What are the disadvantages of a microwave oven?

A microwave oven is a very popular kitchen device that heats and cooks food by the use of microwave radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum in a very quick time and maintain the nutrients in food. But there are some disadvantages of using microwave oven which is discussed below.

High temperatures – The process of boiling can begin explosively when the liquid is disturbed, such as when the consumer takes hold of the container to remove it from the oven or while adding solid ingredients such as powdered creamer or sugar which resulting in impulsive boiling which may be violent enough to eject the boiling liquid from the container and cause severe scalding

The closed containers in the microwave oven including eggs can explode when heated in a microwave oven due to the increased pressure from steam by using the process of superheating.

The food products are heated for too long which can catch fire and also the fast cooking and unattended nature of the use of microwave ovens consequences in further danger.

Browning – When cooking, the air in the microwave oven remains at room temperature is different than the process of traditional cooking.  When cooking in a conventional oven that causes food surfaces to brown and crisp whereas microwave cooking does not brown food surfaces. It is the main disadvantage for both texture and presentation, depending on the food.

Possible Dangers – As per research, microwave cooking can be harmful to health in various ways, including creating cancer-causing agents, releasing radioactivity into the surroundings and causing a degeneration of the immune system.

To avoid the hazard for health, when the release of chemicals during microwave cooking, use glass or glass-ceramics and avoid any packaging that can melt during cooking.

The disadvantage of using microwave oven is the resonance of the magnetron tube. If the microwave is operating without an object to absorb the radiation this affects a standing wave will form. The energy is reflected back and forth between the tube and the cooking chamber and causes the tube to overload and burn out.

 In the above discussion, we can say that If the person using the microwave oven for cooking then taking the precautions to avoid risk of burn and danger for health

Microwave ovens are not only a decorative thing kept in a kitchen nowadays but they have become a requirement and a necessity with their usefulness. They are used for a variety of purposes right from marinating to grilling to baking to heating and what not. It does so much so as to destroy all the bacteria that are produced in food and makes it safe and harmless to be consumed. 

But every coin has two sides and since we have seen the better part let us also have a look on the bad one:

• The capable microscopic organisms or bacteria fighting agents in breast milk are destroyed by heating human milk in microwave ovens. This discovery was done by specialists who tried 22 naturally solidified human drain tests to test them for lysozyme movement and antibodies by warming the human milk for 30 seconds on either a low or high power setting. 
• Based on German and Russian research and studies it is found that eating heated food by microwave ovens also have carcinogens in high amounts. Carcinogens are substances that are capable of causing cancer in living tissues.
• Also, due to a 2.4 GHz radiation concentrated on all the food items slipped in the microwave ovens it has an instant effect on heart rates and changes it and keep changing it in very small intervals which are very dangerous for the heart and especially for a heart patient.