Fire in my microwave

[istheresomethingwrongwithme]

I set fire to a sweet potato in my microwave this week. Accidentally had it on the grill setting. I was in the next door room feeding my baby so didn't notice until I smelt smoke and ran into the kitchen to find the potato on fire. We're talking flames.

I've cleaned the microwave, left it out in the fresh air with the door open, microwaved lemons and mixtures of bicarb/white wine vinegar/lemon juice but I can't get rid of the smell. This happened on Wednesday and it's still really bad.

Is there anything I can clean it or zap in the microwave to get rid of the smell?

If there were flames I'd think you have to bin it. Surely the door seals must be damaged?

Can't see any damage and it's working as normal, it just smells.

I was worried I might have to bin it as then I'll have to admit all to DH. I only just did this recently putting my breast pump in to sterilise so I'll look pretty daft doing it a second time! Damn microwave and grill buttons are next to each other on a sort of touch screen keypad so quite easy to make the mistake once, but twice is just plain stupid!

Happened to me, with different contents. Flaming carrots. Binned it as the flames scorched enough for me to think that the wiring might be damaged.

This brings back memories! Twenty-one years ago, when my son was 1, I put a bag of popcorn in the microwave for snack time. The perfect cook time was 3:33. Like an idiot, I punched in 33:33. Got distracted with the baby and the next thing I know smoke is pouring out of the kitchen. The popcorn was in flames and the smell was horrific. I tried everything to clean the microwave and get rid of the awful smell but it was impossible. Had to bin it and get a new one.

I've set fire to a couple of microwaves. It's a good thing I buy cheap ones.

The first one, I had taken in a cornsnake for someone and was new to feeding snakes. I tried to defrost a mouse for it and the mouse sort of exploded.

The next two, it was the same thing, I was shit at remembering to clean my microwaves (out of sight, out of mind - I forget because the door closes and I don't see what's inside).

I'd be concerned that it's safety was now compromised and with you having young ones in the house, I'd be erring on the side of caution and taking it to the recycling centre.

You have to bin it!
It's a massive health issue using a microwave that is so damaged

LOL at the idea of grilling your breastpump 😆. You probably do need to replace the machine after 2 fires op - preferably with one that has less easy to confuse buttons

Thanks all, glad to know I'm not the only one!

You're probably all right, the stink is still there and I've tried all I can think of to remove it. We'll probably ditch it and get a cheapo one.

I didn't actually set the breast pump on fire, just melted it into a heap of unidentifiable plastic. That was an expensive mistake but as if just given birth I got away with it!

I did the same with some buns. Had to bin the microwave as couldn't be sure of no damage, and DH was flapping about radiation.