Microwave

[mkjuk]

I have heard that if you heat up food such as veg in the microwave much of the nutritional content is destroyed. Is this true?

[Amara]

Although fast, microwaving can be a problem, as food cooks in it's own water it would appear better than most cooking methods for preserving Vitamins B and C (which are water soluble) Unfortunately,cooking broccoli for example will lost large amounts of major antioxidants, which work to rid the body of harmful free radicals. Steaming is by far the best method. Also the temperature reached in fat particles are high so you should never microwave oily fish, as it will destroy the essential fats contained in it. Also you should always stand at least 7 feet away whilst cooking in your microwave as it does give off electromagnetic radiation.

[freak_unique]

Yeah ive heard this is true. Apparently heating them up in the microwave and boiling them for too long kills off alot of the goodness in them and that the best way to cook veg and to keep as much vits/antioxidants in them as possible is by steaming them

[chazza]

This is a common misconception - actually microwaving is better than boiling as it preserves the vitamins. Vitamins such as Vitamin C dissolve in water and are destroyed by heat, so boiling them destroys the vitamins.

By using the microwave, you don't need to use either heat or water, so the vitamins are retained.

Have a read at these sites:
http://www.foodscience.afisc.csiro.au/micwave1 .htm

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30997.a sp