If you haven’t sanitized your microwave in a while, now is the time to do it. According to new research, this kitchen appliance may harbor some of the most resilient microbes ever discovered.
Researchers examined 30 microwave ovens and found they were home to nearly 750 different types of bacteria, including some you shouldn’t be getting on your food or fingers.
“Some of the species found in household microwave ovens include: Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Aeromonas“It could pose a risk to human health,” said Daniel Torrent, a researcher at Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL. study“It is important to note, however, that the microbial communities found in microwave ovens do not present a unique or increased risk compared to other common kitchen surfaces.”
KlebsiellaFor example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says bacteria commonly found in human stool can cause pneumonia and blood infections in humans, adding that “resistance to antibiotics is increasing.” Enterococcus and Aeromonas This is equally concerning.
Microwaves heat food by emitting radiation, so it may seem counterintuitive that anything could survive in a microwave. Microwaves heat food by emitting radiation. non-ionizing radiationThat is, the energy is not enough to change cells and atoms, and the levels found in kitchen microwaves are not considered dangerous to humans. Microorganisms are killed when food is placed in the microwave for an appropriate amount of time, but Ministry of Food and Drug SafetyThis is not due to the radiation itself, but rather to the heat it generates.
Not all microwaves harbor the same types of microbial communities. Rather, they adopt some of the subtle characteristics of their surroundings. The study found that microwaves in shared spaces or single-family home kitchens harbored different and less diverse bacteria than those in the lab.
“Our results show that home microwaves harbor a more ‘humanized’ microbiome, similar to kitchen surfaces, whereas laboratory microwaves harbor bacteria that are more radiation-resistant,” Torrent said.
Laboratory microwaves have different microbial communities than home microwaves, but they are similar to solar panels. The researchers theorize that the conditions in both environments, such as the presence of electromagnetic radiation and constant changes in heat, mean that only the hardiest bacterial species can survive.
If that’s all that’s keeping you from cooking up a frozen chicken pie for dinner, don’t worry: Torrent recommends regularly cleaning your personal kitchen bacteria farm with diluted bleach or a disinfectant spray, and cleaning up messes quickly to prevent bacterial growth.
