The microwave is a great kitchen appliance that has changed the way we cook. It's easy to use and can heat food up to a blazing hot temperature in seconds.
But did you know that it also has some risks? If you're not careful, your microwave could release toxins or even explode, and that can be dangerous.
The FDA regulates how much radiation microwave ovens emit, and how much of that comes from outside. The agency also requires that microwave ovens are designed to prevent excess radiation leaking out of the door, according to Raghavan.
If you microwave something like a piece of meat, it will get very hot on the surface but not very hot in the center. This is because there's something called the "skin effect," which keeps a small amount of microwaves from penetrating to the inside.
In the same vein, microwaves can cause a lot of sparking in metal. Objects with sharp edges are the most likely to spark, but utensils with round edges are more likely to be safe.
The FDA recommends that you don't microwave food or beverages in plastic containers. This is because they can release a chemical known as BPA, which can leach into the food.
