Microwaves save cooking time. But foods that are cooked in small quantities at too high of a temperature can cause nutrient loss. Can you microwave milk? This article will show the pros and cons of the matter.
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Microwave oven?
Microwaves are also known as microwave appliances, which are commonly used and play an important role in the family’s kitchen.
Microwave ovens have many types such as microwave ovens, built-in microwave ovens, inverter microwave ovens, and no-bake microwave ovens, … with many diverse functions such as cooking, reheating food, defrosting, and defrosting. baking food, helping users save more time. It is necessary to select the cooking mode before using the microwave oven. Followed by the time it takes to cook the food.
Microwave defrosting is a very safe method of defrosting food, causing no bacteria and minimizing the risk of food poisoning. Before defrosting food in the microwave, it is necessary to remove the outer packaging and cover. After defrosting, it is necessary to process food immediately, so it should not be left in the air for a long time to cause poisoning or bacterial infection.
#1. Microwaves are very convenient to:
- Reheat leftovers because you don’t need to add water, and you don’t have to worry about dry dishes or sticking together, but the flavor is still intact.
- Thawing is quicker than leaving it out in the air and letting it cool down.
- Cook food.
- Frozen vegetables cooked in the microwave are very convenient because they cook quickly and do not need to add water, so vitamins and flavors do not lose.
- Large pieces of meat cook very well because it saves time.
#2. Cooking time depends on:
- Size: Smaller thin is faster than thick big; long and small is faster than big square;
- Soft, spongy dishes dry faster than hard, dense, and wet foods;
- Foods high in sugar and fat quickly heat up;
- Plastic cookware heats faster than glass and ceramic cookware.
Microwave milk is chosen for its convenience and fast nature.
***Read More: Home Tip: Can I Put Glass In An Air Fryer? Is It Break?
The advantages of the microwave
Microwaves have the following benefits:
- Energy-saving;
- Reduce cooking time;
- Food retains many nutrients and original taste;
- No need to add oil and grease;
- Easy to clean the oven;
- Does not generate heat in the kitchen;
- Do not use much water in the dish, so it loses very little nutrients;
- Food can be cooked and eaten in the same container.
Can you Microwave Milk?
Refrigerated milk or cooled formula should be reheated before use. Milk can be warmed in a pot of water on the stove or dropped into a bowl of warm water. To make it faster and more convenient, many people use a microwave when they want to warm milk.
First, you need to pour the milk into a plastic or glass cup, which is microwave-safe.
Put the cup of milk in the microwave and turn on the oven for 20 seconds. Stir well to distribute the heat throughout the milk. You can put 2-3 drops of milk on your wrist to check the milk temperature.
If necessary, heat the milk again, for 10 seconds, until you find the milk to be at the right temperature. When the milk feels warm when you put it on your wrist, it is okay. If the milk is too hot, cool the milk by submerging the bottle in a bowl of warm water.
***Refer to more: Can I Use An Air Fryer As A Microwave? The Expert’s Answer?
Reasons not to heat fresh milk in the microwave
Microwave milk saves time, and is convenient, but has many potential inadequacies such as:
– Warmed milk at high temperature creates favorable conditions for E. Coli bacteria – bacteria that cause intestinal diseases to grow.
– Microwaves heat milk unevenly: Microwaves heat from the inside out, so it’s easy to encounter a situation where the milk temperature is high inside but cold outside. This makes it difficult for the mother to determine the temperature of the bottle. In addition, high temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius also make antibodies and vitamins in milk easily evaporate, changing nutrients in milk.
– Microwaves generate ionizing heat radiation: Microwaves heat by producing radiation rays, which are absorbed into the milk to heat the milk up. Regularly drinking milk that absorbs radiation will have a potential risk of diseases: stomach cancer, and intestinal disease.
– Flammable: When heating a milk bottle with a microwave oven, the steam in the sealed bottle at high temperature (above 80 degrees Celsius) expands, and high pressure will create an explosion, which is dangerous.
– Microwaves are prone to bacteria residues, and dirty grease: Microwaves are often used to warm family food every day, so it’s easy to have grease in the oven. This greasy environment creates favorable conditions for bacteria to grow.
Things to note when using microwave milk
- The distribution of heat in the microwave is not uniform, so sometimes the outside of the bottle feels cold but the milk in the bottle is too hot.
- Do not use plastic or rubber utensils to microwave.
- Warm milk in a safe, transparent, colorless plastic bottle. Avoid glass jars as they can crack.
- Warmed milk from a microwave oven is usually very hot on the inside, while the outside may seem too cold. Be careful when using.
- Do not heat milk in an appliance that is not microwave-safe.
- When heating milk or any food in the microwave, you should cover it and then press the button. Liquids such as milk, porridge, etc., when reheated in a microwave oven, must also be placed in a wide-mouthed can, with an open surface, and the liquid is lower than the wall of the container to avoid cracking.
- Before use, carefully review and follow the instructions of each hob. Use only microwave-safe food containers. Place the container in the oven with a glass of cold water, and turn the oven to high for one minute. If the container is not hot and it is hot, it should not be used because it retains heat and the food will take longer to cook.
- Aluminum foil should not be used unless the instruction manual says it can.
***Read More: Crockpot vs Air Fryer: What’s the Difference – You Should Know?
Conclusion
There are now a lot of studies showing that microwave ovens produce non-ionizing heat radiation, which causes some stomach and intestinal cancers for microwaved foods. Be a smart housewife and apply our tips for you. For good health, read “Can you Microwave Milk?“
