March 6, 2001
I have purchased umpteen books on Microwaving and am very afraid to cook meat. I have used it for warming, popcorn, heating vegetables, baked potatoes, BUT the meat part frightens me. How can I get over this? We have a motor home and many times using the generator to produce electricity is easier and the microwave would also be easier, but I have this hang up, what would be the simplest meat to use and how would I know it was safe.
Thank you,
J.N.A.
Dear J.N.A.,
I can personally attest to the fact that it is perfectly safe to cook meat in the microwave as I have been consuming meat cooked in the microwave for over 25 years.
I’m not a qualified physician, but personally I firmly believe that the only way to get over a fear is to face it head on. There is a recipe for a Sloppy Joe Sandwich at the site. Why don’t you start small by trying to make just the one Sloppy Joe Sandwich? It only uses 3 oz. of ground beef. I think once you’ve tried it, you’ll see that it tastes as good (if not better) than a sandwich you’ve made generating electricity for your regular oven with your generator.
Another way to look at it is that your regular oven and the microwave do the same thing. They both make the molecules in the food move around, creating heat, which is what cooks the food. Perhaps, if you learn more about how the microwave actually works, it will relieve your fears. A good explanation is located at the Mister Microwave site.
I hope this has been of some help to you.