Microwaves...

[Ashling]

Just wondering- if you wanted to clean a food/ water bowl to make sure that no bacteria was left alive, couldn't you put it in a microwave for a few minutes? I was thinking this since microwaves vibrate particles which creates heat (correct me if I'm wrong, I am only guessing this) and since this vibrates water particles and every living thing contains water- wouldn't this surely kill every single microorganism living in the bowl?

A plastic bowl, not a metal bowl, of course!

[nmrspindoc]

No, because some bacteria form endospores. Endospores form when conditions are poor. When conditions are right again, bam! The bacteria come back to life.

Although I do not know for a fact that microwaving will not disrupt that process. It might. But I suspect it's not enough.

[nmrspindoc]

No, because some bacteria form endospores. Endospores form when conditions are poor. When conditions are right again, bam! The bacteria come back to life.

Although I do not know for a fact that microwaving will not disrupt that process. It might. But I suspect it's not enough.

[Ashling]

Very good point! I didn't think of endospores. Although why would chemical things like detergent and vinegar effect endospores but heat (or micro-waves) would not? Aren't the enzymes denatured by all of these factors? I just thought it could be something to do on top of soaking in boiling water and scrubbing with white vinegar ;)

[CRToon83]

Microwaves aren't technically "heat". 99.x% of all living organisms will die between 140-160 degrees F. Since microwaves are going to vibrate whatever is in it, not actually produce a straight heat source (as an oven will), it may not disinfect.

[birde]

Call me crazy but isn't putting bowls and things in the microwave to clean them a little OTT? Whats wrong with scrubbing them properly..

[Lori~D]

Read your Microwaves instructions and I do believe that putting empty containers in is a bad thing (for the Microwave). You could boil them in the microwave though if you think it is nec.

[MissV]

From what I know about heat sanitizing...a microwave would take a very long time to get something up to that temperature. The oven is a better choice if that's what you want to do.

[Newticus]

I may be wrong but I think detergents and cleaning agents are able to break the endospores because of the general type of casings bacteria use. Detergents and cleaning agents can work quickly by messing with the endospore at a molecular level (detaching ions, reforming bonds etc) Heating may take longer to affect their protective shell. I did this study in university biology were we looked at gram negative and gram positive bacterial and looked at how different agents affected the different bacteria in turn. Not all agents were good at killing both gram- and gram+ bacteria.
sorry, interesting point, I guess
People use things like autoclaves which use heat to kill all organisims. I am not too sure how an autoclave works, unless it's like an oven, but maybe it uses microwave technology.

Melanie

[LovelySydney]

I dont think I would use a microwave as a bacteria killer, it just doesn't seem like it would do the trick like bleach water would.