Microwaves dangerous, anyone not have one?

[shael]

So I know people will reply to this thread and say they are perfectly safe etc etc

However, we have a 10 year old Bosch one that has been playing up for a couple of years but it's mainly just the display. We got out BG today and the man tested it and said you cannot use it any more it's dangerous.

The reading he got was 9.0. Apparently anything over 5 is bad.

Interestingly, we also had a freestanding one in our utility that is hardly used. That also had a dangerous reading.

The man said that after after 4 or 5 years they can start leaking microwaves.

The thing is, if you look up the possible effects of microwave radiation even from a low level consumer appliance it's not pleasant.

I'm shocked that there is no requirement to have these things tested. There must be millions of people out there who have dangerous microwave ovens. I know so many people with cancer and I feel stupid for not getting it checked sooner especially as we have young kids around.

I'm seriously tempted to not replace it.
Does anyone already do this?

I know so many people with cancer and I feel stupid for not getting it checked sooner especially as we have young kids around.

Luckily microwaves have never been shown to cause cancer, so you have nothing to feel stupid for.

I use mine a lot, but I batch cook and heat dinners up in there. Also handy for steaming veg/ scrambled egg.

I don't stand near it when using it though. I remember my gran being weird about them and warning me not to. I replace it maybe every 5 years.

Apart from about a year in a shared house in my 20s, I’ve never had a microwave and don’t feel like I’m missing out. It’s easy enough to cook things in the oven/on the hob instead and they generally taste better. The only things I would like one for are starting off jacket potatoes, warming milk and heating leftovers so I don’t need to get a pan dirty.

I have one, it's about 10 years old now. It rarely gets used. Maybe to start off a jacket potato or heat up beans. But I'm really weird about things on top of it. So I had a teabag in a packet on top of there and threw it in the bin because of radiation. I know it's probably fine but is it?

Also if its slightly rusty on the bottom is that ok?

I live very happily without one, and I have a newborn..no need for one really

I haven’t had a microwave since 2014. Not because they’re dangerous just my lovely reliable old one gave up the ghost and I just didn’t replace it. M

You can hear most things in the over or stove top so don’t really need it

My youngest son in law refuses to have a microwave oven because he thinks the radiation will kill him and everyone else within fifty yards of it.
I told him to stop being so pathetic, I've been using one for the last forty years almost daily and I'm still alive.
He was even less impressed when I bought my daughter one for Christmas just to wind him up. He still refuses to use it or eat anything from it, although my daughter uses it for herself often.

I'm having a hard time believing that microwave ovens suddenly start leaking microwaves. The microwaves don't escape because they are trapped inside a metallic cage. They can only start escaping if the cage becomes damaged or degraded in some way.

Never had one. Future in-laws offered to buy us one 33 years ago, but we said "no" and haven't bothered since.
Nothing to do with safety, or lack of, but just couldn't see the point & we have never wanted one.

Never had and never will. I hate microwaved food. It tastes awful. I also never use office microwave.

In the 80’s my mum would switch it on and leap out the way. I stand in front of mine. Both of us are ok.

Was the man from BG trying to flog you this OP?
www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/appliance-and-home-electrical-repairs/cooker-repairs/microwave-repairs.html
Because paying £123 for 1 year to repair and cover a microwave when you can get a new one for about £55 is daylight robbery!

Anyone who wants to understand why microwave ovens are safe should study physics. In particular, the Faraday Cage, which blocks electromagnetic radiation (microwaves).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

I got rid of mine a few years ago. Not for radiation it was just a massive intrusion on my counter space for the limited benefit I was getting from it. Reheating meals is a little more complicated but I have glass tupperwear so most go straight in the oven. The main thing I miss it for is heating up fajita wraps because I always get distracted and burn them in the oven.

Why does microwaved food taste awful? Tastes the same to me whether I heat things in a pan or in the MW

Mine is inbuilt and I use it often. I'm dreading it breaking down and it's going nowhere until it does!

I hate microwaved food. It tastes awful.

what do you even mean by this? There are lots of different ways of using a microwave and no one type of microwaved food.

I hate microwaved food. It tastes awful.

Can you honestly taste a difference between soup microwaved and soup heated in a pan? That makes no sense to me at all.

I wonder what interest the British Gas man could possibly have in you cooking less with your microwave. 🤔

I can totally tell the difference between how the soup is heated, and beans. Urgh and the taste of plastic when people put a microwavable plastic soup pot in.

But I'm currently eating microwaved leftover courgette, beetroot and pepper and it tastes like reheated courgette, beetroot and pepper.

We've got one, I can't remember the last time I used it. Kids use it occasionally to heat up beans. I'm not worried about microwaves suddenly leaking out!

I have one that is pretty much exclusively used for melting butter and chocolate.

I read an article once if you only fed plants with microwave water they would die. Not sure if it’s true but we rarely use the microwave as was aware not great for you.

Some one replaces their microwave every 2 years? where do you think they go to?

Dh is funny about microwaves and when we had the kitchen done he insisted on relegating it to the utility room. I think he’s just a snob though. My microwave is a pretty green one (like the ones on Bake-off) and I love it for heating porridge. I won’t be getting rid of it and I doubt it’s even remotely dangerous.