5 minutes agoAuthor: Sandeep Singh
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Today, microwave oven has become an essential part of our kitchen. It heats food molecules through vibrations at high heat. Microwaves are usually used to heat pre-cooked food or to steam vegetables.
But do you know that this device which makes life easier has a lot of hidden bacteria in it, which can cause serious health problems.
This surprising fact has been revealed in a recent study conducted by the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology of the University of Valencia, Spain.
According to this study, microwave ovens may contain more than 100 strains of dangerous bacteria, which are a threat to our health.
so today news of need I will talk about the bacteria found in microwave ovens. Also, we will know that-
- Details of this study conducted in Spain.
- What kind of health problems can microwave bacteria cause?
- What things should be kept in mind while cleaning a microwave oven?
Question- What is the study done in Spanish University?
answer- According to this study, certain types of microorganisms are present in microwave ovens. The most common of these are Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria.
Some bacteria found in microwaves used at home, such as Klebsiella, Enterococcus, and Aeromonas, can pose risks to human health.
When we heat food in a microwave, bacteria already present in it get transferred to our food. This can lead to many types of infections.
Question- Why do these bacteria grow in microwave?
answer- Food is cooked and heated in a microwave. In this process, some piece or part of food gets left inside it. Steam, water etc. get accumulated inside it. If the microwave is not cleaned regularly, microorganisms start growing in it.
Question: Which bacteria can be present in a microwave oven?
answer- During this study, the research team collected samples from a total of 30 different types of microwaves, including 10 household microwaves, 10 used in cafeterias and 10 microwaves used in scientific labs. More than 100 types of bacteria were found in each type of microwave.
See the graphic below to see what types of bacteria may be present in a microwave oven.
Question: What harm can these bacteria found in microwave cause to health?
answer- There are many bacteria around us. Our working place, laptop-mobile, air, dust and soil are present everywhere. Apart from this, there are many types of bacteria inside our skin and body. There are some good and bad bacteria among them. There are some very strong and some weak bacteria.
Our body is capable of dealing with weak bacteria. Whereas bacteria that grow for a long time in food or water can harm our body in many ways. Bacteria growing in microwave can reach our body through hands, which can cause many diseases.
Question- What should be done to protect against these bacteria?
answer- The most important and easiest way to prevent bacteria from growing in the microwave is to take care of cleanliness.
How often you need to clean your microwave depends on the frequency at which it is being used.
You can understand it this way that the frequency of use of microwaves kept in office and home is different. The microwave of office or restaurant may be used 50 to 100 times a day. Whereas the microwave of home may be used about 5 times. The microwave which is being used more will need cleaning more.
Generally, if used at home, the microwave should be cleaned with a wet cloth once a day. Its plate should be washed thoroughly every third day. Also, it should be deep steam cleaned every fourth day or once a week (this depends on the frequency of your use).
Question: How can we clean a microwave oven?
answer- Many times small particles of food get deposited on the inside or outside of the microwave due to leakage or splashes. If the stains remain for many days, bacteria start growing around the microwave. Apart from this, the dirt accumulated in the microwave also affects its performance. Therefore, its regular cleaning is necessary.
Read the graphic below to understand how to clean your microwave easily.
Apart from this, you can clean the microwave in some other ways. Such as-
- You can clean the microwave with apple cider vinegar. For this, mix equal amounts of water and apple cider vinegar in a bowl. Keep it in the microwave on high temperature for 5 minutes. After this, wipe the microwave with a cloth.
- You can also use baking soda to clean the microwave. Make a solution of baking soda and water. Then apply it on the inside of the microwave. Leave it for 5 minutes, then wipe it with a wet cloth.
- There are many spray bottle cleaners available in the market. You can clean the inside of the microwave by spraying them and wiping them with a cloth.
Question: What kind of precautions should be taken while using a microwave oven?
answer- This is definitely an easy way to heat food quickly, but if not used properly, it can be dangerous. A little carelessness can harm your health as well as the microwave.
See the graphic below to know what things should be kept in mind while using microwave.