To tell MIL to stop cooking food like that

[Ohhbaby]

My mother in law defrosts food, especially meat in the plastic packages / clingwrap that it comes in, in the mocrowave. Or sometime she will pop it in one of those ziplock bags and take it out of the freezer and pop it in the microwave for 10 or 20 minutes to defrost.

When it comes out that plastic is sooo hot. And it's so bad for our health. And it is not like she just pops it in plastic Tupperware(which is bad enough), it is literally clingwrap.

I know we can not side step every health hazard, I mean there is pesticide and microplastic in probably all our food, but I feel like we should try and sidestep those that we can.

I have 2 small children, 18 months and 3 years and pregnant with our 3rd. I really really dislike the thought of my children eating that meat .

Would you say something to your MIL or not?
How would you say it?
With my own mom I feel very comfortable to say something. "Ooh mom did you know it's really bad for our health if you do xyz"
But I feel like my MIL is sensitive. My husband grew up drinking hot chocolate in his bottle, and eating lost of sugar and processed food. So I'm already always saying, "aw mom thank you but we prefer them not to have sweets every half an hour etc.
We have different ways of doing things, especially health wise. I don't want her to continuesly feel like I know better and am questioning her decisions, but man, it's bugging me so much!

Maybe a "I defrost using a china bowl covered with a plate; I find it's much less hot and I can't burn myself on the plastic" would put a positive spin on it?

She could also just take it out a day earlier and leave it to defrost naturally? Can you discuss in advance what will be for dinner and ask if it can come out of the freezer in the morning "to save energy"

I think this is the point and a few of us gave answered it.

This isn't about whether heated microplastics cause cancer or whatever, it's about how you frame your request so that your MiL is more likely to accommodate it.

Noone likes being made to feel a fool or that their common practice is dangerous to them or their offspring.
Your OP is titled "tell MIL". I think you should ask her.

If she's cooking after you arrive then maybe take one cooked meal with you for you all to enjoy together and some fresh meat to go into the fridge for the next day.
You can frame it as giving her a break or more time to enjoy with the grandkids.

My DDad lived until 3 days before his 90th birthday, he didn't have Cancer (and hadn't ever had Cancer). My DMum lived to be nearly 89, and she didn't have Cancer either, she died of the frailty of old age. So in your world Ddifficultday, how long does one have to live to be sure of getting Cancer?

Do you have young children Ddifficult, and if you do are you trying to raise them in at least a reasonably healthy way, or don't you bother because afterall we are all going to die of some health condition before we reach some unknown age?

I am probably a lot older than you - I have amazing Grandchildren who I want to be able to reach old age while still being healthy, and able to enjoy life whilst living on a very healthy planet. Therefore, I think it is very selfish if any individual adults don't do simple things - like trying to cut down on their use of plastics, and how they use them - especially if it is just because something nasty is going to get them in the future.

PS. Now I have reached this age, and have DGrandchildren, I want to live for as long as possible to see them as they grow up, and if possible, to be able to offer them pratical support if they ever need it...🙏

Butterworth's of Bury St Edmunds do excellent teas, my late OH swore by their loose gunpowder green tea.

Does she use the "defrost" setting on the microwave? If so, you're being utterly ridiculous

@JudgeJ thanks for the recc. Will give it a go :-)

Well yes but the leading cause of death in the UK is dementia. I think I'd rather have a heart attack. Orders chips

Ddifficultday - That's a daft theory though, because what about the rare person who lives past 110 but doesn't die from cancer. Are you still going to say they didn't live long enough. You could say that about any old age person to "prove" your theory, oh 150 but didn't die of cancer, obviously didn't live long enough.

It's only the thin plastic like freezer bags or cling film that are the issue.

I always do this. Didn't know it was bad tbh

I don't understand where the microplastics are coming from?

Why?

Heart attack fine but it may be preceded by years of heart failure which is very much not fine

I live in the US. We have 50 states and each state has a different number of counties. Most counties offer health safety courses for food. This is one of the items our county covers in their home food safety course. They are free of charge and some of the courses offer sample products for the attendees. Do you have something like that available to you? You could go together.

Tell her the kids are vegetarian

If your staying for the weekend could you have a big dinner before you go so only needing something small on arrival and then in the evening ask what’s for tea tomorrow would you like anything getting etc and if she says she’s got some chicken in the freezer could you offer to take it out and put it in the fridge so it’s ready to use the next day?

@Mirabai do you only eat in michelin starred establishments?
Also, you are showing your ignorance and snobbishness about just how useful and versatile a microwave can be.

Loads of chefs use the microwave for the type of things I listed earlier.

Yes that right because I’ve no idea how a microwave works or how it might be used.

A chac’un ses goûts.

I have never microwaved foods in plastic bags or covered in cling film in my life. I will admit I can be a lazy cow, but I freeze everything on a tray, then transfer to plastic bags or boxes. But I then either defrost in a fridge or if using a microwave, take the items out of their containers and defrost in a plate (naked of any plastic)

Well if you do know how they work and that most top restaurants use them for various purposes why do you refuse to eat food cooked in them?

Pretend you've all gone vegetarian?

Personally i wouldn't ever defrost raw meat in a microwave on any setting. It just seems wrong to me.

I thaw stuff out in the fridge or at room temp and if i've forgotten to take it out of the freezer in time then we don't have it.

Why do you care what someone else does?

It’s interesting that suggesting OP doesn’t eat MIL’s microwaved food has sparked the Spanish Inquisition.

How about discussing what your going to eat the night before or at breakfast.

I defrosted overnight then pop in the fridge or get out first thing then pop in fridge when defrosted.

Does she have a cat or a dog maybe she is worried about animal getting to it.

One day you are going to die. Yes.