Just because something "can" be microwaved, it doesn't always mean that it should be.
So, to help you make better heating choices, here are the Top 10 Foods You Should NEVER Microwave
(Part 3).
Seafood
Picture this: you've just had a cookout in your backyard with your friends. You had a
blast, and the food was so delicious, you wanted to keep the fun going and saved some
of it. Shrimp, scallops, crawfish, you name it - all kinds of sea creatures were at the
party. While we understand why you might want to keep these tasty treats for later, you
might want to refrain from reheating them - at least, not in the microwave. Why? Because
these leftovers could be harboring a very nasty bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.
Everybody knows that seafood is always best enjoyed fresh, but there are times when fresh
isn't an option. In those cases, it all depends on how the seafood was stored. If the seafood
was immediately frozen, it should be safe to reheat, no problem, but the moment it spends
some time at room temperature, that's when the problems begin. The bacteria grows rapidly
when the seafood, fresh or cooked, has been "outside" for a little while, and a simple
round in the microwave will not be enough to kill said bacteria. The FDA recommends
throwing away seafood that's been out of the refrigerator for more than two hours in cool
weather or one hour in warm weather. Plus, why would you want your microwave to smell
like stinky fish anyway? No, some things are better enjoyed in the moment and not as leftovers.
Frozen Meats
Let's be honest here, we're all guilty of forgetting to take the meat out of the freezer
like our better half asked us to. Sometimes more than once. The panic takes over, and
as a desperate last resort, you quickly put the meat in the microwave for a quick minute.
"No one will notice," you think to yourself, and while yes, no one will know, they'll probably
all get sick a little later. The best way to defrost your meat? Just put it in the fridge
and let it be. Don't put it in hot water or on the counter to save some precious minutes:
that's even worse. The reason why putting frozen meat in the microwave isn't the best
idea is mostly because of the heat transmission. Most of the time, microwaves don't distribute
heat evenly, meaning that some areas get warm faster than others. This could lead to parts
of the meat actually cooking while other parts remain frozen. By doing it this way, you run
the risk of overcooking the meat, creating hotspots with still-frozen spots, and there's
the possible growth of dangerous bacteria. Not really what you want to take away from
your taco Tuesday. The USDA says that thawing your meat in the microwave isn't necessarily
deadly, but it's not recommended either. Because the heat can quickly bring meat into the “danger
zone,” aka where bacteria multiply most rapidly, if you do thaw it in the microwave,
you need to cook it immediately. If you do so, you should be fine, but still, microwaves
should always be last on your list of options.
Oily Foods
Some of the best - and worst - foods in life have oil. Deep-fried this, deep-fried that,
oily pasta, French fries - the greatest guilty pleasures usually come with their fair share
of oil. While, technically, it shouldn't be that big of a deal - except for your arteries
- if you ever find yourself wanting to reheat some leftover oily foods, you should be extremely
cautious. All oils can withstand certain levels of heat, whether it's olive, canola,
or even avocado, but after it passes a certain temperature point and that level is exceeded,
things can get ugly. The oil can produces toxic fumes and hazardous substances called free
radicals. According to many nutritional websites, radicals can cause important health issues like cancer. Oils
can only take so much heat, and microwaves aren't exactly the most consistent heat distributor
there is. Another point on the con side, oils lack the polarity of water, which makes it
hard for them to even heat at all. You'll most likely smoke the place up with toxic
fumes before your fries even get remotely warm. Or even worse, you're going to heat
them so much, they could get too hot to eat and burn your mouth, and honestly, that's
no way to enjoy your food. The moral of the story is this: if you have to reheat foods
that are drenched in oils, it's best to avoid the microwave altogether.
Anything That's Already Been Reheated
Leftovers can really be lifesavers. You don't feel like cooking, but you have a bunch of
containers from 3 days ago? Hallelujah. However, as much as leftovers can be enjoyed, they
also have a pretty strict life expectancy. Reheating your food in the microwave once
or twice shouldn't be that much of a problem, but when you start surpassing that amount,
you might have an issue. According to the FDA, most leftovers can stay in the fridge
for up to four days, depending on what it is. So, if you've kept something around for
longer, the safest option is to dispose of it, or better yet, freeze the portions. That's
because every time you reheat the same leftovers in the microwave, they take a step down in
quality. Also, once you've taken frozen leftovers out of the freezer, you should eat them within
24 hours. Another tip: you should never refreeze leftovers: once it's out, it's out. The more
times you cool and reheat food, the higher the risk of food poisoning as bacteria multiply
more easily when the food is cooled too slowly or not reheated enough. UK's Food Standards
Agency also says that you should be especially careful when microwaving things like cream
and milk based sauces, cooked meats, lasagna, and casseroles. You need to ensure that everything
has heated evenly to avoid hot spots. In other words, just trust your gut: if it smells a
little funky and you've already eaten that twice this week, maybe order take out.
Water
When you don't have a kettle, and you fancy a cup of tea, putting your mug of water in
the microwave seems like the most logical thing to do, right? Plus, it's quicker and
so much less of a hassle! But, as it turns out, it's probably the last thing you should
ever do. Putting water in the microwave could seriously be dangerous, as many studies have
shown. You've most likely heard urban legends about “exploding” water in the microwave,
and while some details are a little exaggerated, there is a hint of truth to the stories. If
you place a mug of water in the microwave, it can superheat and become a danger for your
mouth, face, and hands. If you microwave water in a smooth vessel, like a glass, there is
not enough space for bubbles from the friction of water molecules to form. Without the bubbles,
the water can't release the heat that has built up, which means it could pass the point
of boiling and go straight to superheating. Then, when you add a tea bag or stir in a pack of
instant coffee in the mug, it boils rapidly all at once, and this is when the spills
and explosions happen, which could result in some big-time burns. The best way to avoid
these unwanted burns is to place a wooden stick or any other type of non-metallic stick
in the water to help diffuse the heat and give the bubbles something to adhere to.
