Did you know you are never supposed to microwave water alone?

Question

You should never heat a cup on the microwave with JUST water alone. The water can burst up into your face and scald you. Some phenomenon known as "superheating". For some reason it doesn't "boil" and so when you put something in it, it can burst up into your face. Always heat with something in the water (eg tea bag). Best to use a kettle!

Read on at snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/science/microwave.asp

I have heated water occasionally in the microwave but never more than 2 minutes fortunately!

Have you ever done that?

Neither have I tellyouwhat...however problem is solved by letting the cup stand for at least 30 seconds before removing...etc...posted the article which tells you more as I didn't want to write a novel.

People, people, people...chill....I'm giving you a warning....doesn't mean it will happen....sheesh...why do I even give a rats a.s.s.

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You don't need to stop Mari...you just need to:

L E T I T S T A N D F O R 3 0

S E C O N D S....................

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Capishe

*sigh*

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Problem is people (like children) often dont.

G.E. Electric has confirmed this....


aya ya ya ya.....

EXACTLY love....the article is posted and if only SOME PEOPLE would read before commenting....sheesh...now I remember why I never got into teaching...

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THANK YOU to those of you who appreciated the warning.....

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Answer 1

Rarely. But I certainly appreciate the data. I've learned something new today. You're a great sport.
Stay kind and enjoy your star.
Peace be with you, Eve.

Answer 2

Sometimes, when I am working on a deal, late into the early morning hours, at my office, I will drink lots of coffee, and rather than use the percolator to make a fresh pot of coffee, I will just fill the cup with tap water and pop it in the microwave to heat. When I take the cup out of the microwave and add the teaspoon of instant coffee to the hot water, it does boil up, and I would imagine that if I had been standing very close to the cup, I might have had it splash onto my face, but now, thanks to your question, I will be extra careful when I heat the water in the microwave.

Thank you for a great question, you earned a star!

Fire'n'Ice

Answer 3

If you leave it running for about 3 times longer than necessary and then add something, like hot chocolate mix, to the water it will boil up quickly and overflow the cup or mug. It doesn't burst up into your face and, if you follow the instructions which gives you the proper heating time, it won't even overflow .

Answer 4

I've heard that and saw a 20/20 report on it. actually, you CAN nuke it alone for a long time, but the container the water is in MUST NOT be completely smooth. Any ridges, or any small paint bumps painted on your dish in the container prohibits the super heating. And yes, water DOES boil in the microwave.

Answer 5

I do it all the time. I heated a mug of water for 15 minutes one time so it would be easier to clean the microwave. There's warnings on everything, can't live very easily being TOO careful about everything.

Answer 6

Thats bogus, I clean my microwave by putting a cup of water in it for 5 minutes, the gunk comes off very easily. Hasnt bursted on me at all.

Answer 7

Same applies to reheating a cup of tea or coffee or a babies bottle. It creates hotspots.

However, you can heat a jug of water in a micro with a slice of lemon in it to help clean the microwave!

Answer 8

That's good to know!

(puts fork in microwave next to cup of water)

I'm safe now!

Answer 9

Usually I heat up a cup of coffee or milk.

Answer 10

yeah i do it everyday but before i stick anything in my cup,i let the water cool down a bit before i use it.but i didn't know why i was doing that being that i did not know that kind of info.thanks for the heads up.xoxoxo