If you microwave leftover egg shells is the salmonella dead on the shells
I don't have any pictures. If you microwave leftover egg shells is the salmonella strain killed or not?
Best Answer
Yes or no - it depends.
We need to look at the question from two different angles.
Microwaves don't kill pathogens, they create heat that can kill pathogens.
While it seems basically the same, the important difference is that microwaves heat water, not dry substances. If your egshells are dry, you can microwave them for a long time and they will remain cool. Now add to this the fact that while many salmonella bacteria die after a few hours on dry surfaces, some go into a "hibernating" form that remains viable for weeks, your microwaved dry shells remain mostly unchanged with regards to their infectious potential.Microwaves do not heat evenly.
Microwaves are notorious for heating unevenly. They can create hot spots and cool spots during normal use. The former is one of the reasons why baby food manufacturers typically discourage parents to warm baby food in the microwave, the latter is actually linked to various salmonella outbreaks when users heated chicken meat or other leftovers in the microwave without making sure adequate temperatures were reached. [1], [2], [3]
So the conclusion:
You need to make sure there is enough water and enough time involved to kill your salmonella in a microwave. Consider the techniques used for pacifiers and similar baby items: A closed, microwave-safe container and a few tablespoons of water to generate plenty of steam, a minimum time of three minutes once the water boils. What's considered safe for a newborn should suffice for your eggshells, too.
Personally would probably dump the shells in a pot of boiling water instead, if I wanted to be very sure. Or pop them in a hot oven after using it anyway, e.g. after baking bread or cake.
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Now add to this the fact that while many salmonella bacteria die after a few hours on dry surfaces, some go into a "hibernating" form that remains viable for weeks, your microwaved dry shells remain mostly unchanged with regards to their infectious potential.Can salmonella survive microwave?
Microwaves do not kill bacteria, heat kills bacteria. The higher the temperature, the faster those bacteria will die off. "Instant death" for most bacteria (including salmonella) is about 160\xb0 F (71\xb0 C). You only need a few seconds at this temperature.What happens if you microwave eggshells?
You must break the eggs out of their shells before microwaving. Never microwave eggs in shells. If you cook an egg in shell in the microwave, it's likely to explode. Microwaves heat so quickly that steam builds up faster than an egg can 'exhale' it through its pores and the steam bursts through the shell.Can you microwave egg shells to sterilize them?
Preparation: It is probably a good idea to sterilize chicken eggshells first, in case they are contaminated with bacteria. They will also break up more easily if dried. You can do it in the oven or microwave. Don't overcook them, as they will turn brown and smell like burnt popcorn.Can you get salmonella from egg shell?
Salmonella can get on the shells of eggs when birds lay eggs or when the eggs touch bird droppings (poop) after being laid. This is not a problem for commercial eggs (for example, eggs you buy at the grocery store) because companies wash eggs before they reach stores.xQc Saying Things
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Answer 2
The actual micro-waves only really interact with the water content in objects. So unless your shells are wet your microwave is not going to interact with egg shells in any meaningful way. That is why the same technology is used on an industrial scale in lumber yards to control the moisture content in wood.
It is also why you get uneven heated food when microwaves are used to heat food with uneven moisture distribution, I believe that to be the case with doughnuts (whether doughnuts are eaten hot or not).
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