Most home appliances including microwaves do come with a set of instructions intended for safe operations and use. These sets of instructions are usually well-defined in either the user’s manual or other product documentation.
Nonetheless, despite following all these sets of instructions to the letter, many microwave owners still find themselves with an exploding microwave.
That being said, if you are like any other microwave owner, you may be wondering whether microwaves do explode and if so, what are some of the main reasons why microwaves explode.
In this post, we will examine some of the underlying reasons for a microwave to explode and measures you can implement to prevent your microwave from exploding.
Can a Microwave Explode?
Placing metallic and foreign objects into a microwave, running a microwave while empty and manufacturing defects can all cause a microwave to explode.
That being said, it is important to point out that while microwave explosions do happen from time to time, they are quite rare.
This can be mainly attributed to the fact that many microwave manufacturers tend to put a ton of safety measures in place to prevent this from happening.
That being said, let us look at some of the common reasons for an exploding microwave.
5 Common Reasons Why Microwaves Explode
While microwave explosions are quite rare, they do happen from time to time. That being said, these are the most common causes of an exploding microwave.
1. Placing Metallic Objects in the Microwave
Placing metallic objects such as plates, cutlery and metallic cookware into a microwave can ultimately lead to arcing or sparking.
Unlike other types of materials, metallic objects are not able to absorb the electromagnetic radiation generated by the magnetron and thus end up reflecting these waves off their surface.
As time goes by, there will be a build-up of energy inside the microwave since there is nothing to absorb the electromagnetic waves generated leading to sparking and arcing.
If you are unfamiliar with arcing, it is important to point out that arcing often resembles a miniature lightning bolt and when left unchecked, these lightning bolts can end up causing serious damage to the microwave.
Furthermore, if the metallic objects have sharp edges, then these areas will end up being highly concentrated with electrical currents. This will also result in sparking and arcing.
In extreme cases, it can ultimately end up causing fire.
2. Overheating/Running Microwave While Empty
Running a microwave oven while empty for an extended period is not recommended. If you accidentally run your microwave while empty, then you will without any reasonable doubt cause your microwave oven to overheat.
This is mainly because since the microwave does not have a load to absorb the electromagnetic radiation, there will be a build-up of energy inside the microwave.
The build-up of energy will eventually cause the various internal components of the microwave such as the capacitor and the magnetron to overheat and ultimately cease to function.
In other instances, the arcing may end up causing a hole/holes in the cooking cavity of the microwave.
3. Manufacturing Defects/Faulty Electrical System
Apart from overheating, manufacturing defects may also cause your microwave to explode. Some microwaves often come with manufacturing defects which may cause the microwave to malfunction.
Some of the most common manufacturing defects that can lead to explosions include issues with the electrical system of the microwave, structural integrity or lack of safety features.
For instance, faulty electrical components such as faulty connections, substandard electrical components or defective wiring can result in electrical manufacturers.
Many times, this may result in short circuits, overheating and plenty of other electrical issues which may lead your microwave to explode.
In other instances, the lack of/inadequate quality control procedures during manufacturing will often result in substandard kitchen appliances.
This in turn can lead to a higher chance of defective microwaves going unnoticed.
4. Introducing Foreign Objects in the Microwave
Apart from metallic materials, other foreign objects should never find their way into a microwave oven. Some of these foreign items include grapes or eggs in their shells.
When placed inside microwaves, grapes tend to release high levels of energy which in turn end up creating sparks. In extreme cases, the sparks can ultimately result in fire.
That being said, it is extremely important to note that microwaving grapes is not only dangerous but also hazardous as well, mainly due to a phenomenon known as microwave grape plasma or grape plasma fire.
On the other hand, heating eggs in their shells can also cause them to explode. You can read more about some of the things that should never go into your microwave here.
5. Aging/Wear and Tear
As time goes by, most of the internal components of the microwave tend to wear and tear due to continuous use. Apart from the components deteriorating, the connections inside the microwave may end up becoming loose while certain parts become more and more unreliable.
That being said, loose connections or wiring inside the microwave might ultimately result in arcing, which may end up resulting in a fire hazard.
How To Minimize Explosion Risks of Microwaves
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Most microwaves tend to come with an instructions manual which often contains important safety instructions and plenty of other useful information. Thus, before operating a microwave, it is extremely important to always go through this useful resource thoroughly.
Many times, the instructions manual will contain safety instructions, grounding instructions, materials that should never go into a microwave, how to set up the microwave properly and so forth.
If you have no idea where you placed your instructions manual, then you can always download a copy online free of charge.
Some of the places where you can find a copy of the instructions manual include the manufacturer’s website and the retailer’s website.
If you are not able to find a copy in these places, then you can always reach out to the customer support of your respective brand.
Avoid Overheating
In addition to always referring to the instruction manual, it is also extremely important to avoid running your microwave when empty or overcooking meals.
As mentioned earlier, doing any of these will at times result in a sudden build-up of energy which will cause serious damage to the capacitor and other internal electrical components.
That being said, it is always extremely important to ensure that you have something inside your microwave at all times. In addition, when cooking meals that take longer, you should always do this at intervals to avoid overheating the microwave.
Clean the Microwave Regularly
You should also clean the microwave regularly. This includes wiping off any splatters or debris inside the cooking chamber once you are through with cooking or warming food.
In instances where there is spillage inside the microwave, you should wipe it immediately and follow the recommended practices and procedures.
By cleaning your microwave regularly, you will not only ensure that it is safe to protect the internal components of the microwave.
If you are cleaning your microwave but are not able to remove the burnt smell from the microwave, then you should check out the linked post.
Follow Food Packaging Guidelines
It is also extremely important to always stick to the food packaging guidelines or instructions at all times. Doing this will go a long way in ensuring that you do not end up overcooking or undercooking your meals.
Many times, most food labels or cooking instructions will come with a different wattage rating to that of your microwave. Thus, it is highly advisable to convert the cooking time indicated on the food label to one that’s in line with the wattage rating of your microwave.
For this, you can always use our microwave time conversion tool. Our microwave wattage converter will help eliminate the guesswork from your cooking and also prevent you from overcooking meals which will often result in overheating, damaged capacitors and bad taste.
If you are not able to find the wattage rating of your microwave, then you can always refer to the linked post. The post provides a detailed summary of all the places where you can find the wattage rating of any microwave.
Avoid Tampering with the Microwave
At Appliance Camp, we always encourage our readers to reach out to a professional especially if they have no background in electric/wiring.
Thus, if you have no idea of what you are doing especially when trying to perform microwave repairs, then it’s highly advisable to refrain from doing any repairs on your own and contact a specialist or professional.
Doing this will not only guarantee your safety but will also go a long way in ensuring that your microwave is in perfect working condition at all times.
