What is the nutritional content of food cooked in the microwave?

Answer 1

The microwave as a cooking instrument does nothing to change the nutritional value of food that isn't changed by cooking using another method. Microwaves themselves don't affect food's "worth" but the heat generated can make some modifications. It's the heat and not the heat source that may be liable for changing food's nutritional value. There is a solid group of folks who decry cooking as "damaging" to food and eat everything raw. For the rest of us, there is good news. Cooking doesn't strip food of all its nutritional value. Yes, some things are broken down during cooking (due to heat and not at all to the microwaves themselves). High heat and overcooking will take things (like water soluble proteins) out of food, but not all of them. Can the dish take a 20% cut in some of these more heat sensitive nutrients? And what is a cook doing overcooking stuff? Managing the addition of ingredients so that tender vegetables are added last and cooked gently is part of good cooking practice. Oh, and let's not forget that there are some foods that actually increase in nutritional value when prepared by cooking. Cooking breaks down some food in ways that our body can't or doesn't have time to do. No offense to the all-raw-food-all-the-time crowd, but their bodies are not getting to some things that are available to the rest of us. In fairness to the no-cooking types, we should be eating a good serving of raw vegetables regularly. No wise person or nutritionist would ever suggest anything different. Regardless of your food and food preparation choices, best wishes. Bon appétit!