Eating healthy with microwave? 6 important rules!Whether in the lunch break in the office, after a long day at work or in between to heat small snacks: The microwave makes everyday life easier for many people and provides warm meals and hot drinks in seconds. The question of whether microwaved food is healthy regularly serves as fuel for debate. What is certain is that the nutritional content of food can be protected if essential rules are observed. But also the vessels used have a considerable influence on the result. Below are six important rules for using a microwave oven.
Reheat soup in the microwave oven
1. Pay attention to time!
The heating of food succeeds in the microwave with the help of of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. These rays cause water molecules in the food to vibrate, and the resulting friction generates the desired heat. Food is thus warmed up from the inside. It is often claimed that microwaves really dry out food and that the food suffers both visually and in terms of consistency. However, the reason for these negative consequences is not the microwave, but the time span or the heat – often meals are heated too long and too hot.
If the cooking time is right in the microwave, heating food can actually be gentler on vitamins than on the stove.
Those who do not want to give up crunchy results are better off with Appliances including grill and/or hot air function well advised. What the differences are in detail and which devices promise a high quality, can be found at microwaves.net read up. Marlene Hofmann discusses the different types of devices there. Advantages of the respective functional range.
2. Setting the power correctly!
The consistency of food affects the number of watts at which something should be microwaved. liquids withstand more power than solid foods. For vegetables, around 500 watts is often enough. Such a low number of watts can increase the preparation time somewhat, but it is advisable for even heating and nutrient-preserving cooking. 3. Quantities. Check shapes! Quantities. Checking molds!For the gentle heating of meals to succeed, the portions must not be too large. The reason: Since the temperature curve depends on the water molecules in the food, the food often heats up irregularly – depending on how much water is contained in ingredients. Not only can this cause burns to the tongue, palate and lips as the meal overheats in certain places, but also the insufficient killing of germs cause. It is therefore essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper cooking. In addition, food of the same type In equal sized pieces go into the microwave. Otherwise, some places may be cooked and others raw.
4. Stir well!
Due to the irregular heating of the food, it should be stirred thoroughly after preparation in a microwave oven. This is as true for soups as it is for mashed potatoes, meat or rice. This way the heat can spread and painful burns in the mouth and inside the esophagus are prevented.
5. Caution Radiation!
Not only the effect on food inside the microwaves is important for a healthy lifestyle, but also the radiation exposure outside. If the kitchen appliances are in a technically perfect condition, there is no general danger to health. Nevertheless, the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection advises in an information sheet on high-frequency electromagnetic fields in the home from microwave ovens that children in particular should Do not stay in the immediate vicinity of the equipment should. The so-called leakage radiation – i.e. the radiation that is emitted to the environment despite shielding – has already "dropped to one thirtieth to one hundredth" at a distance of one meter from the microwave, according to the BfS – see PDF to the info sheet at bfs.en.
6. Choose containers carefully!
Not every material can be placed in the microwave, so careful selection of containers is a must. Unsuitable are, for example, bowls made of metal. Conventional plastic containers. While metal shields microwaves, simple plastic plates and co. Harmful plasticizers solve. In order to prevent such processes, only microwaveable accessories made of electrically insulating as well as water-free materials should be used. A harmless alternative are jars made of glass.