Microwave Cooking for Energy Savings
June 27, 2008 by Peggy
Did the title make you cringe? I admit that I felt I outgrew microwave cooking after college, but perhaps the microwave should be utilized for more than just heating leftovers.
Not only does microwave cooking save energy, but foods cooked in the microwave generally retain more vitamins than foods cooked more slowly.
Plus, the microwave won’t heat up your kitchen like the oven can.
Here are some external links to microwave recipes and tips to get you started as a microwave chef. Please remember to make sure you’re using microwave-safe cookware.
General Microwave Cooking Tips
USDA’s guide to Cooking Safely in the Microwave Oven
On Food and Zapping (with tips on hot foamed milk for coffee and non-erupting polenta)
Veggies, Rice & Snacks
Breakfast
Desserts
Double Chocolate Brownies with Sweetened Whipped Cream
And for a Nice Hostess Touch
Aromatherapy Hot Towels for your guests
Do you have any favorite microwave recipes?
Image via flickr.
Love your blog. Been reading the last couple weeks. But I had to comment on this post.
My wife and I have given up microwave cooking altogether because of the mounting evidence that a microwave alters the molecules of the food it heats. And that the altered food is damaging to our health.
Here’s an article:
http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm
Nick, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed Tree Hugging Family recently. I hope you continue to stop by.
I figured this issue would arise, but the fact is that no FDA studies have shown that food cooked in microwaves is unsafe. The FDA isn’t perfect, but these are the same people I trust each time I take a prescription drug. They make mistakes, but these ovens have been in use for years without any massive sicknesses traced to their use. I think if microwaves really turned “minerals in vegetables” into “cancerous free radicals” like the article link in your comment, that would be mainstream knowledge. I hope so anyway.
Here’s what the FDA says on microwaves:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/microwave.html#3
We all have to make our own decisions about microwaves and I respect your decision.
I’ve always been kinda wary of microwaves, like they’re some type of new fangled technology that hasn’t been around for a while.
I have a secret fear that they can’t actually handle long cook times and will explode or something. :p My mom has this nifty rice pot, you put the rice & water in and nuke it for 20 minutes. It comes out as well as the rice cooker, and works better for smaller amounts. I’ve been tempted, but again, my irrational fear has stopped me.
This has really gotten me thinking though, and I think I will revisit the microwave cooking thing. Thanks, Peggy!
Nick…I’ve been to the mercola site for other things. Some of it I buy into, some I don’t. Don’t forget he sells things on his site for profit. Just because he is a doctor doesn’t necessarily qualify him on all things.
Peggy…I don’t trust the FDA either.
However when it comes to energy savings, the microwave is right up there for conservation. I use it to make cups of tea, steam ears of corn in their husks (eliminating the need water), veggies without water in covered glass casseroles, pickling, and some other unconventional uses.
Actually, Rachel, the microwave for home use has been around for 41 years. Check out this link about the history of the microwave:
http://www.smecc.org/microwave_oven.htm