If you’re active on social media, you must have seen many mentions of microwaves over the past day. However, we’re not here to give a verdict on whether media personality Andrew Kyamagero should own a microwave or not; rather, we’ll provide you with the advantages and disadvantages of microwave cooking.
Microwaves are an effective and highly convenient cooking method, and it’s no surprise that they’re one of the fastest-selling kitchen appliances in this modern era.
The principle of microwave cooking is simple: the microwaves agitate the water molecules in food, causing friction that results in heat, which cooks the food. While microwaves are a boon in this age of rush and time-saving, every device has its pros and cons, and it’s important to know what they are before deciding to purchase this appliance.
Reheating food, which most microwaves are primarily used for, is quick, clean, and simple. If cooked food is stored in a microwave-safe dish, it can be taken straight from the fridge into the microwave, heated, and served. This process takes no time and reduces the number of utensils used and cleaned.
Newer microwaves have several preset cooking settings for both Indian and continental food, making it easy to prepare a complete dish. Defrosting frozen foods is quick and simple, and most microwaves have a defrost control that does the job in minutes with just a few presses of a button.
Microwave ovens are safer than traditional ovens and stoves since there’s no fire, reducing the risk of injury or property damage to almost nil.
If older children are taught how to use the appliance correctly, it’s safe for them to heat their own meals, even if their parents aren’t available. Since microwaves produce no smoke, they cut off one of the main sources of home pollution.
Although microwaves consume electricity, their fast cooking time means lower energy consumption compared to other cooking options. Cleaning utensils is also easier since they receive only indirect heat from the food, leaving little or no sticky or burnt residue.
However, there are some cons to microwave cooking. If a microwave oven is damaged, there’s a danger of microwave radiation leaking out, which can be harmful and cause health issues.
Depending on the type and amount of food being cooked or reheated, there may be hot and cold spots, leading to unevenly cooked food. If the food lacks sufficient water content, it may become too dry.
Only microwave-safe utensils can be used in these ovens, and using other utensils may damage them or the oven itself. Cooking excessive amounts of food due to the ease of reheating can result in boring and stale meals, leading to a loss of nutrition.
In conclusion, microwaves are a boon in the modern home. The primary problem areas are related to incorrect or excessive use.
Those who already have a microwave know how useful it is, and those who don’t will wonder how they managed without it once they purchase one.
