Microwave cooking: Risk is minimum

Last week, in this column, I briefly recommended some modes of cooking for their virtue of retaining the nutritive value of food. Given the feedback from readers...

Last week, in this column, I briefly recommended some modes of cooking for their virtue of retaining the nutritive value of food. Given the feedback from readers, I8217;d like to elaborate on the use of the microwave oven. While this appliance has become ubiquitous in the modern home, it appears that doubts still linger in the minds of users 8212; much like the health effect of cellphones. I have selected the most frequently asked questions.

Is food cooked in microwave oven safe?

Microwaves are not the same type of energy waves as medical X-rays or the rays used for food irradiation. Microwave energy uses a wave length similar to the ones used for television, radio waves, electric shavers or the radar. So it does not make food radioactive. Most evidence suggests that microwaves will not render food unsafe.

What are the advantages?

The biggest advantage is the short cooking time, which minimises the loss of heat sensitive vitamins like the B group of vitamins or vitamin C. Minimal water should be used during cooking. Water is a crucial factor in preserving vitamins during any kind of cooking. A vegetable immersed in water and cooked in a microwave loses 70 to 90 per cent of its anti-oxidants but with the use of mineral water, it conserves almost all. Moreover, this method helps you cook with little or no added fat.

Are there any risks involved?

Microwaving should never be used to heat milk for children. There have been many reports of serious burns caused by milk heated in bottles to feed infants. This happens due to the uneven heating process 8212; inherent in microwave ovens 8212; that tends to develop hot spots in the food. All foods 8212; liquid or solid 8212; are susceptible to this uneven heating and one should be careful when eating food heated in microwave ovens.

What8217;s the recommended cook ware?

One has to be careful about using plastics in the microwave. Unless specified as 8220;microwave safe8221;, plastics should not be used as leaching or the migration of the chemicals in the plastic material can turn food toxic. It is now almost certain that no plastic is really 8220;microwave proof8221;. Foam insulated material, brown paper and newspaper should also not to be used either. Heatproof glass such as Pyrex and glass-ceramic Corning Ware can be used safely.

Having been a 8216;microwaver mom8217; for many years, I personally feel that this is a convenient, safe and healthy form of cooking. Provided, of course, the above precautions are kept in mind.