Many people who have issues with the use of microwave ovens on their food also cringe at the thought of cooking with an infrared grill. When we think of radiation we almost immediately relate that to bad things that are harmful to our body. But is cooking with an infrared grill that uses radiation to heat safe for our bodies?
Unfortunately there is much speculation in this area and in the big picture we aren’t positive exactly what the ill affects (if any) are when heating food through methods beyond the center of the electromagnetic spectrum. When you use an infrared grill you are heating through radiation that is just to the right of microwaves but not quite in the visible light spectrum; from this perspective one could say that an infrared grill is safer than using a microwave but not as safe as using a conventional oven (if using a microwave is dangerous at all).
The most common argument against the use of microwaves and radiation is that studies were done in Russia in the 1950’s when microwave ovens first came out and were found to have negative effects on the human body. The microwave ovens were then banned in Russia but taken up by the rest of thw world and considered safe after they lowered their power to only 500 watts. Now you find microwave ovens at 1,500 watts and nobody seems to really care if it’s doing damage to their body or not.
People who believe that microwave ovens and using an infrared grill has no ill effects on the human body will often argue that using an open flame is the same thing has heating through radiation, only slower. The further along to the left of the electromagnetic spectrum you move the faster you will cause molecules to virbrate which will in-turn create heat faster. An infrared grill simply simply does the same thing a traditional grill does only quicker.
Whether or not an infrared grill is safe is going to come down to your personal opinion on how they work and what you want to believe. As of now there has not been any conclusive evidence that the use of an infrared grill is any different than eating food right off of an open fire.
