It has been taught to us since childhood, not to put any metal in the microwave along with the food. But still due to ignorance, or accidentally, we often end up putting a fork or spoon while heating food in the microwave.
When you put a fork in the microwave accidentally, it will not cause any major problem and the fork and food will remain safe but during the operation of the microwave, there can be a flow of electric current through the fork and there can be an accumulation of electric charge on the tips of the fork momentarily.
In most of the forks, tines are dull that accumulate the charge but it does not cause sparking. Also, they are thick enough so can easily handle the current without becoming very hot.
This indicates that while the microwave is operating, there is nothing to worry much about. When you put a fork in the microwave, the microwaves get reflected and the cooking pattern is altered slightly but you won’t be able to detect it at all.
Once the heating or cooking in the microwave is finished, you will get proper microwaved food and the fork is just the same as it was put in the microwave before the cooking process.
In case if there are sharp tines on the fork then you should be careful and avoid putting it in the microwave. The reason behind this is that sharp metal objects can produce a spark in the microwave and these sparks are not hazardous to the food but can ignite the container or the food and cause a fire.
Accidentally put metal in the microwave, what to do now?
If you accidentally put metal in the microwave, and nothing happened like spark or lightning, nothing to worry about. Your microwave and food will be perfectly safe.
But if there is any kind of short circuit, or fire, or any lightning effect, try to switch off the microwave immediately and unplug it. Wait for some time to let the things cool down inside and then try to open the door of the microwave.
This happens because the microwaves hitting the metal objects gets reflected which is due to arcing between the metal object and the other part of the microwave oven.
In this case, sufficient material is not present in the microwave to absorb the reflected microwaves. If required, call the technician or contact the customer support center of the company.
A microwave is a simple device with a magnetron and a high voltage source. While running the microwave, the microwaves are directed by the magnetron into the metal box where the food gets cooked.
The waves get absorbed via the molecules until they bounce around inside the microwave. Due to this, molecules get heated up.
The microwave energy gets converted into heat effectively by substances like ceramics and other polymers and the dishes made from these are known as microwave safe.
On the other hand, there are a bunch of electrons in the metals that can move freely, and thus, metals are good conductors of electricity.
When the metal is put in the microwave, microwaves hit it and the free electrons in the metallic surface move rapidly from side to side. Due to this, electric waves do not enter the metal and get reflected.
Is it safe to eat food that was microwaved with metal?
Yes, it is safe to eat food that was microwaved with metal. The metal will have no impact on the food. The metal put in the microwave can cause trouble to the microwave only if it is very thin or has sharp edges.
The microwave has the tendency to push electric charges in metal and if the metal is too thin, it will get heated up and may cause a fire.
Also, if there are sharp edges on the metal, electric charges get accumulated at those sharp spots which can cause sparking.
If a metal object like a spoon is put in the microwave along with the food, the microwaves can be redirected but no noticeable changes are observed in it.
No residual radiation is caused in the food and thus, food heated in the microwave along with metal is completely safe to consume.
Why does metal explode in the microwave?
The metal explodes in the microwave due to the absorption of microwave radiation. If sharp metal objects are kept in the microwave, arcs or plasma-like lightning can occur. This is due to the charge developed by the free electrons present in the metal which reflects the microwaves.
Being a good conductor, metal develops high voltage when immersed in the electric field of the magnetron of the microwave. This voltage is present on the surface of the object and can get high at the sharp point due to which it can ionize the air.
The ionized air can conduct electricity itself and gets more power from the microwave due to which lightning bolt can be caused and thus, walls of the microwave can be damaged.
Can you put foil takeaway containers in the microwave?
Yes, you can put foil takeaway containers in the microwave. There has been research and it is found that while heating food in the foil takeaway containers in the microwave, no damage occurred either to the microwave or the user.
But while using these containers in the microwave, certain precautions should be taken like-
- Always remove the lid from the container while heating in the microwave.
- Place the container in the middle of the turntable in the microwave.
- If there is a metal turntable in the microwave, place a glass or ceramic plate beneath the tray. This should be done to avoid contact between the two metals.
- Only use one foil container at a time in the microwave.
Can you put a microwave on a metal shelf?
Yes, you can put a microwave on a metal shelf even though it is not safe to put metals in the microwave. A metal shelf is useful to place a microwave especially when all the free space in your kitchen has been exhausted.
When a metal container is put inside the microwave, it reflects the microwaves and in some cases can cause sparks and damage to the interior of the microwave.
But this is not the case with the metal shelf. The negative reactions that occur inside the microwave due to metal, do not occur on the exterior of the microwave.
While using a metal shelf for keeping the microwave, you must take some precautions, which are :
- Adequate ventilation should be present and all four sides of the microwave should have enough space to pass heat when released from the microwave.
- The wire of the microwave should not touch the metal shelf.
- Check with the manufacturer and if it is mentioned against putting the appliance on the metal shelf, please don’t ever do it.
Conclusion
Based on the above discussion, it is clear that you should not put a fork or any metal inside the microwave especially if it has a sharp edge.
Normally, not much harm will be experienced but in some cases, the microwave can be damaged.
Therefore, it is better to avoid putting any metal in the microwave. You must take care while heating or cooking food in the microwave and always try to be near the microwave when the process is going on.