# Are Microwaves Safe?

Published: 2014-09-30T14:41:02.670781-04:00
Canonical URL: https://www.getmealplans.com/blog/2014/09/30/are-microwaves-safe/

**This may shock you:** a microwave is one of the best cooking methods *and* it has little effect on a food's nutrients.

![http://photos.happyherbivore.com/2014/09/stockfresh_4026076_using-microwave-oven_sizeXS.jpg](http://photos.happyherbivore.com/2014/09/stockfresh_4026076_using-microwave-oven_sizeXS.jpg)

Admittedly, I avoided microwaves for years, buying into the misconception that microwaves aren't safe or they're bad for your health. Then I met Jeff Novick, MS RD (who is waaay smarter than me). Jeff told me microwaves are about as risky as my car radio---which I expose myself to for several hours each day.

Then I came across a video by Dr. Gregor, one of the smartest and most knowledgeable people I've ever met (Dr. Gregor reads every study on the planet. Seriously! He's also the most open-minded person I know. A real straight shooter, too).

Dr. Gregor reviewed numerous microwave studies, and based on all those findings, concluded a microwave is one of the [best cooking methods](http://nutritionfacts.org/video/best-cooking-method/) and has little effect on a food's nutrients.

In fact, food's nutrients are primarily lost by leaching into cooking water. Thus microwave cooking becomes [healthier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven) since it requires shorter cooking times. (And even though you may be "nuking" your food, microwaves [don't actually make it radioactive](http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/info_microwaves/en/).)

I wonder what this says about my trusty pressure cooker! Alas, another newsletter for another day.

Point is, use your microwave! Especially when you need to "reheat" one of your pre-made meals from the meal plans. You can pop your sweet potatoes and potatoes in the microwave too to cut back on cooking time when you're in a hurry.

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