Microwave: an ally of choice, but handle with caution!
Essential in the home, the microwave oven is a real ally to heat our dishes of the day before, thaw our food or even cook some recipes. Difficult to do without, indeed. Especially since it is also frequently used to heat the water that we use to prepare tea or coffee. It must be admitted that it is a real time saver compared to the classic kettle. However, few people take the proper precautions. Because, this practice is far from trivial. Yes, if you don’t do it right, danger lurks. This action is not as harmless as we think. By dint of wanting to save time, if you frequently misuse this device, you risk causing damage!
What are the effects of microwave water?
Although it has a place of choice in the kitchen and is used almost every day, we can not boast of knowing this device at our fingertips. We mechanically do the same things every day, without even really knowing if there are risks to avoid. However, like any electrical device, its operation is not without danger. It only takes one mishandling to injure or accidentally damage it!
There’s a latent risk you don’t think about: as it escapes, the steam can reach a boiling point so strong that it can cause a squirt of hot water out of the container at high speed. This is why specialists recommend not heating the water alone directly, but rather adding coffee, tea or even a little sugar to control the stability of the liquid. In addition, make sure not to fill the glass to the brim, bet on the right amount of water to avoid spills. Last tip: it is not recommended to boil water in a cup that is too smooth. Once out of the device, if it really burns, it can burst between your fingers. It is therefore better to choose a container whose interior is grainy or rough, for pure safety.
What materials or foods should not fit in the microwave?
From cooking brownies to delicious chips, thawing to warming food, the microwave is an all-terrain device that makes our lives easier in many ways, it must be said. But, be careful, it’s not a catch-all either! Don’t try to save time by exploiting it in any way. Your microwave oven has its limits and you must not exceed them, at the risk of altering your meals or reducing its shelf life. It is therefore imperative to take good habits and keep in mind the list of things to never introduce inside. What are the elements that do not mix well with this device? Here are a few.
If you frown, you’re feeling a little guilty. So you’re used to using aluminum foil in the microwave, right? To be banned today! The effect is not the same as with the traditional oven. Here, when exposed to wave radiation, this very thin metal tends to reflect energy rather than absorb it. Result: by blocking the waves, aluminum foil can cause sparks, or even a deflagration in the worst case. In addition to damaging the device, your food will not cook properly.
Metal or stainless steel
Do you have cute plates with shiny metal edges or stainless steel cups? Keep them away from your microwave! They can also cause lightning inside the device. Especially since, same principle as for aluminum foil, these containers will prevent your food or drinks from heating up properly. The metal will only increase the heat and the waves will not be absorbed.
As you will have understood, from explosions to burns, through spoiled meals, certain elements must be banned from the microwave. And in this prohibited list, there are also some sensitive foods, such as raw peppers. So no, they are not likely to explode inside, however they contain a compound, called capsaicin, which has the annoying habit of vaporizing when exposed to high temperatures. And this vapor can sting your eyes or be harmful to your health once inhaled. To cook your peppers, clearly prefer the pan or the traditional oven.
Again, to save time, some people cook their boiled eggs in the microwave. Bad idea! Maybe you’ve been lucky so far, but you’re not immune to a mishap. Because, this rapid heating process can form a large amount of steam inside the egg. Without warning, its shell can suddenly explode and you can imagine the disastrous state of your microwave at that moment. Reversal of situation: you thought you were saving time, now you have to clean up all this mess. Avoid this terrible chore!
Frozen protein (for cooking)
Another common habit to stop doing. Of course, it happens to all of us to forget to take the meat out of the freezer. We are waiting for guests to have dinner and we do not know where to turn. Suddenly, the microwave seems to be our only savior for quick cooking. However, this is not the solution! Cooking frozen protein in the microwave is really not advisable: your food will be half-cooked and can even spread dangerous bacteria. A tip, thaw them in the appliance if you want, but above all, make sure to cook them completely in the oven, on the stove or even on the grill before going to the table. We do not skimp with his health or that of his loved ones!
