Microwave Safety: 8 Things You Must Never Put Inside (Number 5 Shocked Us)
Increasing awareness of proper microwave use, as well as other electrical appliances, is imperative for all of us. Here are some dos and don'ts to prevent the next disaster.
(Illustration: shutterstock)There's no doubt that the microwave is one of the best inventions of our generation, but like any electrical device, it has safety rules that must not be broken.
There have already been unfortunate incidents where people lost their lives (!) due to electrical shorts and fires caused by improper microwave use. This article aims to prevent additional such cases in the future.
Increasing awareness of proper microwave use, as well as other electrical devices, is imperative for all of us. And it doesn't matter how confident we are that we know all the rules; there is always more to learn or improve.
1. Eggs, Ladies and Gentlemen, Eggs
It's clear to everyone that cooking eggs in the microwave is not recommended. What not everyone knows is that whole eggs in their shells should never go into the microwave. Why? The eggs heat up too quickly and capture steam inside that can't escape. This creates a risk of the shell exploding, causing a mess inside the microwave.
Not a matter of life and death, but still – unpleasant.
2. Metal Utensils or Metal Decorations
Metal is one of the biggest dangers when it comes into contact with microwave heat. Metal utensils or even metal decorations on plates and cups can cause the microwave to explode and burn. You have been warned!
3. Regular Plastic Containers Not Intended for Microwave Use
The danger of using regular plastic containers that don't have special labeling for microwave use is that they can release deadly chemicals into your food. Thus, it is important to use containers designed specifically for microwave use.
4. Disposable Styrofoam Containers
There are Styrofoam containers labeled for microwave use, but those without this label should be avoided, for the same reasons of dangerous material leakage into food.
5. Cherries? What's the Connection?
You're right – there's no connection. And for that reason, there is no reason to put cherries, grapes, or such small items in the microwave. Why? Think for a moment about the immense heat energy supposed to enter such a small mass. The 'wasted' energy around it might cause an explosion – destroying the microwave at best or causing electrical shorts and other dangers at worst.
6. Paper Bags – Off Limits
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), heating a paper bag in the microwave can also pose a danger of toxic chemical leakage into the food and can sometimes cause a fire.
7. Be Wary of Hot Peppers
They may look innocent, but in the microwave, they can be deadly. The immense heat of the microwave disperses the spicy parts of the pepper everywhere, and if you open the door right after heating it, you'll get a substantial 'hot' blast to the face. Not fun and not worth it.
8. Potato
No, we're not going to prohibit you from microwaving a potato – but you will need to do one essential thing before putting a whole potato inside. Just like with eggs in their shells, the same will happen to a whole potato – the steam has nowhere to 'escape' once inside. Therefore, it's very important to poke several holes into the potato before microwaving it. This way, you won't have to worry about it potentially exploding.
