Microwave - do you put a spoon in a cup?

That’s a new one for me. I’ve blown a microwave doing something similar ? How odd!

Perhaps modern microwaves are different? I'd imagine a huge bang in mine?

I've just googled it. As you aren't heating the liquid for long, the spoon acts as a conductor and dissipates the heat evenly throughout the liquid. Let us know how you get on!

You're right FarNorth, never put a metal spoon in the microwave. Or metal anything else!

I've no idea what they are suggesting. A non metallic spoon would be safe I suppose. Or just don't allow the water to get too hot. Or leave it in the microwave for a minute to cool down after you've heated it.

But the container should do the same job as the spoon would...oh, I give up! But no metal, definitely!

Shandy57

I've just googled it. As you aren't heating the liquid for long, the spoon acts as a conductor and dissipates the heat evenly throughout the liquid. Let us know how you get on!

But it's a liquid. Just stir it.

No metal. No metal! ?

I put something with a metal trim in once by mistake and the microwave made a horrible noise!
What about using a wooden teaspoon or chopstick?

The problem is that liquid heated in the microwave could boil over when you stir after you take it out of the microwave and scald you.

This reminded me of a tip my mother gave me years ago - if pouring hot tea into eggshell porcelain, put a metal spoon into the cup otherwise the cup could crack. It dissipates the heat.

Needless to say, I have never served afternoon tea in the delicate porcelain I inherited.

My microwave has a metal rack for the combination cooking and grilling - so I don't see why not.

Quick pop quiz...

Has anybody here ever experienced any problems heating water in a microwave?

If the answer is no, just keep doing what you're doing.

Hetty58

My microwave has a metal rack for the combination cooking and grilling - so I don't see why not.

Because it's a combination oven.

Sure *FarNorth", have a go.

What could possibly go wrong? (Answer - your house might burn down)

According to this, a spoon is fine but not a fork:

blog.lakeland.co.uk/metal-in-the-microwave/

I didnthe same as Callistemon, lovely bone China bowl with a gold trim. BOOM! End of bowl.

Chewbacca

I didnthe same as Callistemon, lovely bone China bowl with a gold trim. BOOM! End of bowl.

oh dear!

I heard it and stopped it straight away so no harm done.

However, I've reheated gravy in a jug in the microwave, stirred it and it bubbles up alarmingly.
But then, I'm the person who blistered her fingers frying an egg .....

Hetty58

According to this, a spoon is fine but not a fork:

blog.lakeland.co.uk/metal-in-the-microwave/

Who knew!

I didn't think it would harm the spoon but I did think it could damage the magnetron. That's what we were always told.

Calistemon

Hetty58

According to this, a spoon is fine but not a fork:

blog.lakeland.co.uk/metal-in-the-microwave/

Who knew!

I didn't think it would harm the spoon but I did think it could damage the magnetron. That's what we were always told.

That article talks about a build up of electromagnetic energy. That doesn't happen. It's charge that builds up. Then it discharges causing sparks. A fork is bad because charge builds up preferentially on e.g., points.

I suppose you could take a chance with a spoon. I won't be trying it out. ?

Me neither.

Calistemon

This reminded me of a tip my mother gave me years ago - if pouring hot tea into eggshell porcelain, put a metal spoon into the cup otherwise the cup could crack. It dissipates the heat.

Needless to say, I have never served afternoon tea in the delicate porcelain I inherited.

My mother cracked her 'Old Country Roses' vegetable dish pouring boiling water in it. It stayed in one piece and I still have it but only use it for pot pourri. You can still hear the china moving (grinding noise) when you pick it up after 30 years! Weirdly, though I have the same tea set and have regularly poured boiling water into the teapot with no problems. Maybe the teapot is made of sterner stuff?

No spoons were involved but my Dh once put a slice of Christmas pudding into the microwave on forty minutes instead of forty seconds. I twigged what was going on after a few minutes and yelled at him to stop the microwave but he then opened the door and the kitchen was engulfed in smoke! ? It tooks days and days to dissipate. ??

From the Lakeland link :

The best way to stay safe is to carefully read the manufacturer’s manual supplied with your microwave.

It's true!
I was very safe while carefully reading the manual.

a vegetable dish is not intended to have boiling water poured into it.
a teapot is. that's the difference.
the manufacturers would not have sold many if the teapot was not fit for purpose.

I have boiled water in a microwave in a pyrex jug and a plastic one. Never boiled over. I would never put metal into a microwave. I brought a new Samsung one 18 months ago . The hand book warns against anything metal in the microwave it was in large bold letters. Had my old one over 20+ years never put metal in that either. Never wanted my microwave to explode.

I boil a mug of lemon water for 10 mins to clean microwave, never used a spoon, and it’s never boiled over. I have a Samsung combination oven, so can use metal in some programmes.

No, to my mind spoons and microwaves should never meet!
I heat up gravy sometimes and I cover the jug with the smallest piece of clingfilm and perforate with tip of a knife before it goes in the microwave.
This won’t appeal to grans who are trying to go plastic free. ?

No not if it’s metal
I ve blown a microwave up with a flipping jacket potato