Are microwave ovens safe for our food and our families?

Since 90% of American homes have a microwave oven, we must think they're pretty safe. But concerns about radiation linger, as do questions about cooking with plastic. The Hipsters serve up facts and expose fiction about the appliance that's been nuking our nachos for decades! Also, Dori spends big money and Val gets punny.

Beer: We love the bite of an India Pale Ale on a stinkin' hot day, so Red Chair IPA by Deschutes Brewery should have hit the spot. Alas, though it's named after the oldest operating ski lift at Mt. Bachelor, Red Chair only took us up to the bunny hill.

Chocolate: Another middle-of-the-road choice. Rapunzel Swiss Organic Dark Chocolate isn't bad for only 55% cacao, but we wouldn't give up our firstborn for it.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Tea drinkers, this one's for you...the JOEmo Stainless Tea Travel Mug brews your favorite beverage on the go, keeps it hot or cold longer and comes with its own zippered bag. It's ideal for commuters, with an innovative lid that lets you drink from any side. Just push the button in the center of the lid to dispense the tea. Keep your eyes on the road and your tea off your clothes!
• Show me the greenbacks. E Magazine lists some great Green Opportunities for job-seekers. From geeks to globetrotters, there's a career for everyone.

• Off-the-Walmart. The world's largest retailer opened a new can of worms with their latest announcement. They want to establish a global eco-ratings index for all kinds of products. Let the debate begin.
• The reel world. Now that we've all seen Food Inc. - right? - get set for a new film by Robert Stone documenting the history of Earth Days, coming soon. In the meantime, watch the latest doc by our friend Gerard Ungerman; it's called Belonging.

A quick tip from Real Simple magazine: turn a muffin tin upside down and use it for a cooling rack! You could set a hot pie or casserole on it and let the heat flow out through the channels. Val plans to use one as a DIY laptop cooler.

Most of us use a microwave oven nearly every day. But what about the radiation? Is it harming our food or our health? Is a microwave ever dangerous? How would we know? Our friends at the Daily Green did some research and busted the myths around microwaves.

• Waves. Microwaves are simply radio waves that are absorbed by water, fats and sugar, then convert to heat.
• Efficiency. Using a microwave to boil water won't net you much in energy savings, but preparing a meal will reduce energy use by about two-thirds compared to a conventional oven.
• Safety. Microwave ovens are quite safe when used properly. If you feel your oven is leaking radiation, invest in a home leak detector.
• Labels. The term "microwave safe" is unregulated, so it has no verifiable meaning. Tests have shown that some "microwave safe" products leach BPA at toxic levels.

Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and microwave recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Katie in Toronto (eh!), the long lost Audiokitty, checks in with an appalling article about packaging and a catchy jingle. Welcome back!
• Tabitha in North Carolina is going green, baby! She and her buddy Melissa wonder about water filtration systems. We recommend carbon filters over reverse osmosis, but start with a water test kit to see what you're dealing with.
• Jasmine (aka Bullet ViaVista) has a recommendation for birth control, but makes a good point: perhaps Hipsters should breed more!
• Liz in Kentucky wonders about the "green" cred of her beloved Ghirardelli chocolate. Er...have you tried Dagoba?
• Michele in Arizona plans a trip to Idaho soon. Don't miss Pilgrim's Wall o' Beer, or your chance to see Idaho's Athol!

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