I’m obviously not a fan of microwaves to heat or cook your food, but researchers have found one good use for them: killing germs on your kitchen sponge. After soaking sponges and scrubbers in dirty water (that contained everything from fecal bacteria and viruses to parasites and bacterial spores), the researchers found just two minutes in the microwave was enough to kill 99 percent of the living pathogens.
Zapping sponges in the microwave every other day will decontaminate them better than simply putting them in the dishwasher, and you should wet them first, as the heated water seemed to help the sterilization process.
Interestingly, the microwave was even able to kill B. cereus spores, which are able to survive extreme heat and radiation (though it took four minutes, not two). It’s no wonder, then, why heating food in a microwave zaps away nutrients and changes the chemical structure of foods, with virtually unknown consequences.
It's also the best way to clean the microwave itself. The humidity coming out of the sponge water makes it very easy to wipe all the dirt off the walls of the machine.
If you soak the sponge in water with some lemon juice, it will make it smell great too.
And I do that while wearing uggs.
Thanks Cats for the info.
Posted by Ayisha (Member # 4713) on :
quote:Originally posted by MK the Most Interlectual:
And I do that while wearing uggs.
Posted by Laura (Member # 879) on :
I don't understand why this post has been pinned? Posted by necromancer (Member # 12656) on :
Wash your microwave easily
Place a cup of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar in a bowl and microwave for 10 mins. Remove bowl and wipe clean.
Posted by MK the Most Interlectual (Member # 8356) on :
quote:Originally posted by necromancer: Wash your microwave easily
Place a cup of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar in a bowl and microwave for 10 mins. Remove bowl and wipe clean.
Save energy and do that while you're sterilizing your sponge. Posted by SayWhatYouSee (Member # 11552) on :
Hmmm...a note of caution here. White vinegar can remove the lining on some microwave interiors, if used in the wrong concentration.
Posted by Laura (Member # 879) on :
Another warning concerning microwaves.
You should not use plastic containers or plastic wrap (cling film) in a microwave oven. Heating of plastic releases a chemical, I think it's called dioxin? into the food and it's highly carcinogenic.
In the same article from John Hopkins it stated: do not put plastic bottled water containers in the freezer, as freezing also releases these chemicals into the water.
Posted by Ayisha (Member # 4713) on :
quote:Originally posted by Laura:
In the same article from John Hopkins it stated: do not put plastic bottled water containers in the freezer, as freezing also releases these chemicals into the water.
I didn't know THAT Posted by cultureclash (Member # 13036) on :
There are different types of cling film. One is made using Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). It can contain chemicals that can be unsafe if used in the wrong way like wrapping food with high fat content such as cheese for instance. There is some environment concern about the use of PVC for many different things because of the chemicals used to make it (like dioxins).
Another type of cling film is made from Polyethylene (PE). This does not contain these chemicals and should be safe to for fatty foods. Unfortunately it doesn't work as well - it's not as 'clingy'.
The problem with using cling film in the microwave is that it could melt. Why do you want to microwave cling-filmed food anyway?
If it needs to be covered, use a plastic tub or put the food in a bowl and use cling film so it doesn't touch the food.
If you use cling-film then buy the right type for what you need. It is possible to buy 'microwave clingfilm' - well in the UK anyway.
Always DYOR - Do Your Own Research and check the facts before believing things like this.
Posted by soozi (Member # 11108) on :
quote:Originally posted by cultureclash: There are different types of cling film. One is made using Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). It can contain chemicals that can be unsafe if used in the wrong way like wrapping food with high fat content such as cheese for instance. There is some environment concern about the use of PVC for many different things because of the chemicals used to make it (like dioxins).
Another type of cling film is made from Polyethylene (PE). This does not contain these chemicals and should be safe to for fatty foods. Unfortunately it doesn't work as well - it's not as 'clingy'.
The problem with using cling film in the microwave is that it could melt. Why do you want to microwave cling-filmed food anyway?
If it needs to be covered, use a plastic tub or put the food in a bowl and use cling film so it doesn't touch the food.
If you use cling-film then buy the right type for what you need. It is possible to buy 'microwave clingfilm' - well in the UK anyway.
Always DYOR - Do Your Own Research and check the facts before believing things like this.
There are also different types of PVC - (3 in fact), and its all down to the stabilisation used in processing. Lead and Tin are used in two of them, but neither of these types would be used to make clingfilm - the third is no problem to come into contact with food hence why clingfilm is fine!
Posted by Habeeby (Member # 14429) on :
i can do lots of good things with my microwave allready haha
Posted by Habeeby (Member # 14429) on :
The previouse post was my daughter again - now i will go to beat her Posted by karim (Member # 3077) on :
You can dry you socks in your microwave.
Posted by Slewth (Member # 16166) on :
For the ladies.....um...ok...there is ONE thing that I must share that you SHOULDN'T do with your microwave:
Don't try to 'sterilize' your playtoy or you will melt it!
Posted by Vader- (Member # 14189) on :
I think I'm having deja vu here ? :S
Posted by Maximilian (Member # 16919) on :
Microwave is good source to save energy....
Posted by the lioness (Member # 17353) on :
If you microwave your sponge the sponge starts to great progressively softer and falls apart more eaisly
Posted by jeofjingjeff (Member # 17897) on :
Microwave cooking can be more energy efficient than conventional cooking because foods cook faster and the energy heats only the food, not the whole oven compartment. Microwave cooking does not reduce the nutritional value of foods. It keeps more vitamins and minerals, because microwave ovens can cook more quickly and without adding water.
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Posted by mayabandu (Member # 18475) on :
I thought the worst when I came to this thread! Because the original poster's name was "Cats in the Craddle" and the title of the thread was "Finally something good you can do with your Microwave!!" I was horrified that you guys were microwaving cats! I am so glad that is not the case!
Posted by tom11 (Member # 19415) on :
Hi i am new here. I am so happy that i found this forum.... Thank for sharing this.... It was a great help for us!
krk realty Posted by StevenGriffith (Member # 19419) on :
Nice info about microwave usage . Also the food prepared in it is more healthier I think.
quote:Originally posted by Maximilian: Microwave is good source to save energy....
Easy cooking and easy eating ...
Posted by blesson (Member # 20383) on :
microwve is good source to save energy. it is working very fast and easy. it is very helpfull in kitchen..................i like it
Posted by joanlieve (Member # 20650) on :
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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. Also the food prepared in it is more healthier I think.