If you haven’t sterilized your microwave in a while, you may need to sterilize it. A new study suggests these kitchen utensils may contain some of the most resilient microorganisms ever discovered.
Researchers examined 30 microwave ovens and found nearly 750 different species of bacteria in the appliances, including some you don’t want on your food or fingers.
“Some species of the genus found in household microwave ovens, e.g. Klebsiella, Enterococcus and AeromonasDaniel Torrent, a researcher at Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL who was involved in the study, said: “It is important to note, however, that there is no unique or increased microbiota found in microwave ovens compared to other common kitchen surfaces. risk.”
KlebsiellaFor example, one type of bacteria commonly found in human feces can cause pneumonia and blood infections in humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, adding that it is “increasingly resistant to antibiotics.” Enterococcus and Aeromonas Equally worrying.
It seems counterintuitive that anything could survive a microwave, which heats food through radiation. Microwaves are a type of non-ionizing radiation, which means they lack the energy to change cells and atoms, and are not believed to be dangerous to humans at the levels found in kitchen microwaves. According to the FDA, while placing food in the microwave for the appropriate amount of time does kill microorganisms, this is due to the heat produced, not the radiation itself.
Not all microwaves contain the same type of microbiome. Instead, they take on some of the microscopic features of the surrounding area. The study found that microwaves in shared spaces or single-family kitchens contained different and less diverse bacteria than microwaves in the laboratory.
“Our results suggest that home microwaves have a more ‘artificial’ microbiome, similar to kitchen surfaces, while laboratory microwaves harbor bacteria that are more resistant to radiation,” Torrent said.
Although the microbiomes of laboratory microwaves are different from those of domestic microwaves, they are similar to the microbiomes on solar panels. The researchers speculate that 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 all of this makes you not want to nuke frozen chicken pot pie for dinner, don’t worry. Torrent recommends cleaning your personal kitchen germ farm regularly with diluted bleach or disinfectant spray and cleaning up any messes quickly to prevent bacterial growth.
