Microwave is known to be versatile as it helps in doing the work easily and fast in the kitchen. But at the same time, it can be injurious if proper precautions are not taken.
Water can get hot beyond 100 degrees in a microwave as there is no steam formation in this process. During this process, water gets heated directly as microwaves pass through the cup and the water in it becomes hot as compared to the container.
Since the water gets superheated in the microwave, many cases of injuries to people have been reported.
While heating the water in the kettle, a bubble of steam is formed as the water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. In this process, the kettle gets heated first and then the water.
There is localized superheating due to which bubbling occurs first followed by stirring of the water.
Water is boiled in the microwave in a microwave-safe container which is smoother than the kettles or saucepans due to which there is no clinging of bubbles of air to the sides causing no boiling of water. Due to this, there is unstable boiling of water.
It has been indicated that when one liter of water is heated in a microwave, it gets superheated by 1 degree more than 100 degrees and around three liters of steam is produced and thus, water gets boiled up intensely and it explodes out of the container.
In this water, if anything is added like coffee or sugar, it explodes and becomes more dangerous to the user.
Why you should never microwave water?
You should never microwave water as it can be highly dangerous and can cause severe injuries in the form of burns to the user.
This happens due to the phenomenon of superheating in which water gets heated above its boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius. In this, heating of water occurs faster than the formation of water vapors and there is no bubble formation.
Due to this, water does not release the heat that is built up and water does not get boiled due to which it heats up beyond its boiling point.
If the water is jarred, bubbles are formed rapidly which results in a very hot exploding liquid. To prevent this from occurring, it is advised to keep a wooden stir stick in the water which helps in diffusing the energy while the water gets heated in the microwave.
Also, allow the liquids to cool for a few minutes inside the microwave only before removing them.
How many minutes does it take to boil water in a microwave?
It takes around 1-3 minutes to boil water in a microwave. But the time can vary depending on the wattage of the microwave.
Given below is the time taken to boil one cup of water in a microwave of different wattage.
- 600 Watts – 4 minutes
- 700 Watts – 3 minutes
- 800 Watts – 2.5 minutes
- 1000 Watts – 2 minutes
There are other factors as well that determine the time taken for boiling water in a microwave like the material of the cup or the container, the amount of water taken, and the initial temperature of the water.
But boiling water in a microwave is associated with risks of superheating of water due to which there can be burn injuries to the user.
To avoid this, the user is advised to take certain precautions while boiling water in a microwave.
First, you should always make use of a microwave-safe container while boiling water. Also, put a wooden spoon or chopstick in the water which helps in bubbles formation and prevents superheating.
Can boiling water in the microwave explode?
Yes, boiling water in a microwave can explode due to the superheating of water. When water is boiled in a microwave, there is no formation of bubbles leading to superheating of the water.
Also, if any granulated material like instant coffee is put into the water, there can be intense boiling of the water and can even explode out of the container. The user can get serious burns with intense ejected boiling water.
Is microwaving water the same as boiling?
Yes, microwaving water is the same as boiling. Water boiled in a microwave or on a stovetop has the same properties in it and the medium in which it is boiled does not make any difference.
The difference lies in the risks associated with doing this process. When water is boiled on the gas stove, it is safe as compared to the water boiled in the microwave. The water gets superheated in the microwave and there is a chance of getting injured if proper precautions are not taken.
Is it cheaper to boil water in the microwave than a kettle?
No, it is not cheaper to boil water in the microwave than a kettle if both the electrical appliances are of the same power. The electric kettle will boil the water faster and consume less energy as compared to the microwave.
But, at the same time, microwaves can indeed be used for other things apart from just boiling water. So, in a real sense, the usage of microwaves is much more as compared to the kettle.
What is the quickest way to boil water?
The quickest way to boil water is by using an electric kettle. In this, water gets boiled fast.
Another way of doing this is to make use of hot water which reaches the boiling temperature faster than cold water.
If you are really in a hurry, use less water in the pot to boil. Also, cover the pan with a lid by which air heats up with the heating of water and it circulates back in the water. With this method, water in the pot gets heated up in very little time.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is evident that water can get hot beyond 100 degrees in the microwave and that too within minutes but you should take enough precautions while doing so. Any negligence in this can lead to burn injuries as water can get exploded.
At the same time, there are no negative health impacts after consuming water boiled in the microwave.
Next time, whenever you need to boil water, use a microwave for quick results but take proper precautions as mentioned as well.