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The microwave was my mom’s favorite go-to kitchen appliance when we were growing up. We used it several times a day to heat up stuff like frozen burritos, leftovers, canned veggies, and water for tea.

I always felt a sense of dread in my belly when using the microwave, because nothing that came out of it ever tasted good. I’ve never understood how people can devour leftover pizza after heating it in the microwave, which turns it into soft, floppy goo. Why would you want that?

It wasn’t until years later as an adult that I finally learned about how terrible microwaves are for your food and nutrition.

What Does the Science Say?

When I first got into naturopathy many years ago, lots of people in the natural health circle swore against using microwaves, saying it destroyed nutrients in food. I was skeptical at first—who wouldn’t be, if you grew up eating microwaved food? Then, I started digging into it.

One of the first articles I found was this one on Natural News (I’m honestly surprised it still exists)—it explains how microwaves practically zap all the vitamins and antioxidants from your food, and it’s backed by several studies. Natural News has a reputation for being a conspiracy theory website, because it DOES feature some weird, far-out content, including bogus conspiracy theories. But it features lots of legitimate content, too—you just have to use discretion and common sense when weeding through it.

Multiple studies also say that microwaves rearrange the molecular structure of your food—that’s true of any cooking method. But microwaves do it in a way that makes the food taste gross.

A major difference between today and when I originally wrote this blog: nearly every article I originally referenced advising AGAINST using the microwave for health reasons has been deleted or censored. These articles no longer exist and their links are all broken. In their place are numerous results supporting the use of microwaves—some even going so far to say they do a “better job” at preserving vitamins in foods than other cooking methods.

My gut tells me something is off about that.

Microwaves & Obesity—Where Does the U.S. Rank?

More than 96% of U.S. households own a microwave. In 2023, the U.S. was the leading importer of microwave ovens in the entire world.

More interesting facts:

• Around 45% of Americans are deficient in essential vitamins—including vitamins A, C, D, E, and zinc.
• Around 74% of American adults are overweight or obese. Overweight means having a BMI between 25 and 29.9.
• Around 25% of American adults are specifically obese. Obese means having a BMI of 30 or higher.

I’m not saying microwaves are to blame for these statistics, or that it’s a cause-and-effect situation. But microwaves could certainly play a role in these numbers, don’t you think? Why rule it out entirely?

They Don’t Say “Nuke It” For Nothing…

So, if microwaves are so great for you, why do people use the term “nuke” when cooking food in them? The definition of nuke is literally “to attack or destroy” something. Why would you want to do that to your food?

And also, if microwaved food is beneficial, why does it taste so bad? Why do I feel dread in my belly before using one? It’s like Occam’s razor. The simplest explanation—it’s probably not great for you. When it comes to microwaves, my gut tells me they’re bad.

I haven’t used a microwave in nearly 20 years. I don’t miss it, and neither does my family. Pizza tastes way better reheated in the toaster oven, by the way. The fancier toaster ovens even come with a dedicated pizza drawer!

Healthier Cooking Techniques To Try Instead

According to the American Heart Association, the best cooking methods are:

• Baking
• Blanching
• Braising
• Broiling
• Grilling
• Poaching
• Roasting
• Sautéing
• Steaming
• Stir-frying

There is absolutely no mention of a microwave anywhere. There’s also no mention of boiling—another cooking method that destroys nutrients.

If you typically prefer microwaves for convenience, consider looking into other appliances that are just as convenient, and that can make your food taste far better. Invest in a quality all-in-one pressure cooker, toaster oven, and/or air fryer—these are all good picks that are fun and user-friendly. The newer Instant Pots also include the air fryer attachment!

What is your stance on microwaves? Do you love them or hate them? I’m genuinely interested in hearing what you have to say.