Three foods that should never be microwaved are creating a buzz.
According to a recent New York Post report, Turkish nutrition expert Harini Bala’s TikTok video has gone viral, racking up around 150,000 views.
In her video, Harini advises against microwaving spinach, leftover rice, and water to make tea. Based on her expert insights, let’s explore why these foods are microwave no-nos.
Spinach
Spinach is packed with nitrates, which are great for your heart health. Your body transforms these nitrates into nitric oxide, helping to widen blood vessels and boost circulation.
But don’t go overboard with nitrates! The CDC warns that too many veggie-sourced nitrates could lead to oxygen deprivation symptoms and even form cancer-causing compounds.
A study from Iran’s Shiraz University found that microwaving or oven-cooking spinach can spike nitrate levels by about 31%. The researchers cautioned that high heat can turn these nitrates into potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines.
If you crave cooking spinach, play it safe by blanching it in medium-heat water instead.
Leftover Rice
Storing rice in the fridge can cause bacillus cereus, a nasty bacteria that causes food poisoning.
This soil-dwelling bacteria is everywhere, especially in carb-heavy foods like rice and pasta.
Bacillus cereus produces heat-resistant spores that can survive temperatures above 135°C (275°F) for up to four hours.
Water for Brewing Tea
Microwaving water for tea might seem like a time-saver, but it could ruin the taste of the tea. Different teas need specific water temps, and microwaves tend to overheat water.
Take green tea, for example. It’s best brewed at 70°C (158°F) to 80°C (176°F), but microwaved water can get hotter. Steeping green tea in scalding water can destroy valuable nutrients like potassium, minerals, and vitamins.
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