The microwave is one of those inventions that most people take for granted in today’s modern world. Here at InventHelp, there can be a lunchtime line for the microwave on any given day. While no one’s arguing the usefulness of the microwave, a new government campaign is encouraging lunch zappers to double check their cooking times or pay for it with food sickness.

After 32 people in 12 states were sickened with salmonella poisoning, the feds are encouraging everyone to thoroughly cook frozen chicken dinners or any other dish with raw ingredients. In fact, food safety experts say that microwaving is best for reheating rather than cooking. Because microwaves cook food unevenly, it can leave cold spots in the food that harbor bacteria.

InventHelp’s Invention Girl thought that microwave foods were generally precooked and needed only to be warmed up. Plus, microwaves lose power over time, and some smaller microwaves may not produce enough power to safely cook some products.

Using a food thermometer is the best way to ensure that foods are properly cooked. If this idea seems a little far-fetched, try avoiding raw meat in microwaved foods. InventHelp’s Invention Girl is a big fan of Amy’s Frozen Foods, which invented a line of organic, vegetarian meals that include everything from comfort foods like veggie pot pies to exotic choices like Indian Palak Paneer (a spinach and cheese dish).

Using great inventions like the microwave correctly help keep science and technology running smoothly. They say there’s “no such thing as bad publicity”, but InventHelp’s Invention Girl isn’t buying that!