precautions while using microwaves

Many materials such as glass, china, and most types of plastic can be used to cook food in a microwave. The microwaves easily pass through these materials. Thus, they are ideal to cook your food in. However, microwave energy gets reflected when utensils made of foil and metal are placed in it. Care has to be taken not to use such vessels in the microwave unless specifically recommended.

Make sure that the interlocking device is not tampered with or inactivated. Several countries, as well as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), have set a product emission limit of 50 watts per square metre (W/m2) at any point 5 cm away from the external surfaces of the oven. In practice, emissions from modern domestic microwave ovens are substantially below this international limit, and have interlocks that prevent people being exposed to microwaves while the oven is on. Moreover, exposure decreases rapidly with distance; e.g. a person 50 cm from the oven receives about one one hundredth of the microwave exposure of a person 5 cm away.

Always make sure that you operate your oven with some load in it. This means that you need to put some food or water in the cavity provided while using it. Check what instructions are provided by your manufacturer. If your dishes (serving bowls, plates, mugs, cups, etc.) contain any lead at all, leaching of lead into your food is accelerated in a microwave. Utilize glass such as Pyrex or Corningware to cook food (and even to heat food, especially greasy, sugary or acid foods) whenever possible for greater safety and peace of mind.

Make sure you keep your microwave clean. Water and a mild detergent can be used to clean it regularly. Ensure that the inside surfaces of your oven are clean after every use. Never place metal items such as aluminum foil, steel or aluminum containers, utensils or wire ties in the microwave. It can damage the oven.

When you are operating the oven, make sure you do not stick your face too close to the microwave door. Make sure children understand the rules about using a microwave. In many ways, using one is safer for them than using a stove, but it has its own very real dangers.

Last but not the least, you have to take care and ensure that children are supervised while using the microwave. Microwave energy can be absorbed by the body and produce heat in exposed tissues. Organs with a poor blood supply and temperature control, such as the eye, or temperature sensitive tissue like the testes, have a higher risk of heat damage. However, thermal damage would only occur from long exposures to very high power levels, well in excess of those measured around microwave ovens.

Dont overheat or overcook items. It increases the chances of burning yourself, ruining the food or setting the microwave on fire. When in doubt, cook in short bursts, checking items frequently. The microwave process shortens and tightens the protein, or the gluten in wheat, drying and toughening the product. Theres exceptions, but usually a tender, more flavorful dish can be done using conventional heat. Reheat breads very briefly, wrapped in a damp paper towel.

Wait for a moment before removing hot food from the oven. This avoids boil over and explosive situations; seeMicrowave Madness. Dont add anything such as sugar or a tea bag to freshly microwaved liquids while holding the cup in your hand or having it near your face.

Prick egg yolks or items with tight skins such as potatoes, eggplants, sausages. It helps avoid an explosion. Dont try to microwave a whole egg in its shell! Dont use plastic wrap unless its designed for microwave, and even then, dont let it touch the food because of the possibility chemicals could be transferred into your food. Better yet, cover with another microwave proof dish or a microwave plate cover designed for that purpose.

Cover items likely to splatter or jump out of the dish, such as beans. Dont use plastic wrap unless its designed for microwave, and even then, dont let it touch the food because of the possibility chemicals could be transferred into your food. Better yet, cover with another microwave proof dish or a microwave plate cover designed for that purpose.