Are there any precautions to be taken care of while using microwave for cooking?
(May 26, 2010)
A kitchen appliance that is very popular today is the microwave. This appliance is used for cooking or heating food through dielectric heating. Microwave radiation is used for heating the water and molecules which are polarized. This takes place uniformly allowing food to be heated more evenly as compared to other cooking techniques. The time that is taken for cooking or heating food is just a fraction of what it would take us to cook our food in a conventional oven.
Food is cooked without any external heat applied. Here are a few tips on microwave safety and the precautions that need to be taken while using your microwave:
Many materials such as glass, china, and most types of plastic can be used to cook food in a microwave. The microwaves easily pass through these materials. Thus, they are ideal to cook your food in. However, microwave energy gets reflected when utensils made of foil and metal are placed in it. Care has to be taken not to use such vessels in the microwave unless specifically recommended.
Certain precautions should be taken as far as radiation safety is concerned. It is important to follow all the instructions that are provided by the manufacturer of the oven as far as microwave safety precautions and procedures are concerned.
Make sure that the interlocking device is not tampered with or inactivated.
Always use the trays that have been provided unless there are specific instructions provided where you don’t need to use the trays.
Always make sure that you operate your oven with some load in it. This means that you need to put some food or water in the cavity provided while using it. Check what instructions are provided by your manufacturer.
Make sure you keep your microwave clean. Water and a mild detergent can be used to clean it regularly. Ensure that the inside surfaces of your oven are clean after every use.
Heavy containers should not be balanced on the microwave’s door when it is open.
For those who have a pacemaker implant, extreme care should be taken. The radiation from your microwave might cause some kind of interference to the working of your pacemaker.
When you are operating the oven, make sure you do not stick your face too close to the microwave door.
Last but not the least, you have to take care and ensure that children are supervised while using the microwave.
