Separating Myths from Everyday Kitchen Facts.

Microwaves are in almost every home and while they make life easier, there are so many myths people still believe about them. One of the biggest lies is that microwaves make food “radioactive” or unsafe. That is simply not true. Microwaves use heat waves to warm food, not radiation that harms you. Your leftovers are not turning into dangerous chemicals.

Another common lie is that you can put anything in the microwave as long as it does not have metal but the truth is, even some plastics are not safe. Some containers release harmful stuff into your food when heated. Always check if the container is microwave-safe before using it.

   

Some people also think microwaving kills all the nutrients in food. The truth is, every cooking method causes some loss of nutrients — boiling, frying or baking included. In fact, microwaving can be better because it cooks faster and uses less water, so more nutrients can stay in your food.

There is also the idea that if something looks hot on the outside, it is fully cooked inside. But microwaves heat unevenly. That is why it is important to stir or let your food sit a bit after heating. It gives the heat time to spread evenly and helps avoid cold or raw spots.

At the end of the day, microwaves are not the enemy. They are just misunderstood. So, before you repeat what you heard from someone’s auntie or a TikTok video, do a little check chances are, it is just another microwave myth.