HUMAN NUTRITION

Detailed explanation-1: -Is it safe to defrost food in the microwave? Yes. Using your microwave to defrost food is safe, but you must cook the food immediately after it’s done defrosting. If food is allowed to sit much longer than the appropriate defrost time of 8 to 10 minutes per pound, harmful bacteria could begin to grow.

Detailed explanation-2: -Set your microwave to a lower power setting, e.g. 30-35%, if you want to defrost large food items, especially meat. For smaller loose items, e.g. vegetables, set at 45-50%. Press start and defrost your food for 1-2 minute increments (or longer for larger pieces), checking it is defrosting evenly.

Detailed explanation-3: -When microwaving, leave about 2 inches between the food and the inside surface of the microwave to allow heat to circulate properly. Cover food to produce moist heat which helps destroy harmful bacteria. It’s important to stir, turn or rotate the food half-way during the cooking process to get rid of any cold spots.