Should baby food be heated in the microwave?

Warming food in the microwave is a habit of many people, but when a family welcomes a new member, this habit can make many people wonder.

Many people think that heating food in the microwave destroys the nutrients found in the food. Although this is not entirely true, if you have a small baby in your family, you will wonder a lot about it. Should baby food be heated in the microwave? Please see the following shares of aFamilyToday Health to get the answer to this problem.

Should baby food be warmed in the microwave?

After undergoing cooling or reheating, all foods experience changes in their physical properties, chemical structure, and nutritional ingredients. This is the main reason that makes mothers wonder if they should use the microwave to warm baby food. There is currently no research to prove that heating food in the microwave can harm your baby's health. However, if you intend to warm food with microwaves, you need to know some risks and important precautions to ensure the health of your baby.

Risks when heating baby food in the microwave

Here are some risks that can be encountered when heating baby food in the microwave:

The microwave heats food unevenly. The temperature in some parts can be moderately hot, while in others it will be very hot. So after warming, if not carefully checked before feeding the baby , the baby may burn .

If you store food that needs to be heated in cheap plastic containers, when reheated, these plastic containers will produce a lot of toxic substances that can adversely affect your baby's health.

The radiation emitted during cooking or reheating food in the microwave can cause serious health problems.

Be careful when using the microwave to warm baby food

Here are some things that parents need to do when using the microwave to warm baby food:

Use a microwave-safe container or a heat-resistant glass box to warm food. Avoid using plastic containers.

Cover food with a glass lid while reheating to drain.

Make sure the temperature is hot enough to kill all bacteria and avoid poisoning .

Do not heat food while you are busy doing chores to avoid burning food.

After reheating, you need to transfer the food to another bowl or bowl (cup), stir, let cool to avoid burns.

Tell you some safety tips when heating baby food in the microwave

The most common question that most mothers wonder is is it possible to warm infant formula in the microwave? The answer is yes if you store milk in a bottle made from safe material. Also, remember to heat it up for no more than 10-15 seconds. Before giving your baby a drink, shake well and check carefully to avoid overheating of milk that can cause your baby to burn:

Always use a safe food container when heating baby food to avoid health problems.

Absolutely do not use the dishes with many patterns, with iron or metal edges to put into the microwave because it can generate toxins or even cause an accident in the microwave.

A cooking mode should be selected before using the microwave. Attached is the amount of time it takes to cook the food. Never boil eggs in the microwave as they will explode.

Read and follow the instructions for the microwave oven to avoid any risks.

The amount of nutrients lost during microwave cooking depends on the type of food. Some are better preserved than steamed (boiled) but others lose a lot of nutrients, such as broccoli (broccoli), which loses most of its nutrients if cooked in the microwave. . Therefore, while preparing these foods, you should cook with gas stove, electric stove instead of using the microwave.

When food is reheated, the temperature is high on the edges and low in the middle. Therefore, you need to stir the hot food evenly.

Always stir and check the temperature of food before feeding to avoid burns.

Remember to only reheat baby food once, do not reheat many times because food is easily contaminated with bacteria that cause poisoning.

To defrost food, you need to set the microwave on the defrost mode for 30 - 40 seconds.

After thawing, heat immediately for about 5 - 15 seconds otherwise bacteria will begin to thrive.

Set aside hot foods until the temperature is right for your baby.

How to heat milk in the microwave

Frozen breastmilk or cooled formula needs to be warmed up before feeding your baby. Milk can be heated in a pot of water on the stove or dropped in a bowl of warm water. For quicker and more convenience, you can use the microwave:

First of all, you need to pour the milk into a plastic (glass, microwave safe) bottle. Remove all teat caps and caps, if present.

Put the bottle in the microwave and turn on the oven for 20 seconds. Stir or shake the bottle to disperse the heat throughout the bottle. After warming, you put 2-3 drops of milk on your wrist to check the temperature of the milk, the milk is slightly warm.

If necessary, reheat the milk again, for 10 seconds, until you feel it is the right temperature. If you check that the milk is too hot, cool it down by soaking the bottle in a bowl of warm water.

When feeding your baby, shake the bottle well before feeding. Microwave warmed milk is usually very hot on the inside, while the outside seems to be cool.

When heating milk or anything baby food in the microwave, cover it tightly and press the go button. Liquids such as milk, thin porridge ... when reheated in the microwave must also be stored in cans with wide mouth, airy surface, lower liquid in storage to avoid cracking.

Do not use a microwave to heat breastmilk as this will lead to the loss of vitamins and minerals in the milk. To warm breastmilk in a bottle, just soak the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Do not use the microwave to disinfect baby bottles.

Although there are no studies proving that food being heated in the microwave is harmful to your baby's health, it's best not to overdo it.