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[Ice.Cream]

Use Microwave to Kill Germs

Two minutes in a microwave oven can sterilize most household sponges, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

A team of engineering researchers at the University of Florida found that two minutes of microwaving on full power killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as spores, on a kitchen sponge.

"People often put their sponges and scrubbers in the dishwasher, but if they really want to decontaminate them and not just clean them, they should use the microwave," said Gabriel Bitton, a professor of environmental engineering who led the study.

[Ice.Cream]

Microwave Cooking

Using a microwave to cook your food has its nutritional benefits. More vitamins and minerals are retained with microwave cooking than with many other methods of cooking. This is because microwave cooking requires a shorter cooking time, covered cooking and little to no water. Too much water, surface exposure and overcooking can rob foods of nutrients.

Microwaves are ideal for defrosting frozen food items such as meats, poultry and vegetables. It takes just a few minutes, and is one of the safest methods of defrosting.