Table of contents:
- Microwave generates heat, but how does it work?
- Is the heat off microwave can kill bacteria on food?
- Tips for safe using microwave to avoid food poisoning
Microwave can be a solution for those of you who don't have much time to process food. Apart from warming up, this tool can also be used to bake, melt, boil, to restore the crispiness of food in just a short time. However, this raises new questions. If microwave can heat up your food instantaneously, can you microwave to kill bacteria on food?
Microwave generates heat, but how does it work?
Microwave uses microwaves from an electronic tube to generate heat. Moment microwave turned on, these waves will spread and be reflected to various sides by the metal plate on the inside of the oven. When you put food inside microwave , the energy from microwaves will be absorbed by the water content in the food and cause vibrations to the water molecules. This molecular vibration causes heat.
You may have heard that certain types of containers should not be used when heating food with microwave . It is not because the microwaves are on microwave heating the container directly, but because the container is exposed to heat from food.
Is the heat off microwave can kill bacteria on food?
Microwaves on microwave generates heat, and in effect, heat kills bacteria. Heating food inside microwave it will kill some types of bacteria, but not all of them.
This is because microwave just heating food from the outside in and not vice versa. Microwaves may not reach the center of the food, leaving ' cold spot 'Which is the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Keep in mind that each type of food has a different shape and thickness. Therefore, the heating time for each type of food cannot be simply generalized.
Quoted from the page The New York Times , a number of cases of food poisoning have occurred due to food served only heated inside microwave for five minutes before serving. A study posted on the page also shows that people who reheat food use microwave are more prone to food poisoning than those who use regular ovens or grills. This condition occurs due to heat from microwave does not reach the inside of the food so it cannot kill the bacteria on the food.
Tips for safe using microwave to avoid food poisoning
The key to heating food with microwave is safe is to ensure that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the food. For that, you need to pay attention to several things such as:
- read and follow the cooking suggestions found on food packaging
- know the electrical power microwave You, cause heating the food with microwave small power takes longer
- stirring or turning the food until it is heated evenly
- use a food thermometer to check the temperature of all parts of the food
- ensure that the inside temperature of the food reaches 60 degrees Celsius or more
Microwave it can kill bacteria in food, but it does not guarantee that the food you eat is 100 percent safe. Make sure you always follow the proper steps when using microwave to avoid unwanted health problems.
