From the article:

But for the general public, the implications of the study are simpler. “A microwave is not a pure, pristine place,” Porcar says. It’s also not a pathogenic reservoir to be feared, he says. But he does recommend cleaning your kitchen microwave often — just as often as you would scrub your kitchen surfaces to eliminate potential bacteria.

  • reddig33@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    How does bacteria live through being microwaved? I would think they’d boil from the inside out.

    • Nutteman@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      If you’re reading this I am in dire straights, possibly dead. I woke up this morning to find my microwave is bursting with tardigrades. I have left it cooking nonstop for 13 consecutive days and they’ve only gotten more pissed off. I’ve welded their every possible exit from the machine shut, but I fear they are beginning to chew their way out. If you’re reading this, tell the government they need to drone strike my location immediately, possibly nuke it. The world is not prepared for what is inside my microwave.

  • Shawdow194@kbin.run
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    3 months ago

    That makes sense that some degree of bacteria survives - even if its minuscule. Like how any disinfectant is only 99.9% effective

    Imagine how tough the surviving organisms are to be able to survive that…

  • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    No the fuck it does not. I’m one of those people that actually cleans theirs. Seeing any kind of spill in the microwave, or stuff on the walls, grosses me out.

    • Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de
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      3 months ago

      this isnt about spills. the point is that microwaves arent self-cleaning on a microbial level. even if your microwaves looks prestine, it could still house a lot of bacteria that are capable of surviving radiation.

      • ericjmorey@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Seems like it’s pretty much like any other surface in your kitchen, it requires regular cleaning.

        • acosmichippo@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          it’s like any other surface anywhere - even if you clean it regularly it will still have bacteria on it. but the thing is most bacteria are not harmful.

    • Shard@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Don’t use antibacterial cleaners for general cleaning. Especially not hand soap. All you’re doing is breeding a master race of resistant bacteria in your home.

      • catloaf@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Yes. Use plain non-antibacterial soap. Or bleach if you want something stronger.