Re: Faulty Microwave Oven

From: Andy Cuffe (baltimora_at_psu.edu)
Date: 09/26/04 

Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 23:26:59 -0400

On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 23:18:31 GMT, "James Sweet"
>
>There may be some truth to this myth, but I've run microwaves without
>anything in them a number of times as well as trying various metallic
>objects in a discarded oven, never did have one damaged from it.
>

Running a microwave empty is bad for it because there's nothing to
absorb the 700 Watts of microwave power coming out of the magnetron,
so it all ends up going back into the magnetron. Eventually it will
heat up enough to either trip the thermal breaker, or destroy the
magnetron. Nothing will explode though.

The dangers of putting metal objects in the microwave is more of a
myth. It's true that certain things like crumpled foil will cause
arcing, but this isn't dangerous and shouldn't hurt the oven. Things
like metal twist ties can heat up and catch on fire. Keep in mind
that the oven walls are made of metal and metal temperature probes
have been around for years. You're generally ok with flat metal
objects, or even things like spoons and wire racks. You don't want to
use metal pots because they will shield the thing you're trying to
cook from the RF.
Andy Cuffe
baltimora@psu.edu

Relevant Pages

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