FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT IN THE MICROWAVE

Experts warn that certain foods should never be heated in the microwave.

Spicy Peppers

Never reheat spicy peppers in the microwave because they contain capsaicin. When placed in the microwave, the extremely high temperatures cause these compounds to evaporate. The steam released from these peppers can be very intense, causing irritation to your eyes and throat.

Rice

Reheated rice can cause diarrhea or vomiting. If rice has been in the refrigerator for more than a day, do not put it in the microwave. It’s better to discard it.

Broccoli

Broccoli heats up extremely quickly and is often used for fast microwave preparation. However, any form of cooking vegetables reduces the amount of nutrients in them. Steaming is much better, although it still results in about an 11% loss of antioxidants from broccoli. When microwaved with a small amount of water, broccoli can lose up to 97% of its antioxidants.

Frozen Fruit

Fruit is frozen in a way that preserves all its nutrients. It’s important to remember that fruit starts losing its nutritional value as soon as it’s picked, especially after being stored for a long time. Therefore, frozen fruit can have more vitamins and antioxidants than fresh fruit that has been stored for a while. It’s best to leave frozen fruit at room temperature to thaw naturally.

Frozen Meat

Some microwaves are designed to rotate food inside the oven to ensure even heating. However, it's very difficult to properly defrost frozen meat in the microwave, as it requires a lot of time, often resulting in browned edges while the center remains frozen. Additionally, if the meat isn't cooked immediately after defrosting, there's a risk of bacterial growth. Japanese researchers have found that cooking meat in the microwave for more than six minutes significantly reduces its vitamin B12 content.