Hardy Bacteria Are Living in Your Microwave

They are ubiquitous in households because they make reheating food a breeze, but microwaves can be tantamount to a petri dish. According to research published in Frontiers in Microbiology, everyone’s favorite appliance is typically a habitat for hundreds of different kinds of bacteria. Scientists from Spain gleaned microbial samples from 30 different microwaves, including those from single household kitchens, corporate centers and cafeterias, and discovered that 747 different genera or groups of bacteria were detected in the nuke boxes with some of the most hardy ones being resistant to radiation and potentially posing a health risk. However, the researchers stress that the microbial population found in microwaves does not present a unique or increased risk compared to other common kitchen surfaces such as countertops since these areas often have a similar microbiome. So a food-borne illness does not appear to be more likely to occur from a microwave than from other areas of the kitchen. The take-home message is that it’s a good idea to regularly disinfect microwaves with a diluted bleach solution or a disinfectant spray. And while you’re at it do the same for your kitchen counters and oven.