Are microwaves dangerous? Do they really damage your food? How do you survive without a microwave?!

Are Microwaves Dangerous?

Why would I want to give up my microwave?!

How do you survive without a microwave?!

I’m too busy to not have a microwave!

These are just a few of the more common statements and questions that you hear regarding microwaves.

Danger of Microwaves

First, What is a Microwave?

According to Wikipedia: A microwave oven (commonly referred to as a microwave) is a kitchen appliance that heats and cooks food by exposing it to microwave radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum. This induces polar molecules in the food to rotate and produce thermal energy in a process known as dielectric heating.

Almost every home in America has a microwave!

And up until a few years ago we had one in our home as well!

But now we do NOT! Before sharing with you how I function without a microwave, let me share a few studies.

Microwave Studies:

1. A study was published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture that shows the damage that the microwave does to our food. In the study broccoli was cooked in a microwave. The results were that up to 97% of the beneficial antioxidants contained in the broccoli were destroyed.

2. PubMed.gov provides the results of a study regarding microwaves and garlic. The results are that only 60 seconds in the microwave depletes most of garlic’s primary cancer fighting ingredient.

3. Hans Hertel, a Swiss Scientist, conducted a study regarding the negative health effects of the microwave. In his study he found that microwaves cause food degeneration and that consuming these foods caused changes in the blood that could lead to major health problems!

And these are just a few of the studies out there! There are many more! I don’t know about you, but just these three are enough to scare me!

How to Heat Up Food Without a Microwave

Now that we know why we should not have a microwave, let’s talk about how to survive without one!

In our culture today we are always on the go.

Trust me, I know! I have four kids, I homeschool, I run a business, I raise dairy goats, we go to church, and my kids are involved in sports and dance.

Life is hectic! We are always busy and there is never a dull moment in our house.

This is the reason that I kept my microwave for as long as I did.

I knew that my microwave was bad for us.

I knew that it damaged our food and emitted radiation.

But I also knew that it saved me time and made things very convenient!

I agonized and stressed about what it was doing to my family. I felt guilty.

Is Microwaving Food Dangerous?

And then one day I read about two high school girls that conducted their own microwave experiment.

First they took two potted plants that were the same. They then boiled some water on the stove, let it cool, and watered one of the plants.

Next they took more water, heated it in the microwave, let it cool, and watered the second plant.

They continued to do this every day for a short period of time.

The results were that while the plant watered with boiled water continued to thrive, the plant watered with microwaved water, died!

That was the final straw for me! I could not continue to use my microwave knowing everything that I knew!

Microwave Radiation Dangers

So I broke the news to my husband;) The Microwave was leaving!

And like any normal American he freaked out! Lol How was he going to heat his food?! What was he supposed to do late at night when he needed a snack?!

So, we made a deal.

I would put the microwave in the garage, away from our children, and he could use it whenever I wasn’t there to heat his food!

But, after the microwave was no longer in the kitchen, we very quickly got used to not using it.

How to Survive Without a Microwave

We got a toaster oven, which was very convenient. And between that, our toaster, our convection oven, and our stove we didn’t even miss it!

That was the end of our microwave! It sat in the garage for a while unplugged and unused before we finally got rid of it.

After a few months my husband admitted that he was surprised at how easy it was without it. He never even once used it in the garage!

I found that heating food in the oven or on the stove really didn’t take long at all! Within a few minutes most meals were heated.

And the veggies that I used to cook in the microwave could be steamed, boiled, baked or sautéed very quickly.

And to top it off, food tasted better! We didn’t realize how much the microwave effected the flavor and quality of our food until it was gone.

No more soggy or unevenly heated food! No more dry and tough meat!

It also gave me the chance to use more of my cast iron cookware, which I love! And my cute little stoneware toaster oven pan🙂

It has now been about three years since our microwave left our home. We do not miss it all! In fact we are happier without it!

Are Microwaves Dangerous?

Do you cook without a microwave? What has your experience been?

Or do you still use a microwave? If so I hope that something that I have said today will help you decide to try living life without it!

If you are worried and scared, start out like we did! Move the microwave out of sight and try cooking without it for a couple of weeks. I promise you won’t even miss it!

The information provided on this site is for educational purposes only. I do not prescribe, diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Please consult your health care provider before implementing any of the information provided on this site.
The information provided on this site is completely my own opinion and does not reflect the opinions or beliefs of any other entity.
Any statements or claims regarding health benefits of foods, supplements or essential oils listed on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.

You can read my full disclaimer here.

Resources:

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture DOI 10.1002/Isfahan.1585

PubMed.gov PMID: 11238815