Microwave: dos and donts

Dr. Kumudu S. Perera

No modern kitchen can be complete without a microwave oven. It's a versatile device that can reheat, defrost and cook food faster than conventional ovens. They range in size - and price - from simple rotary button models to elaborate microcomputer based models that also double as conventional convection ovens.

However, it pays to know more about your microwave to get the best out of it. Read these tips to gain more knowledge about your microwave. They are also ideal for microwave virgins who are about to discover new vistas in home cooking.

Birth of microwave oven happened as a by product of another technology in 1946. A researcher Dr. Percy Spencer discovered that the candy bar in his pocket had melted while testing a new vacuum tube.

This led Dr. Spencer to carry out more experiments and finally he ended up with an observation that when microwave energy is fed into a food container, the temperature of the food rises rapidly. With this, Dr. Spencer had invented what was to revolutionise cooking and laid the foundation stone for the multimillion-dollar industry, the microwave oven.

In 1947, the first commercial microwave came into the market. Many people were highly reluctant to accept the new finding as they feared the word "micro wave" and hence, initial sales were disappointing. But, due to improvements and refinements, many myths and fears faded away. By 1975, microwave ovens' sales exceeded that of gas ranges. They became a more commonly owned kitchen appliance than the dishwasher in US. Today, the magic of microwave cooking has radiated around the fast paced world.

The method can be simply explained as follows. Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy and occupy a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Microwave ovens use microwaves to heat food. In microwave ovens, the commonly used frequency is 2450 MHz.

Inside the oven's cavity, microwaves actually penetrate the food upto a depth of about 1 inch depending on the density and the quantity of the food in the oven. The center of thicker foods may not get radiation and therefore only become cooked as the heat conducts to the center.

At present, microwave oven has become a highly essential household appliance. A lot of restaurants and food boutiques use these ovens in a large scale. Most food manufacturers have found it easy to keep foods refrigerator fresh upto the point of service. More over, defrosting, precooking and tempering facilities have opened up a big demand for microwave ovens.

The problems:

Though how much they are popular today some research have disclosed that they bear some problems regarding the nutrition value of the food and the user safety. Some of them are;

Human organs are badly affected - stomach, intestines, bladder, testes

Molecular structure of the food is decayed - leads to formation of toxics

Loss of nutrients occur

Significant changes in the blood - hemoglobin level decreases, overall white cell levels increase

Anyhow, in this world filled with tight and busy lifestyles, microwave ovens have won a great place from which they cannot be rejected.

Some Precautions:

Due to bad effects of microwave cooking, it is advisable to follow up safety measures as far as possible.

Never turn on an empty microwave oven.

Always supervise kids using microwave ovens.

Do not let food built up inside the oven or around the door seals.

Make sure that microwave oven has properly circulated ventilation.

Be sure to check second hand ovens carefully prior to purchasing.

Use only containers made for microwave ovens as other containers may melt, explode, cause a fire or contaminate food.

(Dr. Kumudu S. Perera is a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Electronics, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya.)

A ride from perspiration to inspiration

Senapura D. Nissanka, Anuradhapura East Group Correspondent

VICTORY: She is Sriyalatha Subasinghe. A courageous girl hailing from Anuradhapura striving day and night with dry winds, harsh climate as well as battering living circumstances. Her unwavering strength and determination rode her to the zenith of success as she bagged two gold and one silver medal at the 10th South Asian Games, recently.

The family runs a small-scale eating house on the Sri Maha Bodhi Road, Anuradhapura. The small business venture helps Sriyalatha and her family to earn their living and perform all her feats.

Sriyalatha who won two gold medals and one silver medal for Individual and Team Women Cycling events leaves for training after preparing food items like string hoppers and hoppers for their eating house early in the morning with her elder sister.

Then she takes on her bicycle and rides for miles along hedges, river banks surpassing harsh winds and scorching sun that batter her to slow down her speed. But she reaches her destination with utmost dedication and vigour and thus made her family and the country proud.

As a tribute to her strength, the Mahaweli Ministry awarded a 40 perches land with a house costing Rs. 2 million. Mahaweli Minister Maithripala Sirisena handed over the keys to Sriyalatha at the closing ceremony of the 20th Mahaweli Games held at Galnewa, recently.

With the intervention of Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake, she has found employment in the Ports Authority. North Central Provincial Council, Anuradhapura Municipality and her Alma Mater-Swaranapali Balika Maha Vidyalaya are also making arrangements to felicitate her.

Live healthily, to the brim

Anushka Nanayakkara

LIFE: Doctors are always talking about living a healthy lifestyle to avoid falling ill. Does healthy living really make a difference? Yes of course it does. Most people don't realise that a healthy lifestyle is more effective and more important than taking medications in preventing illnesses.

What is a healthy lifestyle?

In a nutshell, a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, managing your weight, and getting plenty of rest and recreation.

What is a healthy diet?

A diet low in fat and red meat, less sweets, more fibre, plenty of fruits, and less added salt. This kind of a diet will help prevent heart diseases and diabetes. Drink plenty of water to prevent formation of kidney stones. Milk and foods rich in calcium, especially small fish which will help prevent osteoporosis. Vegetarians should drink milk. Sufficient proteins should be taken, but not too much.

Chicken and fish, particularly fish is good because certain types of oily fish contain 'Omega-3 fatty acids' which helps prevent heart attacks. Avoid sweet drinks and fast food.

Are starchy food bad?

No. Starchy foods such as bread, cereals, potatoes, rice, etc. together with fruits and vegetables, provide the bulk of most meals. Some people think starchy foods are 'fattening'. In fact, they contain about half the calories than the same weight of fat. Also, starchy foods often contain a lot of fibre (roughage). When you eat starchy foods, you get a feeling of fullness (satiety), which controls the appetite.

Everyone says fruits are good for health. How much fruit intake is necessary? We should eat at least five portions, and ideally seven to nine portions of a variety of fruits or vegetables each day. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, then your chance of developing heart disease, a stroke, or bowel cancer is reduced. They are also filling, and since they provide enough fibre, they prevent constipation and other bowel problems.

How long a person should exercise to stay healthy?

You should do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day, on most days (at least five days per week). If you are obese, exercising for longer periods will help you to reduce weight. It is important that even older people do regular exercises to keep fit. Aerobic exercises are better than weight lifting. Regular exercises prevent heart disease and also help to make your bones stronger.

Is managing weight important?

Culturally, many Sri Lankans believe that it is nice to be plump. However, being overweight can make you more likely to get many diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Your body mass index (BMI) is a good estimate of how much of your body is made up of fat. It relates your weight to your height.

You can work out your BMI by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in metres). A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered ideal. Being extremely thin is also not good for your health.

Your health risk is also greater if you have a lot of fat around your waist (apple shaped) rather than on your hips and thighs (pear shape). In Asian women, a waist circumference greater than 78 cm (92 cm for Asian men) increases the chance of heart disease and other complications.

Some people say drinking alcohol in moderation is good for health. Is this true?

There is some evidence that drinking 1-2 units of alcohol per day may help to protect against heart diseases. One unit of alcohol is 10 ml of pure alcohol, and is found in half a pint of beer or 25 ml of spirits, and 1-2 units per day is generally considered the 'safe limit'.

Drinking more than this can result in serious problems. On the whole, people who do not drink should not be asked to drink for health reasons, but people who drink within safe limits need not be asked to abstain.

Unlike alcohol, there is no 'safe limit' for smoking. Stop smoking. It's wanted for murder!

Readers' attic

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Dhinesha Perera