Baby Food
As it's been established before, microwaves and consistency don't necessarily go hand
in hand. Since a microwave can't distribute heat evenly, you can't trust it to be 100%
safe. That's especially true when it comes to the safety of babies. Many new moms choose
to freeze breastmilk or formula and save it for when needed. All they need to do is thaw
it out, and they can feed their babies without any problem. Well, there won't be any problems,
providing the thawing isn't done in the microwave. The same goes for baby food. In the same way
that microwaves heat plates of food irregularly, the bottles of breast milk won't be warmed
properly. This can create "hot spots," which can be extremely dangerous. These spots can
severely injure babies' mouths and throats and damage their sensitive palates. Plus,
there is a carcinogen hazard that comes with reheating plastic, and the high temp of the
microwave can also destroy some of the key immune-enhancing proteins in breast milk.
According to the FDA, the best way to heat up breast milk and formula evenly is to put
it on the stove or use hot tap water for about one or two minutes. Then, use the inside
of your wrist to test the temperature, and it's ready to be served. The milk should
always feel lukewarm before you give it to your baby.
Frozen Fruits
Okay, popping your bag of frozen blueberries in the microwave might not be something "you've"
done - or have even thought about doing - but that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.
Many people choose the microwave to defrost their frozen delights for all kinds of reasons.
For desserts, smoothies, or just a quick snack, keeping a bag of frozen fruits in your freezer
is always a smart move. However, if you do get frozen fruits, make sure you're going
to keep them frozen - or if not, at least not be using the microwave to thaw them out. According
to a 2010 study published by Bioelectromagnetics, beneficial properties found in fruits can
easily be converted into carcinogens in the microwave and could also result in unfavorable
immunological effects. And if that doesn't happen, well, it's not like the texture of
the defrosted fruit is going to be made any better. Again, microwaves aren't the kings
of cooking things "evenly," so the chance of getting consistent defrosted fruit is pretty
slim. Most of the fruit will become soggy and mushy while the rest will still be frozen.
No, if you really want to defrost your frozen fruit, just put them in the fridge overnight
and save yourself the microwave shenanigans.
Leafy Greens
Eating leftover spinach, celery, or kale might not be everyone's snack of choice, but
every once in a while the guilt takes over and you don't have a choice - wasting food
is bad. So, if you ever need to reheat your leafy greens, opting for a conventional oven
might be the best idea. When it comes to these veggies, the microwave should be avoided - like,
really not used at all. It turns out these veggies can be a little bit dangerous - not
only for you but also for your microwave itself. Greens like kale and spinach can spark when
microwaved, which could potentially destroy your appliance, as well as your dinner. As
for the damage to your body, it's not pretty either. Leafy vegetables are usually particularly
rich in nitrates, which are very good for your health. However, studies backed by the
European Food Information Council have shown that when blasted in the microwave, these nitrates
can convert to nitrosamines - the opposite of good for you. Nitrosamines can be carcinogenic
and can affect the body's ability to carry oxygen. The same applies to reheating nitrate-rich
beets and turnips. Kind of a turn-off that your healthy meal could turn into a risk for
your health, no? So, next time you need to heat up your veggies, don't push your luck
and use the stove or oven.
Bread
When you want to enjoy a nice, warm piece of bread with some melted butter, your first
instinct is probably to put it in the toaster. That is the right reaction to have. But, what
if you want to reheat last night's dinner roll? These don't fit in the toaster, and
more importantly, they're not meant to be toasted! Your first instinct in those situations
should then be to pop it in the oven and leave the microwave alone. Not only will it taste
better and make the butter melt perfectly, but it'll also be ten times better for your
health. Apparently, when you put bread in the microwave, it can get a little too hard
and too chewy to be properly enjoyed. That's because of the way gluten, starch, and the
sugar in the bread react while it cools down. Technically, it's not the microwave's fault,
per se, but rather the cooling process - it's the cooling that turns your piece of bread
into a hard mess. Even if you only put it for 10 seconds, enough moisture has had time
to evaporate from the bread, and the chewiness follows. The best way to warm up your snack
is to wrap it in some foil and put it in the oven for a few minutes. Sure, it'll take
longer, but it'll also taste so much better and feel ever fresher. Never underestimate
the power of the oven.
Buffet Foods
Going to a buffet is arguably one of the most exciting things to do. An unlimited amount
of multiple varieties of food? Yes, please! Now, usually, buffet restaurants will not
let you leave with a doggy bag - that's their policy. However, office parties and home gatherings
are obviously a little more lenient when it comes to bringing some food home. If you ever
find yourself with leftovers from a buffet, the one thing you need to know is that you
shouldn't put them in the microwave - ever. The FDA has confirmed that dishes at buffets
that have been left out at room temperature for hours are the perfect breeding ground
for countless dangerous microorganisms. Bacteria multiply way more quickly on non-refrigerated
food, and buffets are the perfect way for that to happen. Even though most restaurants
and professional companies have to follow strict safety guidelines to prevent such food-borne
illness, a slip-up can happen at any time. Reheating your food in the microwave probably won't
eliminate the germs completely, but only make it worse. To dodge some undesired bacteria,
if you're ever in charge of a buffet-style dinner party, make sure to throw away any
perishables that have been out for more than two hours and never add fresh food on top
of an already filled serving dish.
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