Well, Martha...you better get out that microwave!

My old literary agent used to call me the middle class Martha Stewart with a microwave. I guess years ago Martha may have poo poo-ed the use of microwaves. I, of course, have embraced them. I'm for anything that makes cooking easier for the average home chef.

I thought of Martha while reading about how the microwave kills more germs (including the infamous E. coli) in sponges and scrubbing pads because it is able to get to higher temperatures. Two minutes on full power in the zapper is all it took to decontaminate them.

I'm very germ phobic (the curse of knowing too much) so you won't even find a sponge to save your life in my kitchen. I use a plastic brush only when absolutely necessary and I clean my counter tops with an antibacterial cleaner and a paper or cloth towel. I know, I know, I'm using up paper towels but believe you me, I recycle just about everything possible in my kitchen so I should get a couple extra points for that.

If you are a sponge person, keep this in mind before you start zapping them in the microwave:

* Make sure your sponges or scrubbers do not contain steel or other metals
* The sponge or scrubber should be a little wet (it's the hot water within the sponge that helps kill the germs)
* Be extra careful when you take the sponge or scrubber out of the microwave because if it's hot enough to kill 99% of germs, it's going to be hot enough to burn you. Handle it carefully!

~~Elaine

Related Topics: Protecting Your Family From e.Coli, Germs in the Kitchen

Technorati Tags: kitchen, germs, cleaning, sponges