Although almost all British households own a microwave, there’s still some confusion about when and how you should cook your food in one.

Many of us use ours simply for reheating and defrosting food or for cooking the odd packet of microwave rice or popcorn.

[Read more: How to cook bacon in the microwave in 3 minutes]

But there’s a lot more you can use yours for too. The Naked Nutritionist founder Daniel O'Shaughnessy dispels the myths from the truth.

1. Microwave cooking removes key nutrients from food

It’s the opposite, says Daniel, and it’s healthier to microwave certain foods rather than cook them in many other ways. Microwaving vegetables such as mushrooms, broccoli, carrots and kale, for example, retains more nutrients than frying or boiling would.

2. Isn’t a microwave just for reheating meals?

“Advanced technology means that microwaves can do so much more than that,” says Daniel.

“The ability to use the microwave to bake, grill and steam means it’s never been easier to get creative with cooking, whether you're steaming dim sum, roasting meats or baking cakes. We are witnessing a new trend as people realise that the microwave can enable them to cook fuss-free, gourmet-style dishes bursting with flavour without having to spend hours in the kitchen.”

3. It’s not safe to cook meat in the microwave

Daniel says that it's completely safe to roast a chicken or even pork belly in the microwave. "Dual functionality means you can create delicious joints of meat that are crispy on the outside whilst retaining all the flavour on the inside: in fact you can cook a whole delicious roast dinner in just 45 minutes," he says.

“Cooking meat such as bacon or even chicken in the microwave causes less nitrosamine to be formed - these are harmful carcinogenic compounds which are formed when food is heated excessively.”

[Read more: How to clean your microwave and other kitchen tricks]

4. Microwaves don’t cook things all the way through

Yes they do - it’s all to do with the microwave’s inverter technology, explains Daniel, which means that the food is cooked to perfection, delivering a seamless stream of cooking power that preserves flavour and texture.

5. Food cooked in the microwave is dry

Food cooked in the microwave retains more moisture than most other forms of cooking if the functions are used properly. So if your microwave food comes out dry, chances are you’re not using it properly.

Daniel, The Naked Nutritionist, has partnered with Panasonic to showcase how the innovative technology of the Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave range offers so much more than reheating last night’s dinner. For inspiration on how to get more out of your microwave visit