Myths and legends

[unixronin]

Everyone knows that microwave-cooked food isn't as nourishing, right?  Because microwaves destroy vitamins?  I've heard that one lots of times, and I'm sure you have too.

Turns out that not only is it not so, but the shoe's on the other foot.  You see, microwaves don't destroy vitamins.  What destroys vitamins is heat, and duration of heat.  Microwave ovens cook food more quickly than traditional cooking methods, and so they actually destroy less of the vitamins.

If you want to destroy the nutritional value of your vegetables, don't microwave them — boil them to mush.  You know, the traditional vegetable-cooking technique.

Comments

[fatcook.livejournal.com]

Which I don't understand. I have several English cookbooks, including "700 years of English Cooking" and I don't see this tendency in any of them.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yes, but people who own cookbooks usually know how to cook. :) Working-class Lancashire or Merseyside families haven't got time for that kind of effete rubbish.

"Grey boiled meat was good enough for great-granddad, and it's bloody well good enough for us!"