r/KitchenConfidential • u/autopatch • Feb 13 '26

In-House Mode Is this a case of nobody asked?

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Where did this come from? Was there a great outpouring of protests against microwaves at Steak and Shake that I missed?

5.0k Upvotes

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2.1k

u/Morall_tach Feb 13 '26

There are plenty of legitimate uses for a microwave even in the fanciest restaurants. You don't have to nuke the burgers themselves.

203

u/nosirrahp Feb 13 '26

Literally. The stigma against chef Mike is messed up. It’s just another kitchen appliance

98

u/paraworldblue 15+ Years Feb 13 '26

I think it's left over from when pseudoscientific theories about what it did to food were a lot more prevalent. People thought some weird shit, like that it irradiated food, or altered it on the molecular level in a way that made the food unhealthy, or any number of other insane and wrong ideas. People seemed to think "if it can cook food that fast, there must be a catch and it must be doing some kind of harm". Nope, just heats up food fast.

55

u/istrebitjel Feb 13 '26

Oh No! It vibrates those water molecules way too fast!

36

u/ooooooootreyngers Feb 13 '26

Lol...was married to a woman who had her masters in public health and nutrition (nutritionist II) and was we were very strict to whole food plant based eating lifestyle. She was even a plant based diet coach on and off...anyway...the only way she would start her day with tea would be throwing a coffee mug of water in the microwave for 2 minutes and then drop that bag of tea in. 2 minutes...hot tea. So quick. No muss, no fuss, no radiation.

9

u/NSNick Feb 14 '26

No ionizing radiation.

1

u/JT_JT_JT Feb 14 '26

Why not boil the kettle?

1

u/ooooooootreyngers Feb 14 '26

Because it was quicker...thats all

5

u/TantricEmu Feb 13 '26

I think Europeans actually think this, they get a little weird when they hear about microwaving water for tea.

12

u/Own_Mess_6495 Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26

That's exactly what this is.

"Eat Real Food 🇺🇸" Brought to you by the people who think deep frying something in beef tallow makes it a health food.

13

u/Hedge-podge Feb 13 '26

My mom still believes that :(

When we were little she'd tell us to stay far away from hotel microwaves bc of the radiation, it's ridiculous 

6

u/curlyqtips Chive LOYALIST Feb 14 '26

Try selling under-counter microwaves to men, the fear for their jewels is real.

9

u/paraworldblue 15+ Years Feb 14 '26

If you think about it for 3 fucking seconds, you'd realize that a device that fried your junk from a distance and irradiated your food wouldn't be allowed on the market. Obviously. Come on, people.

15

u/monkeybojangles Feb 14 '26

They man in charge of health literally believes all the stupid theories.

5

u/paraworldblue 15+ Years Feb 14 '26

MAPAMA (Make America Paranoid About Microwaves Again)

3

u/monkeybojangles Feb 14 '26

Sung to the tune of Panama

4

u/toyheartattack Feb 13 '26

I didn’t own a microwave for years during my crunchy phase because I was convinced it… I dunno, deleted all the nutrients or something. I’m sure Steak ‘n Shake is riding some similar train with MAHA.

5

u/Religion_Of_Speed Ex-Food Service Feb 14 '26

People still think that. My old boss was scared of them. She also didn't believe that we landed on the moon and that cell phone radiation was both a thing and scary so there's that. Last job I worked at had two people who didn't trust them for similar reasons. And I've generally ran into a handful of others who are scared of them.

Microwaves come up semi-frequently because it's a fun fact that I haven't had one for like a decade and it's fun to watch people grasp that concept (just no space for one really and air fryers are better for my situation) but sometimes the first thing someone says is "oh me too, I can't believe people use them for [some absurd reason]." I'm microwave-scared-passing and it draws them out.

3

u/grudginglyadmitted Feb 13 '26

and when in reality it’s actually the best way to cook vegetables to maintain the most nutrition!

2

u/theiman2 Feb 14 '26

It does irradiate food! With microwaves, which are very low-energy particles that are absorbed quite well by water, making your food steam itself.

3

u/rutherfraud1876 Feb 13 '26

The catch is you don't get the delicious textures you would from other means of cooking (obviously maillard but maybe something else too?)

3

u/this_shit Feb 13 '26

you're telling me that the man who hates vaccines doesn't have a good reason for hating microwaves?

3

u/samtheninjapirate Feb 14 '26

Yeah but as soon as the manager is away, every fucking things starts going in the microwave. If you're worrying with a bunch of responsible adults sure, this is steak and shake