6 ms·

This falls into the category of "the tiny bit of extra safety I may gain is not worth the huge amount of inconvenience that it causes." Even if I were to stop

This falls into the category of "the tiny bit of extra safety I may gain is not worth the huge amount of inconvenience that it causes." Even if I were to stop putting stuff in the microwave, that won't account for all the other foods I eat outside the home that may have had microwaving as part of their preparation process. I mean, I'll take a frozen package of ribs out of the freezer and microwave it for a minute so the surface softens enough for me to cut the plastic and peel it off before thawing or brining the meat. No, I think I'll just take my chances and not have yet one more thing to stress out about.

ip26 3y ago
A quick warm water bath serves a similar purpose while often giving me better results.
- HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
  It was just an example, but since you mentioned it, that perfectly points out what I meant about convenience. I can stick a package of meat in the microwave and hit a couple buttons and then go do something else instead of running water for a few seconds until it heats up, possibly having to fill the sink or a bowl and put the meat in. All of which takes more time and effort for basically the same result.
  - ip26 3y ago
    I find it more convenient to use water because I have to watch the thawing meat in the microwave like a hawk; it’s very easy to cook the edges on accident. The center also stays more frozen. To each their own.
    - HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
      Again, I'm not thawing meat!!! I'm making it easier to remove from the packaging.
- seabass-labrax 3y ago
  If you're patient, you could also use cold water :) It seems to me that time management is a bigger part of food preparation than any specific technique for cutting or cooking.
ralfd 3y ago
I feel like there is a bit of a cultural divide here. Microwaving is here (central europe) not part of food preperation and if it is used stuff is filled into glass containers instead of plastic packaging?
- panzagl 3y ago
  Even for restaurants?
  - coldtea 3y ago
    Yes. If a restaurant microwaves, it would be some horrible place meant for the equivalent of "white trash" or the kind found in tourist traps (which for tourists might be the only kind they ever try, especially if they don't bother much to see where locals eat). There are all kinds of industrial heated plates, continuously running pots on stoves, or always on ovens, etc restaurants use to keep the day's food heated or slightly reheat it.
    - sneak 3y ago
      Please don't speak authoritatively about things of which you are ignorant. Almost every restaurant uses microwaves for some part of food prep. Go work in a kitchen for a bit.
      - coldtea 3y ago
        You'd be surprised of what I'm cognizant. If "almost every restaurant microwaves" in one's area, they should probably move to a better area. Though I'm not sure what you call a restaurant. Does it include fast food "restaurants" for example? Or some 2x-3x the local price tourist trap in places like Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris (say, Montmartre) or the Greek isles?
      - thsksbd 3y ago
        Indeed, the vast majority of restaurants are filthy, terrible over priced eateries where you are gambling your health. Especially after covid.
coldtea 3y ago
>This falls into the category of "the tiny bit of extra safety I may gain is not worth the huge amount of inconvenience that it causes." Could also be "the high adverse effects we pay for with extra cancers, higher inflammation, even lower fertility maybe, but were too preoccupied with some received idea of convenience to notice and attribute to such bad habbits". >Even if I were to stop putting stuff in the microwave, that won't account for all the other foods I eat outside the home that may have had microwaving as part of their preparation process Whether at home or "outside the home", microwaving is just not seen in a good light in most of Europe I know, and is seldom a thing except as a low-class convenience when you're like a student or something. Though most fellow students I knew would never go for it either, and would start to cook simple but proper food themselves after the 2nd year or so.
jimhefferon 3y ago
When I was a kid, secondhand smoke was everywhere. Now it is rare. If people learn, things can change.
- doubled112 3y ago
  Smoking inside public buildings became illegal where I am. Sometimes learning and habit breaking needs a push. Most smokers I know still smoke inside their houses.
  - uoaei 3y ago
    That's probably an age (culture) thing. The smokers I know smoke -- and even vape -- only outside. The oldest one is 48 but they're married to someone a bit younger.
    - 0xcde4c3db 3y ago
      It's an exquisitely fine gradient if one includes enough dimensions. My dad (now in his late '60s) saw the writing on the wall ca. 1990. He still smoked regularly, but realized that both smoke in the house and being seen smoking were bad for his kids. For a few years he made a nightly ritual of going out into the garage to smoke, then quit altogether.

ip26 3y ago

A quick warm water bath serves a similar purpose while often giving me better results.

HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
It was just an example, but since you mentioned it, that perfectly points out what I meant about convenience. I can stick a package of meat in the microwave and hit a couple buttons and then go do something else instead of running water for a few seconds until it heats up, possibly having to fill the sink or a bowl and put the meat in. All of which takes more time and effort for basically the same result.
- ip26 3y ago
  I find it more convenient to use water because I have to watch the thawing meat in the microwave like a hawk; it’s very easy to cook the edges on accident. The center also stays more frozen. To each their own.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
    Again, I'm not thawing meat!!! I'm making it easier to remove from the packaging.
seabass-labrax 3y ago
If you're patient, you could also use cold water :) It seems to me that time management is a bigger part of food preparation than any specific technique for cutting or cooking.

ralfd 3y ago

I feel like there is a bit of a cultural divide here. Microwaving is here (central europe) not part of food preperation and if it is used stuff is filled into glass containers instead of plastic packaging?

panzagl 3y ago
Even for restaurants?
- coldtea 3y ago
  Yes. If a restaurant microwaves, it would be some horrible place meant for the equivalent of "white trash" or the kind found in tourist traps (which for tourists might be the only kind they ever try, especially if they don't bother much to see where locals eat). There are all kinds of industrial heated plates, continuously running pots on stoves, or always on ovens, etc restaurants use to keep the day's food heated or slightly reheat it.
  - sneak 3y ago
    Please don't speak authoritatively about things of which you are ignorant. Almost every restaurant uses microwaves for some part of food prep. Go work in a kitchen for a bit.
    - coldtea 3y ago
      You'd be surprised of what I'm cognizant. If "almost every restaurant microwaves" in one's area, they should probably move to a better area. Though I'm not sure what you call a restaurant. Does it include fast food "restaurants" for example? Or some 2x-3x the local price tourist trap in places like Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris (say, Montmartre) or the Greek isles?
    - thsksbd 3y ago
      Indeed, the vast majority of restaurants are filthy, terrible over priced eateries where you are gambling your health. Especially after covid.

coldtea 3y ago

>This falls into the category of "the tiny bit of extra safety I may gain is not worth the huge amount of inconvenience that it causes." Could also be "the high adverse effects we pay for with extra cancers, higher inflammation, even lower fertility maybe, but were too preoccupied with some received idea of convenience to notice and attribute to such bad habbits". >Even if I were to stop putting stuff in the microwave, that won't account for all the other foods I eat outside the home that may have had microwaving as part of their preparation process Whether at home or "outside the home", microwaving is just not seen in a good light in most of Europe I know, and is seldom a thing except as a low-class convenience when you're like a student or something. Though most fellow students I knew would never go for it either, and would start to cook simple but proper food themselves after the 2nd year or so.

jimhefferon 3y ago

When I was a kid, secondhand smoke was everywhere. Now it is rare. If people learn, things can change.

doubled112 3y ago
Smoking inside public buildings became illegal where I am. Sometimes learning and habit breaking needs a push. Most smokers I know still smoke inside their houses.
- uoaei 3y ago
  That's probably an age (culture) thing. The smokers I know smoke -- and even vape -- only outside. The oldest one is 48 but they're married to someone a bit younger.
  - 0xcde4c3db 3y ago
    It's an exquisitely fine gradient if one includes enough dimensions. My dad (now in his late '60s) saw the writing on the wall ca. 1990. He still smoked regularly, but realized that both smoke in the house and being seen smoking were bad for his kids. For a few years he made a nightly ritual of going out into the garage to smoke, then quit altogether.