Microwaves are considered the best human invention ever, and there are no ways of denying it. They have made our lives easy-going, peaceful, and relaxing. We no longer have to light up our stoves and wait several minutes to get our food ready because microwaves are here to serve their magic. Moreover, many people claim that microwaves not only help us heat our food within seconds, they also help kill viruses and make the food healthy and fresh. But is that really the case?
Does microwaving kill bacteria?
Yes, microwaves can kill bacteria. Because microwaves generate heat and heating or cooking food kills any bacteria present in them. But the results might not be as accurate as your expectations. There are no certain guidelines or instructions that state how to use a microwave to kill bacteria, or there are no standard accounts that indicate the ability of microwaves to kill bacteria. Thus, we can say that microwaves do kill bacteria, but the results may not be 100%.
So, we can assume that microwaving can save our lives after all. However, it is important to know how exactly microwaves work against bacteria to rest assured.
Let us discuss the functional relationship between microwaves and bacteria below.
Do microwaves really kill germs?
We have always known that boiling water up to an optimum temperature kills bacteria and makes the water free from harmful pathogens. That is the very reason why we as kids always used to carry hot water bottles around our necks at school.
But this is not only with water. Heating also works the same with different kinds of food. For ages, people have believed and have scientifically proven that heating or cooking food before consuming them kills bacteria and keeps the food fresh.
It is somewhat similar in a microwave when it comes to killing bacteria. It was first discovered in an experiment that took place at the University of Florida in 2007 when the professors took a wet sponge and microwaved it to the highest settings for around 2 minutes. The process then resulted in the deactivation of 99% of all living pathogens. Thus, showing a positive sign.
However, in some experiments in the later period, people have found that microwaving can kill weaker pathogens but might make the strong ones stronger.
Therefore, it is safe to say that microwaving can be effective against bacteria, but there are no standard results. The results will vary depending on the type of pathogens the machine is dealing with.
How do microwaves kill bacteria?
After several experiments and tests, people found that electromagnetic waves produced by the microwave are not what kills bacteria. Instead, it is the heat generated in the food that kills the germs inside them. That means it is exactly similar to the process of heating food on a normal burner. Therefore, it is necessary to heat the food to a certain temperature, which is around 170°F, to have a proper effect on the pathogens.
But, when microwaving food, the heating varies depending on the type of food. So, the heat generated is always unevenly distributed. In order to keep the food inside up to the right level of temperature, one can use medical devices such as thermometers to check the temperature from different parts of the food.
Thus, we can conclude that microwaves can kill bacteria, but the results may not be in the way we are expecting.
