Disinfection function of microwave oven

Problem description:

What is the correct method and time to sterilize tableware, gauze, cotton swabs and food in microwave oven?

Analysis:

After residents in Beijing, Guangzhou and other places were infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis by eating Pomacea canaliculata one after another, Hang Cheng merchants quietly launched the brand of "healthy household appliances". The efficacy of microwave sterilization is described as magic by merchants in selling. Promoters told consumers that when steaming food, "light wave sterilization", "microwave sterilization" and "ultraviolet sterilization" would kill 99.999% of bacteria, including parasites in seafood. Experts related to national quality inspection pointed out: the main function of microwave oven is cooking, so consumers should be careful when disinfecting with microwave oven.

Market research:

"Sterilization" microwave oven is the most popular.

Yesterday, the reporter visited some appliance stores in Hang Cheng and found that many brands of microwave ovens were sold under the slogan of "sterilization and disinfection". According to the promoters of various brands, these microwave ovens with the slogan of "sterilization and disinfection" sell best.

In an electrical appliance store on Tao Qiu Road, some famous brands of microwave ovens are also sold in the same area. A brand of microwave oven advertisement is the most eye-catching, highlighting the "three-effect sterilization" function of steam violet light. The price of microwave oven with purple shimmer is 600-800 yuan, and the one without this function costs more than 300 yuan, which is twice as expensive. Some brands have also introduced microwave sterilization and light wave sterilization.

In another appliance store, the promoter recommended a microwave oven of 1200 yuan, which has no turntable and is said to be the latest model. This product is also advertised as "steam purple light". The promoter said that this product has multiple sterilization combinations of ultraviolet light, light wave and microwave, which gives full play to the advantages of ultraviolet light without heating up, no pollution, strong microwave penetration, no dead angle in sterilization, instant high temperature of light wave and high efficiency, and can effectively kill a variety of biological germs. Such as shellfish, hard shell seafood, etc. , can effectively kill 99.999% of the hidden parasites.

Consumer:

Commonly used microwave sterilization

In fact, as early as the SARS period, microwave ovens were particularly popular, and the saying that they could be used to disinfect masks was very popular. At that time, most consumers bought microwave ovens not for cooking in the kitchen, but for their sterilization function. Subsequently, some manufacturers also began to emphasize the concept of "sterilization and disinfection" in promotion.

Nowadays, consumers pay more and more attention to the quality of life and healthy nutrition, and at the same time, various microwave ovens are also difficult to compete in the functions of burning, roasting and steaming. Therefore, it is based on marketing selling points and consumer psychology that merchants play the "sterilization and disinfection" card when selling microwave ovens.

Some consumers told reporters that if the temperature reaches 120 degrees Celsius, ordinary bacteria can be killed, so microwave ovens are often used to disinfect towels and tableware. Some consumers said that in order not to be infected by germs, children's clothes are often disinfected by microwave ovens.

Experts remind:

Be careful to sterilize in microwave oven.

According to the Technical Specification for Disinfection issued by the Ministry of Health in 2002, in the sterilization test, if the product can kill more than 90% of the indicator bacteria within the specified time, it can be considered as having sterilization function; Disinfection refers to the process of killing or removing pathogenic microorganisms in the medium and realizing harmless treatment. Under laboratory conditions, it can kill more than 99.9% to 99.999% of the index microorganisms within a specified time, so it can be considered as having disinfection function.

Experts from the Institute of Environment and Health Products Safety of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that although the microwave oven has certain sterilization effect in the process of heating food utensils, its main function is cooking food after all. Moreover, there are many kinds of microwave ovens, and the heating power and other specifications are not the same. How long does it take for microwave sterilization to achieve the desired effect? There is no scientific conclusion, and there is no guarantee that viruses and bacteria will be killed.

Bing Qi, deputy director of the laboratory of the National Household Appliance Quality Inspection Center, said that microwaves can only produce high heat in an environment with a lot of water. In a dry environment without water or a small amount of water, it will not only produce high heat, but also destroy articles. Therefore, empty and dry tableware can't be sterilized in the microwave for a few minutes. In addition, the metal will reflect the microwave, destroy the microwave vibration performance of the cavity, produce sparks to damage the magnetron, and even cause hidden dangers such as fire and explosion. Therefore, the stainless steel tableware widely used now cannot be used in the microwave oven, nor should it be put in for disinfection.