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Original poster

Microwaves dangerous, anyone not have one?

170 replies

shael · 10/05/2022 15:49

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?

OP posts:
Pinkpigs · 10/05/2022 21:55

I don't have a microwave not had one for years don't see the point when I have a cooker

BobaTea · 10/05/2022 21:58

Just wondering, is it safe to stand in front of a microwave when it's on?

Photosymphysis · 10/05/2022 22:01

BobaTea · 10/05/2022 21:58

Just wondering, is it safe to stand in front of a microwave when it's on?

No, you should stand in the garden behind a lead shield.

Unless it's daylight, because visible light is more damaging than microwaves

Clevs · 10/05/2022 22:12

I've never had,one and have managed fine without one. People always seem surprised when they find out and ask me how I cope without one, but you never miss what you've never had!

bigbluebus · 10/05/2022 22:16

My parents had a microwave when I lived at home. I've always had a microwave. It's used daily. I'm 58, still here and in fine health. I think your man is talking BS.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 10/05/2022 22:17

@Clevs so where do you store the crap
whjch never seems to find a home? Please don’t tell me you have a ….’junk drawer’????
well jealous. 🤣

Original poster
shael · 10/05/2022 22:22

@Chaoslatte

Can't quote your post but thank you for that info, it's really useful

OP posts:
rattlemehearties · 10/05/2022 22:25

What "reading" are you talking about, OP? Sounds like he might have PAT tested it and it failed, is that right? That's about the electrical safety and all items with a plug can be PAT tested for electrical safety. Nothing to do with microwave radiation.

MissMoiselle · 10/05/2022 22:34

Haven't had one/ used one in over 10 years. Stove and oven are enough for us. Can't really remember what the exact conversation was but a friend told me they had looked into the "dangers of the micro waves"🙄. Makes me chuckle now but back then it's what triggered getting rid of ours. Haven't really thought about ever getting one since, we love to cook and have never missed not having a microwave. To add, I find that too many appliances on the counter are an eyesore so win-win really 😆

ShinySquirrel · 10/05/2022 22:42

Chaoslatte · 10/05/2022 21:30

Those people aren’t allowed in my kitchen, I have a galley kitchen with an induction hob on one side and a microwave directly opposite so it’s like a pacemaker booby trap!

Show quote history

I did a proper loud guffaw at 'pacemaker booby trap'.

I have a defibrillator pacemaker, and I can use microwaves just like anyone else. I don't even have to stand on my hands and operate them with my toes, which was a slight disappointment.

Induction hobs are a no-no, but microwaves are fine unless they have been run over by a double decker bus and plugged back in again.

A proper pacemaker booby trap would have induction hobs, arc-welders, and those security things in shop doorways. Oh, and those handheld scanner wands in airports. HUGE MAGNETS. And mobile phones placed too close. Although saying that, I once fell asleep with my phone on top of my pacemaker which just might have stopped it from working properly that night, but I lived to tell the tale.

Anyway. My point is that microwaves are fine and pacemakers are brilliant things that start working again as soon as you move away from the murder magnets.

This whole thread is very weird (and I've made it weirder), but enjoyable. 😂

Definitelymabel · 10/05/2022 22:48

Wow, the Luddites and competitive stone-agers on this thread are unreal!

’Well I don’t need or want one. I cook all our food on an open fire which I light by rubbing sticks. My food tastes way better this way’, etc.

Mumsnet is so weird sometimes.

Chaoslatte · 10/05/2022 22:52

@ShinySquirrel Grin we do have a box of magnets of varying sizes which DP claims “might come in useful” but they’re in the living room, I’ll have to move them to complete my booby trap!

BanjoKnickers · 10/05/2022 22:52

They are fantastic devices. I agree with the problems of taking up scarce worktop space, but we've got ours built into one of the over-counter cupboards which I would really recommend.

DontTripPoppy · 10/05/2022 22:53

Actually @Definitelymabel I’d expand that…

people are so weird at times

WorryMcGee · 10/05/2022 22:55

Ours blew up nine years ago and we didn’t get round to replacing it straight away, which made us realise we didn’t need it! I can count on one hand the amount of times since then I’ve thought “damn I could use a microwave”!

DropYourSword · 10/05/2022 22:57

catscatscatseverywhere · 10/05/2022 16:56

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

I assume this is a self fulfilling prophecy!

If you did a truly blind taste test, where someone else reheated you 2 portions of soup from the same batch - 1 in a pan and 1 a microwave - I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference by taste.

YorkshireDude · 10/05/2022 22:59

rattlemehearties · 10/05/2022 22:25

What "reading" are you talking about, OP? Sounds like he might have PAT tested it and it failed, is that right? That's about the electrical safety and all items with a plug can be PAT tested for electrical safety. Nothing to do with microwave radiation.

I did wonder if it might have been a PAT test rather than a microwave leakage test.

Where I used to work, I was supplied with a brand new PC to do my work. After two years the PC was PAT tested, and the power cord failed the test. The person who did the PAT test told me that they get quite a few failures of this type. It's because the maximum allowable resistance for the earthing test is set extremely low. If a PC power cord can fail the test after just two years, having never been moved or disturbed, then pretty much everything can fail after two years. When the PC power cord failed, they just got a new power cord and plugged it into the PC. With a microwave oven the cord is hardwired and can't be quickly and easily replaced, so they'll tell you to buy a new oven.

It's also worth noting that high values for the earth continuity test part of the PAT test can be caused by poor test procedure, and anything that increases resistance, such as an oxide layer on the plug pins. For those who are interested, this website has details of the earth continuity test procedure.

www.plymouthpattesting.co.uk/earth-continuity-limit/

I'm all for checking that electrical equipment has a good earthing connection and is safe to use, but I think the way it's being done is absolutely bonkers and is causing good equipment to be thrown away.

C152 · 10/05/2022 23:03

I've never owned a microwave. Never seen the need.

ginsparkles · 10/05/2022 23:05

Ours broke several years ago and we never replaced it. We haven't missed it at all in all those years. There's simply nothing you cook in a microwave that you can't do on the hob or in the oven.

Lochjeda · 10/05/2022 23:08

I never had one for years, my sister said to me "but how do you heat beans and make baked potatos" 🤣 we got one a year ago that broke last week as my eldest put a fork in it. Dont think Il bother getting another, although it is handy now to reheat dinners now the kids are older and not always in for dinner time.

ButtockUp · 10/05/2022 23:08

Microwave broke nearly twenty years ago.
Realised I only cooked broccoli and fish in it and used it to defrost occasionally.

We never liked the texture of microwaved food,

Veg was always better steamed.

Haven't had one since.

FrangipaniBlue · 10/05/2022 23:11

We don't have one but nothing to do with safety.

Ours went pop a very long time ago and we realised that actually, we hardly ever used it and would rather have the extra space.

Can't say I've noticed a decline in my quality of life.

Dontevenstart · 10/05/2022 23:14

I think having a microwave oven in your home is akin to making the Hiroshima bomb in your kitchen. If you get bacofoil and make it into a handy head covering, it stops the rays.

chisanunian · 10/05/2022 23:22

Don't want to worry you OP, but did you know that bananas are radioactive?

RampantIvy · 10/05/2022 23:27

We use ours all the time - reheating hit drinks heating batch cooked food, making porridge, melting butter, melting chocolate, disinfecting dishcloths.

I think a lot of people just don't know how useful they can be.