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Original poster

To not have known I SHOULD put a metal spoon in the microwave?

176 replies

Meme69 · 13/03/2021 07:56

I've owned my microwave for 6 years. Clearly I'm not the most observant person in the world because I've spent my whole life panicking about accidentally putting metal in the microwave. Today I noticed a sticker on mine (inside the door-see picture) that clearly shows I should use a spoon when heating fluids. Couldn't believe it, so I got out the manual. Sure enough, it says I should always put a metal spoon into fluids whwn heating them, but not let it touch the sides of the microwave!!

How did I not know this. I've spent all my life believing if I put something metal in the microwave it will combust into flames!! Am I the only person in the world who didn't know this?

OP posts:
LunaLula83 · 14/03/2021 18:45

Oh eff off and get a life

IEat · 14/03/2021 18:50

You can put the metal trays in from takeaways too! I’m still sceptical but saw it with my own eyes

MaryIsA · 14/03/2021 18:53

@Twobrews

I'm sure I remember something about this years ago on Watchdog. Why would you heat a mug of liquid anyway?

I'm sure our new microwave says in the instructions that you can use foil in it although I've never tried, we only use ours for melting cheese in pitta breads, and defrosting bread rolls!

@Twobrews tell me more about cheese in pitta bread...
Reallybadidea · 14/03/2021 18:58

@LunaLula83

Oh eff off and get a life
🤣
Kottbullar · 14/03/2021 18:58

@MaryIsA

Toast the pitta, half and fill with cheese, place in a bowl and microwave for about 40 seconds until the cheese is deliciously gooey. Enjoy!
It's DS1 favourite breakfast, he adds tomatoes or peppers too.

SignOnTheWindow · 14/03/2021 19:02

@Twobrews

I'm sure I remember something about this years ago on Watchdog. Why would you heat a mug of liquid anyway?

I'm sure our new microwave says in the instructions that you can use foil in it although I've never tried, we only use ours for melting cheese in pitta breads, and defrosting bread rolls!

Heating a mug of liquid is about the only reason I use my microwave!

Most days I open the microwave to heat up a cup of tea that's gone cold... only to find the microwave occupied by the last cup of tea that I'd let go cold, heated up and forgotten about.

missbridgerton · 14/03/2021 19:20

I've got a Neff microwave and it came with a green thick plastic straw with a hole each end that you're supposed to use when you're heating liquid.

I thought that's what the sticker is for...................

Dallerup · 14/03/2021 19:21

It depends on the metal and the shape of the metal. Forks are a massive no no because of the tongs (tynes?), something to do with conducting and currents passing across. Some interesting YouTube videos on what is and isn't safe in a microwave, spoons are ok because of the shape #notaphysicist

Baabaagreensheep · 14/03/2021 19:24

My microwave came with metal trays, tried to use them once and it looked like guy fawkes night.

Barney60 · 14/03/2021 19:42

I didnt know that , not sure id do it though.

DailyCandy · 14/03/2021 19:43

When I saw the same sticker on my microwave I thought it was just a bad illustration indicating you should stir liquids before drinking, because they heat unevenly.

You have blown my mind.

AliceMcK · 14/03/2021 19:54

I don’t know if would be brave enough to put a metal spoon in the microwave, I accidentally did it once when I was a teenager working a Saturday job in a cafe, whole thing exploded and my boss was none too pleased 😬

picklemewalnuts · 14/03/2021 20:05

So I've done it a few times now. No sparking, to my amazement. It doesn't heat quicker though, or get to the bottom of the cup better- at least as far as I can tell.

I never superheat though. I know exactly how long to heat for.

BeckyWithTheGoodHair5629456 · 14/03/2021 20:38

I have a neff built in combi microwave that's also an oven. It has metal shelves.

Sunrainsnow · 14/03/2021 21:08

When I was a teenager I remembered how people used to put crisp packets in the microwave which would make them shrink. They would turn them into little jewellery and things. I thought I would give it a go. The thing was it wasn't the microwave it was the oven. Being made out of foil you can imagine the sparks. Incidentally it did shrink the crisp packet, but it is not a method I would recommend.

DailyCandy · 14/03/2021 21:13

That’s too funny Sunrain. I remember doing that in the oven, with my mother under duress, complaining about the noxious fumes. Who knows that happened to all those miniaturised chip packets from the 80’s!

angela99999 · 14/03/2021 21:14

It is just to help the heat conduct better through the liquid so that the top doesn't boil over before the bottom is heated - sorry is someone else has said this, I've not had time to read all the posts. It won't matter if you don't do it, though you will sometimes have things boiling over.

BashfulClam · 14/03/2021 22:04

@IslaRoseGraceEtc

I put a plate with metal edging (fake gold leaf) in once and it sparked everywhere. Took weeks to get the horrible smell out of the kitchen. I don't think I'd be risking it with a spoon!
This happened to me, luckily I was peering through the door at my food like a hungry Labrador!
Mamanyt · 14/03/2021 23:08

Tech tip: always heat liquids in a container whose mouth is wider than the body of the container to prevent those "boil-overs." I read this years ago, and have never had an issue. It's when the mouth is the same or (God forbid) smaller that this happens.

Myflabberghasted · 14/03/2021 23:55

I think what it’s trying to tell you is that when you heat liquids in a microwave it forms a sort of film, you need to break this by stirring the liquid before drinking it! I’ve just warmed up my cold coffee and have always done this

RhubarbCustardy · 15/03/2021 00:01

Well OP, this has caused quite a stir 😂 😂 😂 😂

Stoppissingonmyheather · 15/03/2021 00:11

@Ddot why the hell would you wrap eggs in foil and then put them in water in microwave when you could just chuck in saucepan

areyoumeop · 15/03/2021 00:40

"Liquids, such as water, coffee, or tea could be overheated. They can be heated beyond the boiling point without appearing to boil. For example, visible bubbling or boiling when the container is removed from the microwave oven is not always present. THIS COULD RESULT IN VERY HOT LIQUIDS SUDDENLY BOILING OVER WHEN THE CONTAINER IS DISTURBED OR A UTENSIL IS INSERTED INTO THE LIQUID. When heating liquids, always place a glass rod/spoon in the container. This will prevent delayed boiling.
The electrons can cope with metal in the microwave as long as it is thick enough and smooth enought to keep the electrons moving, but small or sharp pieces cause the electrons to build up in one area and cause arcing .
Wouldn't do it with thick porridge though...

Harmonypuss · 15/03/2021 02:37

I tried this with a big soup mug containing my homemade stew earlier .... no arcing and no speeding up of heating

I don't know whether it would work if the gravy was thicker or there was less gravy (liquid) but I had just under 3 minutes of anxiously staring at the microwave and holding my breath (clearly intermittently coz I can't hold it for the whole 3mins) but I can say that I didn't blow up the microwave and it still works.

I couldn't eat it with that particular spoon (I had to wrap the handle in a fairly thick cloth just to take it out of the mug) coz it was far too hot to handle, so I had to get/use a fresh spoon, which kind of defeats the object of putting the spoon in in the first place #morewashingup

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