No Microwave Needed Low & Slow in Ayurveda

When we built our retirement home the plans called for a built in microwave  and vent combination.  I said no, I don’t want a microwave in the prime real estate above my stove.  Most houses are standard this way now, and I had to explain we don’t use a microwave to cook in our house. In the tradition of Ayurvedic cooking, I make it a priority to prepare fresh food or reheat gently if at all.  I was really surprised because I had forgotten how common it is to microwave food on the Standard American diet.

I stopped microwaving on a regular basis years ago. A microwave uses electromagnetic radiation to heat primarily the water in your food.  This can create a lot of unevenness in temperature with hot and cold spots, change the composition and energy of the food as it dries out.

Ayurveda teaches that cooking is a form of pre-digestion, transforming the food for the body to use. Microwaving is a vata vitiating form of food pre-digestion and my vata doesn’t need any help to go off. We live in a vata vitiating world, so no one needs to aggravate vata.

Prana, the essential life force in food is diminished by heating in the microwave.  If you are sourcing high vibration organic vegetables, beans and meat, to help build wellness, protect those precious resources with careful cooking. Prepare and share food to truly nourish your family.

Eat at Home More Often

When I say eat at home I don’t mean take out or fast food. A lot of fast food is microwaved.  If the choice is a fast food microwaved burger or microwaved foods and veggies you made with love, then I say go home.  If you eat out at sit down restaurant, ask if they use a microwave in prepping your dish

What do I say when people ask me about using a microwave?

Try to reduce microwaving in your food prep. Eat the freshest seasonal whole well cooked food you can get our mits on.  Bring quality prana and organic raw materials into your body.  Prepare foods in ways your body can digest and utilize the food easily.

Start to design better choices. Move yourself in the direction to make whole fresh foods for yourself and your family.  Teach your whole family the importance of fresh whole foods in their diet.

Set up time on Saturday or Sunday to do prep work Kitchen Sadhana to make meal prep faster on work days. Make it a family project ton wash and chop veggies so they can make a quick soup or stew during the week.

Traditional cultures around the world cooked their food slowly over many hours. Perhaps this was because heating an oven to over 300 degrees was just not practical without electricity. Little did they know the incredible benefits they gleaned from cooking at low temperatures. – John Douillard

Low temperature cooking creates less reactive byproducts that can harm the body.  Slow and low also preserves more prana.  Prioritize eating seasonal home cooked food.  Schedule time into your day to do more fresh food preparation.

Options for busy world Low Temperature Home Cooking

Crock Pot

A crock pot is great cooking vehicle for the fall season.  Focus on soups and stews for you evening meal.  Set it up in the morning before you head out for the day, and come home to a warm nourishing meal slow cooked warm and ready.

Sous Vide

Another option is to use an immersion cooker also called Sous Vide. This is neat technology.  You heat water to the temperature you want the food cooked to.  The liquid cooks the food, evenly and slowly with no high temperature spikes. You can set it up and get on homework or other tasks while the food cooks itself.  Check the benefits out here.

Dehydrator

Dehydrator can be used for warming.  It generally has better temperature control and lower temperature settings than your stove or toaster oven. It is designed to be left on why you are out and about. Here are some recipes.

All of these techniques simplify preparation and clean up and deliver a freshly prepared meal full of prana and nutrients. Look for simple fresh preparations, here.

This blog is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for learning purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.