Can Microwaves Kill Salmonella? (How to AVOID Getting Sick!)

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Salmonella is a very dangerous bacteria that can cause food poisoning and other illnesses.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that salmonella causes about 1.35 million cases of foodborne illness every year in the United States, resulting in about 420 deaths.

If you are concerned about salmonella in your food, you may want to consider using a microwave to kill it before you consume it.

This is not only an effective way to kill salmonella, but it’s also a quick and easy process that doesn’t require any special equipment or preparation beforehand.

Just a disclaimer: If you suspect your food to be exposed to salmonella, it’s best to just throw it away. This article is mainly for informational and entertainment purposes and while the information here may be useful, it is not at all guaranteed that following it will free your food from salmonella.

What is salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.

Salmonella can be found in raw eggs, poultry, and meat. It is important to cook eggs and meat to the proper temperature to kill the bacteria.

Do microwaves kill salmonella?

A microwave is a handy tool for cooking and reheating food. But does it kill bacteria?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, microwaves do not kill all bacteria, but they can heat food to the point where bacteria are no longer active.
Salmonella is a food-borne pathogen that can survive in microwaves.

However, it can be killed by heating it to 131 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour, 140 degrees Fahrenheit for a half-hour, or by heating it to 167 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

Salmonella is almost instantly killed when exposed to over 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heat level and time are both factors in the equation for killing microorganisms.

How does microwaving kill salmonella?

Salmonella is a terrible bacteria that can cause all sorts of issues for the gut and for the stomach.

The microwave itself does not kill the bacteria that are hiding in your food and potentially causes digestion issues.

Potentially, the exciting water molecules both around the food and within the bacterium will cause salmonella to lyse.

However, the only thing. for sure, that is going to kill bacteria is to use heat to do so.

If you are using a microwave in an effort to ensure you are killing bacteria, you do need to make sure you are heating the food to the right temperature and for the right length of time.

You need to heat the food to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least a few seconds.

How do you kill salmonella in food with microwaves?

If you are microwaving food you do want to follow a few tips:

Make sure the food is heated to a high enough temperature. You can do this by using a thermometer to see what the internal temperature of the food is and to ensure that it is hot enough.
You also want to make sure the food has been heated for a long enough period of time. It only takes a few seconds, but those seconds are important.
Microwaves are prone to creating hot and cold spots. You need to make sure you flip your food or mix it up at least once during the microwaving process so that heat is evenly distributed.
Make sure the microwave is clean – microwaves can harbor bacteria for weeks, and you do need to make sure you clean your microwave often to get rid of the bacteria.

What is the right temperature to microwave and kill salmonella?

In order to fully kill salmonella bacteria, you need to get the food up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

In order to get your food to that temperature in a microwave, it can take up to three minutes to reach that temperature on high.

You do want to make sure you are heating your foot enough when you do try to kill off bacteria in your microwave.

Food that is contaminated with salmonella can cause all sorts of health issues for those that eat it. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sweats, body aches, and even dehydration if you do not eat or drink enough while you are suffering from salmonella poisoning.

It is not the same as food poisoning, and it can also be severe in older and younger people.

How long to microwave to kill salmonella?

If you are microwaving with the specific intent to kill salmonella, you do need to microwave for long enough based on your microwave.

Each microwave is different, and you do need to take the time to consider that the temperature or time setting on one microwave, may not be the same as another.

Take the time to either microwave longer than you might imagine, or to get a thermometer so that you can check the internal temperature of the food and ensure that it has reached the right temp to kill the salmonella.

Tips for when killing salmonella with a microwave

Microwaving can cause salmonella to grow and breed if you are not microwaving properly and if you are not taking care to ensure you are heating food properly for the full amount of time.

Make sure you follow the instructions that are provided for the food that you are heating and for the microwave itself. If the food says that it needs to be stirred, make sure you stir it. If it needs to be rotated, make sure you do so, and so on. The reheating instructions are necessary and were created to help ensure the safety of the food after it is reheated.
Make sure you are using a food thermometer to ensure that the food is as hot as it needs to be to kill off the salmonella.
Clean your microwave often to make sure it is not harboring bacteria and that it is not holding onto any bacteria that might have been off of other foods that you have cooked.
Make sure to check for cross-contamination. If you are eating meat, for example, you want to ensure that it is either fully cooked before it is heated with other foods, or that you are cooking the meat and anything else separately.
If you know that food is contaminated, do not try to kill the salmonella, just throw it away. Though you might be able to kill the salmonella that is on the food, you may also just spread it. If you are aware of a recall or contamination, you may very well need to just dispose of the food.

How can I prevent salmonella poisoning?

Cooking eggs at the right temperature is the best way to prevent salmonella poisoning.

Eggs should be cooked until the whites and yolks are firm and should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Eggs are usually cooked when they achieve an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are the symptoms of salmonella?

Salmonella enterica is a bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

Salmonella is a common foodborne illness that can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.

Most cases of salmonella last 4 to 7 days and resolve without treatment. However, some people may develop serious complications, including bloodstream infections and meningitis.

The most common symptoms of salmonella include:

diarrhea
fever (usually low grade)
abdominal cramps
nausea

What should I do if I think I have salmonella poisoning?

If you think you have salmonella poisoning, the best thing to do is call your doctor.

Salmonella is a common cause of food poisoning and can be treated with antibiotics.

If you think you might have been exposed to salmonella, tell your doctor whether or not you experienced any symptoms—such as diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and nausea—and when they started.

If you suspect that someone else in your family may have salmonella poisoning, talk to their doctor right away.

It’s important to get tested so that any other people who were exposed can receive treatment as soon as possible.

What are the long-term effects of salmonella poisoning?

Salmonella poisoning can be quite serious, especially if you’re a child. It can lead to long-term health issues and even death.

The first symptoms of salmonella poisoning are fever, nausea, vomiting, and cramps.

These symptoms may last from three to seven days. If you’re able to recover from these symptoms within a few days, you’ll likely be fine.

However, about 10% of people who contract Salmonella have complications that can last for months or years after their initial infection.

There are many long-term effects of salmonella poisoning that affect your digestive system and other parts of your body.

Some examples of long-term salmonella poisoning include:

Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Long-term diarrhea
Kidney failure
Liver damage

Do microwaving eggs kill salmonella?

Yes, microwaving eggs can kill salmonella. Eggs need to be heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the bacteria.

Microwaves can heat eggs to this temperature in a matter of seconds.

It is important to make sure that eggs are cooked all the way through, not just the whites. The yolks of eggs can also harbor bacteria.

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