To ask how often do you clean your microwave?

[ThinWomansBrain]

Obviously I clean anything that spills or makes a mess, but I've had a couple of poached egg incidents this week, so thorough cleans more often than normal!
On googling how often I should be cleaning it, some articles were suggesting every time I use it, which seemed a bit OTT

I use mine mostly for steaming vegetables (lidded container), reheating coffee, microwave rice pouches - and said poached eggs, in a container when they don't explode.

You can get special plastic lids, they just wash up in the sink!! Never need to wash my microwave anymore

Ehj, hardly ever. Only when something accidentally spills on it.

How does it even get dirty otherwise??

When I spill something in it or after a violent explosion - always the time I realise I should be cleaning more often!

ooh good, I'm not being too scummy then!

I think my eggs must be bigger than usual this week, to have had two explode!
i'll ignore the "thorough clean every time yo so much as look at it" articles

@Littlemissprosecco

You can get special plastic lids, they just wash up in the sink!! Never need to wash my microwave anymore

I use these too. It still needs the occasional wipe out though.

I usually try to give it a quick wipe straight after having cooked something that steamed well, then it only needs a quick wipe down and it's sorted. Probably about once a week.

Once a week. I just wash the turntable and wipe down the inside when doing the rest of the kitchen. Takes 2 minutes.

Or immediately if there's some kind of explosion, obviously!

Our cleaner never cleans our microwave only when I actually ask her too.
I don't understand it.

Once a week unless there's an explosion of soup or something.

Every time I open it I think 'urgh God, I really need to clean the microwave' then I continue not doing it. Same with the oven.

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst

Once a week. I just wash the turntable and wipe down the inside when doing the rest of the kitchen. Takes 2 minutes.

Or immediately if there's some kind of explosion, obviously!

^ this. I use the lids. If it was being used multiple times a day I might clean it a couple of times a week though. Prefer to keep on top of things vs scrub away and they do ge dirty

Are you meant to clean them

Re exploding eggs - did you forget to pierce the yolks perhaps?

I use a microwave splatter lid so it doesn't get too dirty. When I do clean it, once in a blue moon, I put boiling water in a Pyrex dish, microwave on high for a few minutes, leave a little while so it steams a bit then just wipe it off. When I first read about this it suggested adding lemon to the water but I don't think it makes any difference so I now spare myself the expense of the lemon.

When it’s dirty

@MangoBiscuit

I usually try to give it a quick wipe straight after having cooked something that steamed well, then it only needs a quick wipe down and it's sorted. Probably about once a week.

But...why? How is it possibly dirty?

Like... nothing touches the sides or anything

Not enough. However, when I have half a lemon left over, even if squeezed, I stick it in a bowl of water and microwave for a few minutes. Wipe over and job done.

Mine smokes 😟
It worries me
I clean it and it smokes less but it still smokes

Re exploding eggs - did you forget to pierce the yolks perhaps?
I use microwave egg poachers - you're not supposed to peirce the yolks with those, 98% of the time they're fine [Grin].
I've had several microwave poachers; Pro Cook's are brilliant, Sistema's one is OK (gives you a poached egg with a wide diameter, but very secure) and the Joseph Joseph one is surprisingly rubbish - I usually like their stuff, but the design is rubbish.

Good point about wiping it down after cooking something steamy. Pongy veg can leave it a bit eugh - broccoli - so I suppose there are nasties hanging around in the steam, I will try to remember to do that.

I wipe it down with antibacterial spray at the same time as I do the worktops after dinner everyday. Takes all of two seconds.

I use microwave egg poachers - you're not supposed to peirce the yolks with those, 98% of the time they're fine

Ah ok. I've had two different microwave egg poachers and always had to pierce the yolk - otherwise the pressure builds up forcing the membrane to burst hence the explosion. Would definitely be less of a faff if you didn't have to prick it, what make is it please?

@Bagelsandbrie

I wipe it down with antibacterial spray at the same time as I do the worktops after dinner everyday. Takes all of two seconds.

.... why...what bacteria is in there...?

The turntable goes in the dishwasher once or twice a week.

I wipe it out every time there is an explosion or a spill, but wouldn't wipe it out for steam. I can live with steam.

".... why...what bacteria is in there...?"

Microwaves don't kill bacteria....

hygienefoodsafety.org/does-microwave-kill-bacteria/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20both,risk%20in%20public%2Fgeneral%20areas.

I wipe down every time I use it as it helps prevent rust.

Every 3 months or thereabouts