Though microwave retains the nutrients, the texture of food, color, and taste will change, compared to cooking in a stove. It leads to dehydration, as the water content decreases and food are more prone to drying, and the cooked food is sometimes unevenly cooked.
The Cons of Microwave Cooking
The cold spots will not taste good, and the hot spots could result in burns to the mouth. If the food that is being microwaved does not have enough water content, there is a risk of it becoming too dry. Only microwave-safe utensils can be used in these ovens.
Conclusion: There are certain advantages and disadvantages of microwave cooking. Microwaves are convenient to use, they do not burn food, they are highly economical and they heat food faster and healthier than other methods. On the flip side, you'll need to use microwave-safe vessels for cooking.
The major disadvantage of microwave heating in food processing, which you may have noticed when using your microwave at home, is non-uniform temperature distribution. This can result in hot and cold spots in foods.
The taste and texture of the food becomes different.
Unlike conventional ovens or stove tops, microwave ovens do not heat your food evenly. Oftentimes, your meals becomes rubbery or sticky in texture once you heat them up. There are also instances where your food has not heated evenly, and it has hot and cold spots.
Microwaves release millions and millions of tons of carbon monoxide into the environment every year, a new study has shown. In the European Union alone, microwaves are responsible for some 7.7 million tons of carbon monoxide emissions each year, which is equivalent to the amount released by about 6.8 million cars.
Following are the disadvantages:
It is not advisable to stand in front of the microwave as it is harmful while cooking. Radiation it emits is dangerous. Even plastic used in microwave cooking is dangerous as it emits Bisphenol which is also again very harmful. It is more dangerous for cooking baby food.
"Microwaves alter the taste of food, take up a lot of room and make nearly everything mushy," she says. Nicole Robina, a publicist, agrees with Shortt that conventional ovens are the way to go. "Everything tastes better when you heat it up in the oven," she says. "It's worth the extra time."
Shorter users may have a harder time with over-the-range microwaves because they are mounted a minimum of 13 inches above the cook top. Not only does this make it difficult to cook food, but it can also make cleaning the microwave a task.
Paper towels, wax paper, parchment paper, paper plates and bowls are fine in the microwave. Newspaper is not sanitary and it leaches ink into whatever you're cooking, so don't use it. Brown paper bags are never safe in the microwave because they can't withstand a lot of heat and can catch fire.
The most notable disadvantage of convection microwaves is their inability to bake some items as well as standard ovens. For example, biscuits baked in a traditional oven have a better texture than those baked in convection microwaves.
Another disadvantage of microwave signals is that electromagnetic interference, or EMI, can hinder or damage its execution. EMI can come from electric motors, wind turbines, electric power transmission lines, etc. Also, transmission from microwave signals can be affected by rain, fog, and snow.
Generally, microwaves cook food faster and use less energy, but they are less effective at browning or crisping the exterior of food. Ovens take longer to cook food and use more energy but are better at baking, roasting, and achieving a crispy or browned exterior.
According to the federal government's Energy Star program, which rates appliances based on their energy-efficiency, cooking or re-heating small portions of food in the microwave can save as much as 80 percent of the energy used to cook or warm them up in the oven.
Whatever your reasons, ready meals aren't always as nutritious as cooking a meal from scratch. This is because they don't always provide your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Ready meals can be high in salt and fat and low in other nutrients.
Superheated water can cause serious skin burns or scalding injuries around people's hands and faces as a result of hot water erupting out of a cup after it has been over-heated in a microwave. You need to allow the water to cool completely before removing it from the microwave.
The microwave syndrome
Researchers who have conducted scientific studies of occupational exposure to microwaves described symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headaches, difficulty sleeping, concentration and memory problems. These symptoms were associated with exposure to radio waves or microwaves.
Old age. If your microwave is approaching the 10-year mark, consider replacing it with a new, energy-efficient unit. Odd smells. A burning smell, smoke, or sparks are a sign something is amiss and you should immediately turn off and unplug the microwave and call for a repair.
Most people would balk at the idea of not having a microwave since they've become fixtures in pretty much every Western kitchen. But if your kitchen, dorm, office, RV or anywhere else you make food doesn't have a microwave, or you just plain hate them, you'll be just fine.
It was the intention to provide soldiers with hot food at any time and anywhere. The results of their research, however, showed the severe health risks involved when preparing food in such a way. Consequently, the manufacture and use of microwave ovens was prohibited throughout Germany.