Blanching in the Microwave

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by Motomom34, Jan 15, 2016.

  1. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    I was reading a dehydrating book and they said the best way to blanch vegetables was in the microwave. The reasoning was that it was the quickest, easiest way. I have never cooked a vegetable in the microwave except for a potato but I have always heard that the microwave changes the food content. Has anyone ever blanched in the microwave?

    I read one article that said it would dry the vegetable out but if you are planning on dehydrating that would be a step in the same direction. I know you shouldn't make tea in the microwave because the nuker kills the herbal properties. I would assume that it would do the same to vegetables.
    pearlselby, stg58, AD1 and 2 others like this.
  2. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    For further information concerning the effect on nutritional value of food prepared by microwave cooking....Microwave cooking and nutrition - Harvard Health
  3. UncleMorgan

    UncleMorgan I eat vegetables. My friends are not vegetables.

    I hate to say it, but a tremendous amount of research has been done that indicates that microwaves should not be used for any form of cooking at all. Even boiling water in a microwave produces a witch's brew of undesirable chemicals. Much of this research (but not all) originates in Russia, where civilian ownership of "consumer" microwaves is forbidden by law.

    I don't have any footnotes handy, except this one I did a quick google on:
    5 Reasons Why Microwave Oven Cooking Is Harming Your Health

    There are, however, many to choose from.
  4. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Yep....Microwave ovens are banned in Russia.....for good reason....Idiots use them as weapons of mass destruction.....

    Russia has it's version of Jackass too it seems....oy vey! :rolleyes:

    Crazy Russian Guy Builds a Gun From a Microwave

    Don't try this at home folks without parental supervision.....:LOL:
    Motomom34, Tully Mars and Brokor like this.
  5. AD1

    AD1 Monkey+++

    Use a steamer to blanch.
    We use are microwave to store pots and pans

    Beside the changing of the food. And god forbid you heat in plastic....

    I bought tri field strength meter and the meter was screaming 8 feet ways from the microwave. We stopped using it
    Motomom34 and Brokor like this.
  6. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    I've heard that Eggs, Butter & Lard are bad for you too...

    Seriously, a lot of what is bad for you in the microwave is the packaging that the microwavable foods are packaged in.
    But if you cook vegetables, if you boil them, you leach out the good stuff, so it is better to Zap them, quicker is better they say.
    Eating food raw is the best for you, look 1 million deer and coyotes can't be wrong.

    But this is about "Blanching" I don't think it's possible to blanch in a microwave, it cooks completely through.

    melbo, Motomom34 and chelloveck like this.
  7. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Thanks for all the info. I read some that said it is okay. One article said only use the nuker for boiling water.... but that is bad also. I do like the convenience of the microwave but since I am planning on dehydrating, I want the most nutrients.
  8. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    I can't believe the nuker is bad for water, I was a microwave radar engineer, I understand what is going on in the oven, it is just very excited H2O molecules. they get hot, they don't change.

    Mo... OMG I bought my wife an Excalibur Dehydrator (OK I bought it for myself).
    I saw her dehydrating my garden tomatoes in the oven, and thought... hmm that's a Christmas gift, it's not exactly a vacuum cleaner...
    OK we've done (Rancher has done) tomatoes, pineapples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, red raspberries. I heard the strawberries were good (she is on a trip), pineapples and bananas are a must have, most of the other berries just are dry berries, suggestions?

    OK I need to know what to do next, she is gone for several weeks.

    Tully Mars, Motomom34 and chelloveck like this.
  9. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    I would do blueberries & raspberries. Plus I am planning on doing peaches next peach season. Have you tried apples? BTW- how was the pineapple? I heard that is really hard to make sure it is done because of the juice content. I know when making fruit roll ups that roll ups that have pineapple still end up sticky.

    I read that you can also dehydrate frozen veggies that you get at your local grocer.
    pearlselby likes this.
  10. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    OK I missed one, we had a flat of Gala Apples from Costco, about 5 were left, if I hadn't dehydrated them they would have been horse food.

    Pineapple is excellent I didn't do it crisp, but leather, very sweet still, apples are good.

    Raspberries are just dry berries same with blues, blacks have a problem with loosing moisture...

    I did oranges yesterday, and today, interesting, dry orange chips.

    I will do Tangerines tomorrow.

  11. pearlselby

    pearlselby Monkey++

    UncleMorgan, I have read the same thing. It made sense. I went back to using my oven for potatoes. I heat water for tea on the stove. I have come to regard the microwave as the enemy. The only thing it is used for is heating frozen dinners and I may change that.
    Brokor likes this.
  12. pearlselby

    pearlselby Monkey++

    I did a lot frozen veggies in the dehydrator. They are very pretty in a jar. I mix them up and vacuum seal them or put them in half gallon mason jars.
    Motomom34 and chelloveck like this.
  13. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    Ahhh, but you are confusing the apples with the oranges, or is that mixing the apples with the oranges.

    Potatoes "taste" better cooked from the outside in, like an oven, tinfoil doesn't matter.

    Hot water from the tea gets more oxygen and copper (or other flavorings) from the tea pot than in a ceramic mug in the zapper.

    It makes sense because microwaves are scary stuff, I worked with a radar tech who had this ugly burn on his face.... I asked what happened, and he said, I was working on the wave-guide when the Chief decided to light off the Klystron.


  14. pearlselby

    pearlselby Monkey++

  15. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Thank you @azrancher for the feedback and info on dehydrating various fruits. I have oranges and grapefruit. I think I will be trying to do a batch tomorrow.
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