15+ Foods You Shouldn’t Reheat during a Microwave

A. Meat, fish, and poultry



  • Processed meats contain preservatives, and when they’re exposed to an electromagnetic wave, they transform into hazardous chemical compounds like oxidized cholesterol.
  • The crispy crust of fried chicken turns into a moist, unpleasant coating within the microwave, and therefore the meat itself gets heated unevenly.
  • Anyone who has ever tried heating a fish dish within the microwave knows that this is often unforgettable displeasure. For one thing, the whole lebensraum gets crammed with a “not-so-fantastic” smell. Secondly, the fish turns into something inedible. for instance, if you reheat salmon within the microwave, the food will lose all moisture and become dry and firm.

B. Some vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms




  • Within the microwave, broccoli loses most of its beneficial properties. It’s best to steam it. this may preserve the taste of the merchandise and most of the vitamins and minerals.
  • Greens (like beet leaves, for example) have certain properties and that can erupt when processed within the microwave. As a result, rather than a delicious meal, burnt food will find yourself on your table, and therefore the household appliances will become spoiled too.
  • Electromagnetic wave triggers the formation of harmful nitrosamines in spinach and beets. These substances could also be carcinogenic.
  • Capsaicin, which is found in chili peppers and provides them their pungent hotness, begins to evaporate when the peppers are cooked within the microwave. As soon because the microwave door is opened, space is going to be crammed with puffs of acrid smoke.
  • Fresh grapes and gooseberries are transformed into plasma pieces within the microwave — a picturesque but risky experiment.

C. Pizza, Chinese food, and rice



  • It’s harder to imagine an uncooked dish than a microwave pizza. The crisp edges become something moist and sticky, and therefore the cheese takes on the strength of concrete and the texture of rubber. There’s nothing harmful with this food, but you won’t get any joy while eating it. It’s better to reheat the dish on a hot pan or within the oven at a heat.
  • Don’t put food within the microwave within the same containers they were delivered in. Cardboard boxes often contain dangerous materials like glue, ink, wax, plastic, or metal, and that they can start a true fire in your home.
  • Chinese food retains its flavor and appeals even when chilled. Such dishes can be rearranged if desired, but do not do it in the microwave. The problem lies in the ingredients themselves. The microwave turns this delicious dish into something wet and unprepared.
  • Microwaving rice always results in hit or miss results. If the rice has been stored at temperature for an extended time or has spent quite each day within the cold, it’s better just to throw it away. Rice grains contain the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which may continue food after its initial preparation. The microwave doesn’t raise the temperature high enough to kill these pathogens, and it can cause serious poisoning. an equivalent applies to several foods that contain starch.


D. Liquids, oils, and thick soups



  • Watery soups are often microwaved without posing any problems. However, thick pureed soup may be a whole other story. After a short time, the dish will begin to explode with fireworks of soup drops which will hopelessly splatter inside the device. this is often because the liquid within the tray gets heated unevenly. To avoid this consequence, stir the soup once every minute. you will also put a wooden spoon or stick it within the bowl with the soup.
  • The microwave completely destroys the coffee flavor. No harmful substances are formed within the drink, but only those that love bitter and sour flavors are going to be ready to enjoy it. If you actually want to end a cup of your favorite cold drink, you ought to simply add ice thereto.
  • Infant formula, baby food, and breast milk don’t heat up even within the microwave. So hot spots can appear within the liquid and may potentially burn the baby’s tongue, mouth, or throat.
  • Plain water during a cup also can surprise you. During the microwave, the temperature of the liquid gets up, but the bubbles that accompany the boiling process do not always appear on the surface. If you set a bag of tea or a spoon in such water, the liquid will immediately boil, and therefore the cup may explode.
  • Various oils, like olive, grape, canola, or sesame, aren't liquids but fats. therefore the oil within the microwave simply won’t heat up to the specified temperature. 

Bonus: magical microwave




While you’ve thoroughly studied the whole list of products that shouldn’t be heated within the microwave, you don’t necessarily get to get obviate this household device. A microwave may be a useful appliance and it is often used for completely unexpected purposes.

  • Peeling garlic quickly: so as to not suffer while removing the peels from cloves of garlic, you only got to put the garlic within the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
  • Preparing freshly-squeezed juice: If you set oranges or lemons within the microwave for 10-20 seconds, it’ll be much easier to juice them. Radiation destroys the inner membranes of citrus fruits.
  • Frying seeds and nuts: Pour these products into a microwave-safe ceramic container, add a drop of oil, and place them within the microwave. It takes 3 minutes to cook nuts and seeds.


  • Peeling vegetables: Sometimes zucchini or chips are hard to peel. to hurry up the peeling process, it’s enough to go away the vegetables within the microwave for 2-3 minutes, setting it to rock bottom power mode. then, it’ll be much easier to get rid of the skin.
  • Cutting onions: To avoid unnecessary tears, keep the onion within the microwave for just 45 seconds. this may destroy the enzymes liable for the assembly of corrosive gas, which irritates the eyes.
  • Beating the milk into foam: you'll make a cappuccino without an upscale coffee machine. To do it, pour the milk into a glass or ceramic jar with a lid that will be closed (it should be half-full) and shake it vigorously. It takes 30 or 60 seconds for the milk to show into foam. Then put the jar within the microwave for an additional 30 seconds and watch the froth rise. Just add it to the coffee and therefore the cappuccino is prepared.



  • Experts recommend reheating any dish on just one occasion. The longer the food is stored, the upper the danger that harmful microorganisms and bacteria will develop in it. When properly prepared, food will not endanger your health. But you ought to buy a kitchen thermometer to live the temperatures of dishes after heat treatment. Also, stir the food thoroughly in order that there are not any parts with cold ingredients — they will become a tract for bacteria. The more often you reheat food, the less tasty it becomes — vegetables become porridge and meat becomes rubbery.


Would you add anything to our first or second list that supported your personal experience?

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