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?

That BG person should be reported for spouting that twaddle! Microwaves cannot ‘escape’ unless there was a huge hole in it.
Definite scaremongering.

OP, are you binning your WIFI too?

It's a bit silly to try and avoid microwaves in this day and age. You would never leave your own home.

We have an old microwave oven from the 90s. Still works, is clean and rust free. I'm not binning it anytime soon.

If someone heated up two identical meals, one in an oven and one in a microwave, do you really think you'd be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test?

It’s not true (see Snopes debunking) and there is no evidence that microwave ovens harm you (unless you drop them on your foot). Microwave cooking actually is better for you than some cooking methods such as frying, and can preserve the nutrients of vegetables better than boiling.

Damn I thought I was going well with those links. This is the second one: nutritionfacts.org/video/flashback-friday-are-microwaves-safe-the-effects-of-radiation-leaking-from-microwave-ovens/

I've never trusted those new fangled michael waves and tend move to another room when they are on. My views are based on having a shonky one in a house share years ago that used to give everyone headaches when running.

We haven't had one for about 15 years and don't miss it at all. Never was very keen on them from a health perspective but that's a personal hunch rather than based on scientific fact.

I haven’t had one for about 10 years! Don’t miss it.

I got rid of mine about 3 years ago and I don't miss it. The only thing I miss is reheating food but I can easily do it on the hob or in the oven - just takes a bit longer. It took up loads of space on the side, which was not proportionate to its usefulness and it was a pita to clean.

I didn't do it for safety reasons but not surprised to hear there may be some.

Nope he wasn't trying to sell anything.
He just said don't use it and you will need to get a new one

I didn't do it for safety reasons but not surprised to hear there may be some

There aren’t.

I really thought with the introduction of the National Curriculum 30ish years ago we’d all be more intelligent when it comes to basic physics.

I think when people hear ‘radiation’ with regards to a microwave, they think nuclear radiation, thus connecting the idea of a microwave with Chernobyl.

Microwaves heat by using very short wavelength electromagnetic energy (just below infrared light), hence the name, microwaves. The wavelength is about 12cm off the top of my head. As PPs have said above, there is a Faraday cage in a microwave that stops this energy from escaping. You’d have to rip the door off & start it up (safety mechanisms prevent activation like this) to even try & get those naughty little waves to escape & cook your kidneys. A bit of bean juice on the rubber seal will make b*gger all difference.

I only use our microwave to defrost meat if I forget to get it out the freezer the day before. I prefer beans cooked in a pan when they get that slightly squished unctuous mess, rather than the hot hard bullets from a microwave.

Qualifications - trained as a drama teacher, went back to science roots, got married with electronics engineer on my marriage certificate a few years ago. And now specialising in studying nuclear physics in my spare time.

Obviously, if your microwave has rust spots, that’s a hygiene issue (rough surface = more chance for bugs to hide) so replace it.

I haven't had one for years. I'm convinced that food heated in a microwave loses flavour, and only used it for heating milk for when I make real coffee (which isn't often, I mainly drink tea).

My late DP used to use it for heating soup and stuff, and never bothered covering what he was cooking. The inside of the microwave was minging, with stalactites of soup and baked beans hanging from the top of the inside.

One day I threatened to throw it away if he didn't clean it, and he said "Go on then". So I did.

Neither of us really missed it, and I like having more space on the worktop.

I don't use a microwave because it destroys micronutrients in food. You are mostly protected from any radiation by the (incomplete due to glass door) faraday cage. But the radiation inside kills anything living (good bacteria for example) in your food, and we need that stuff. And plants dont seem to like it either...
www.giftofcuriosity.com/plants-microwaved-water/

I haven't had one for years. I'm convinced that food heated in a microwave loses flavour

For things like steaming veg I find the exact opposite

Couldn't live without one. Rice steamed in 9 mins, salmon in 3 mins, jacket spuds started off for 10.

Have I been transported back tit he 1980's? We wereb't allowed to stand in front of our first microwave!

Op don't look up what your non stick pans are doing to you!

I don't use a microwave because it destroys micronutrients in food.

I'm not sure that blog post is the most authoritative of sources. If you have any more substantial evidence I'd be interested to read them.

I haven't had a microwave for about 15 years.

The last one broke and we just didn't bother replacing it because we hardly ever used it.

Don't have any non stick pans and was quite smug about it but now according to Mr British Gas , I've been cooking my eyes all this time.

I don’t have one but not for safety reasons, just because I have no need for one. We last had one about 20 years ago but gave it away because it wasted kitchen space and we never used it.

@Ohsugarhoneyicetea refer to the links I posted. The second two links (ie the ones that aren’t Snopes) link through to all the scientific studies.

Growing up my mum refused to have a microwave for safety reasons, so I followed suit and have never bought one myself either as a adult.
I know some people love them and use them all the time but I have got along just fine without one, and can’t actually think what I would use it for.

He's talking utter shite.

We’ve never had one so don’t feel we are missing out.