations of microwaves?

[elmh23]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

the fact that the nazis invented the microwave is enough for me not to want to use it. :

Do you have any links to the validity of this?

[sewchris2642]

Originally Posted by elmh23

Do you have any links to the validity of this?

Yeah, I'd like to know that as well. From what I've read via Google and other sources, radar goes back before WWII through British scientists, not German. And it was an American company that was manufacturing radar units for the US during the war that came up with was was later to be called microwave ovens.