Food You Should Not Microwave: Think Twice Before Reheating These Food in the Microwave

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 30 March 2022, 11:03 pm

Almost all kitchens in the United States have a microwave. It is the easiest and fastest way to cook and heat food, and it is very useful to those who are always on the go.

Despite being in the market for decades, some still do not know how to use the microwave correctly. All that is known is the basics, like not heating food zapped in aluminum foil, plastic, or metal, but there are equally dangerous risks involved in reheating certain foods.

Foods Not to Cook or Heat in the Microwave

Remember that microwave does not cook food evenly, which means that any bacteria present in the food is still there. To minimize the risks, do not use it gor cooking or reheating these foods.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

May it be shelled or unshelled, when a hard-boiled egg is cooked in a microwave, the moisture inside creates a steam buildup, like a pressure cooker, to the point where the egg can explode.

Also, the egg won't burst inside the microwave while it is being heated. Instead, it will burst afterward, which means it can erupt in your hand, your plate, or even in your mouth. If you really need to heat up a hard-boiled egg, it is best to remove the shell and cut it into small pieces.

Breast Milk

A lot of mothers freeze and store their breast milk for later use, which is a normal routine, as long as it is not reheated in a microwave.

Putting it in the microwave can warm a bottle of breast milk unevenly, creating hot spots that can burn a baby's mouth and throat. Also, reheating plastic on a microwave causes a carcinogen hazard. It is best to thaw and reheat the pot on a stove or via hot tap water.

Processed Meats

Processed meats contain chemicals and preservatives that extend their shelf lives. But when you microwave them, it can make those substances affect your health.

In microwaving processed meats, it is possible you are exposed to chemical changes like oxidized cholesterol in the process, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

A study in the journal Food Control suggests that reheating processed meats using a microwave's radiation contributes to the formation of cholesterol oxidation products or COPs, which have been linked to the development of coronary heart disease.

Rice

According to the Food Standards Agency, microwaving rice can often lead to food poisoning. Rice has a highly resistant bacteria called Bacillus cereus.

The said bacteria is surprisingly heat resistant. Several studies confirmed that as soon as rice comes out of the microwave and is left out, the spores that it contains can multiply and it can cause food poisoning if you eat it.

Chicken

Chicken is a very dangerous food to microwave. Before eating chicken, you need to cook it thoroughly to remove all present bacteria.

Since microwaves do not fully cook all parts of the meat, you may be left with surviving bacteria like salmonella. To eat chicken safely, it is best to cook it in an oven that has the proper temperature to kill bacteria.