Explosion in domestic Microwave oven

[quitiraq]

A stoneware pot exploded after 4 minutes in a microwave oven. The body of the appliance resisted but the safety coating inside got damaged so the metal underneath is now exposed. Is it unsafe to put earthenware in microwaves? Can anyone recommend a microwave oven safety forum? That would be very useful. Thanks.

I am a journalist not an engineer but searching for a microwave safety issues forum I found your site. Any pointers and understanding are much appreciated.

 

[bogeyman]

Try reading the oven makers handbook, usualy dishware is marked as being suitable for use in such devices if its not marked so it may as you found explode or at least the glaze will tend to craze.

 

[biff44]

There is "microwave safe" cookware for use in microwave ovens. Some cookware is, obsiously, not safe for microwave cooking. Any cookware that has iron or other metals as part of the composition will absorb most of the microwave energy and cause very high surface temperatures. The standard problem is that you buy a nice looking coffee mug, throw it in the microwave with some fluid inside, go to pick it up a minute later, and end up with a loop shaped brand on your hand where you grabbed it!

This is a well known phenomenon that was probably learned back in the 1940's, so I do not think this is some sort of earthshaking breaking news story! Just use some common sense. If the cooking vessel is labeled "microwave safe", it probably is. If it is not, you should test it. Put a little water in it and throw it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so, and if the water is heating up but not the vessel, you are probably ok. If the vessel is heating up and the water is cool, do not use it in the microwave!

 

[Higgler]

What's a "safety coating" inside a microwave oven? Haven't heard of it. All the original ovens were just pure metal inside. I'd bet this coating is just some easy clean coating to prevent spills from sticking to bare metal. I'd guess it's probably ok to still use that oven.

kch