New microwave needed?

[Ga3]

Can I use a microwave that has had a lot of gluten containing foods cooked in it thru the years, or do I need a new one?  I've been diagnosed with celiac and g!uten ataxia, and want to do everything I can to help with the reversal of my neurological symptoms which have improved on the gfd

[Ennis-TX]

Eventually maybe, but clean it out real good, use paper towels on the bottom when cooking in it. AND what i do even when at hotels is use Nordic ware grill plates with the over the top splatter cover, the omelette maker, steamer, etc. The microwave cookware is practically disposable at the price if you mess up and is cheaper then replacing all other cookware immediately. Foil line baking dishes, crockpot liners are glorious, butcher/freezer paper is not only great for a clean safe prep area but clean up is a breeze. Oh if your oven has a self clean cycle your in luck 500F+ destroys the gluten protein so you can save cast iron cookware by running it in there.
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/
I know gluten ataxia is a pain the ass, I look at the bright side to it, I do not feel pain...the dropping stuff, and motor loss of glutening for me is very annoying but when gluten free I still have the numbness and I joke about being able to cut myself and just superglue the cut, or pick up a hot pan out of a oven...then smell the burning hair smell and realizing I should probably ice that hand....sort of amusing in a twisted kind of way. I am trying to heal mine by using Bilsberry extract which improves blood flow in capillaries, and heightened amounts of magnesium, B-vitams with Liquid Health Neurological Support and Stress & Energy formulas and the liquid vitamin D. Hoping to see improvement but they day the nerve damage can take years if not decades to heal.

 

[Ga3]

Thank you SO much!

[squirmingitch]

If you wash that microwave inside & out with soap & water, there won't be any problem using it. If gluten is still being used in it, then make sure you cover whatever gluten-free stuff you put in it. 

You DO need a new toaster though.

[ravenwoodglass]

The microwave should be fine as long as it is cleaned out good with soap and water as will be any other cookware you have that doesn't have burned on gluten reside. Do replace your colander or strainers that have been used for pasta. Replace any teflon pans that are heavily scratched as well as plastic cutting boards.  I did get new cookie sheets although I use foil on them it often tears when I remove sticky items.

I had severe ataxia and aphasia that was associated with celiac. It does take some time for the nerves to heal but if mine did anyone's can. I found physical therapy to be quite helpful in helping me regain a normal gait (I dragged one leg) and increasing my balance. The physical therapy helps to retrain the brain perhaps even allowing undamaged parts to take over for the parts that have been impacted. Supplementing with sublingual B12 may help nerves heal faster.

[esteloca]

This is an old post but heat does NOT destroy gluten!

Also unsure about shared microwaves myself because I read that it's not crumbs and splatter etc that we have to worry about but the fan. Microwave heating creates steam, gluten by nature is sticky so that fan (according to the article that also tested food w a Nima or something if I remember correctly-sorry not sry for not hunting it dwn) may contaminate gluten-free food if not covered well enough.

Then it also went so far as to say that even if it's covered you're taking it out w bare hands and it's just not worth risking no matter how slim the chance is that you'll get it (gluten) in your mouth.

I'm still on the fence & Google it every once in awhile bc I'm lazy. I want to stick an Amy's in the microwave and pull it out and eat it. But I haven't used a microwave in about 2yrs. I threw ours away and I'm not buying 2.

So bottom line for me hell no it's not worth it. Maybe once in a hotel w no other option or something but I don't travel so I don't see that happening.

✌️

[kareng]

On 2/14/2020 at 9:40 AM, esteloca said:

This is an old post but heat does NOT destroy gluten!

Also unsure about shared microwaves myself because I read that it's not crumbs and splatter etc that we have to worry about but the fan. Microwave heating creates steam, gluten by nature is sticky so that fan (according to the article that also tested food w a Nima or something if I remember correctly-sorry not sry for not hunting it dwn) may contaminate gluten-free food if not covered well enough.

Then it also went so far as to say that even if it's covered you're taking it out w bare hands and it's just not worth risking no matter how slim the chance is that you'll get it (gluten) in your mouth.

I'm still on the fence & Google it every once in awhile bc I'm lazy. I want to stick an Amy's in the microwave and pull it out and eat it. But I haven't used a microwave in about 2yrs. I threw ours away and I'm not buying 2.

So bottom line for me hell no it's not worth it. Maybe once in a hotel w no other option or something but I don't travel so I don't see that happening.

✌️

Gluten doesn’t come up on steam. No I think the problem would be people who cook stuff that “ explodes” and no one cleans it off.  It could fall in your food.  
 

and you can destroy gluten with fire - but it’s got to be very hot for an extended time period.  
 

 

Edited February 19, 2020 by kareng
Can’t type

[Ennis-TX]

1 hour ago, kareng said:

and you can destroy gluten with fire - but it’s got to be very hot for an extended time period.  
 

 

The humor of microwave explosions and fire trying to hit that 500F to destroy the proteins.

[kareng]

3 minutes ago, Ennis_TX said:

The humor of microwave explosions and fire trying to hit that 500F to destroy the proteins.

I’m thinking a flame thrower?   Think I could get one of those?  ?

[GFinDC]

I haven't had a problem with using our shared microwave.  We do clean it out once in a while if the stalagmites of gluten get too long due to explosions.  But everything is on a plate or in a bowl and that seems to work fine.  Sometimes I'll cover food with a paper towel.

 

[kareng]

53 minutes ago, GFinDC said:

I haven't had a problem with using our shared microwave.  We do clean it out once in a while if the stalagmites of gluten get too long due to explosions.  But everything is on a plate or in a bowl and that seems to work fine.  Sometimes I'll cover food with a paper towel.

 

I am the one that cleans the microwave - I don’t care if the food is gluten-free or not - it gets covered with a paper towel or a small plate - that way , when the chili beans explode - we don’t get stalactites.