Sparks in the microwave

[adam]

Has anyone tried the Hormel rice cups? They taste good and they are perfect little meals for my baby but the damn things seem like a safey hazard. The container has a metal rim around it and when I nuke it, as the directions tell you to, I get lots of sparks and the cup bounces up and down in the microwave. That can't be good for my microwave can it?

I'm positive that I following the instructions correctly and I'm not overheating it either. It takes about 45 secs to 1 min to heat up and it starts reacting after 10 secs.

[Mr. Dweezel]

I accidently put a plate into the microwave that had a gold trim on it.

The spark blew a hole in the protective mesh on the glass door.

[BJ_M]

thats going to kill the microwave at some point ....

you sure you have the cups right on the floor of the microwave (should reduce the effect greatly) ?

[Craig Tucker]

Don't put anything with any metal on it in the microwave. Empty the contents into another container for heating.

[adam]

Well I know thats what you're supposed to do I'm just suprised that the manufacturer says not to.

[zzyzzx]

Have you called the manufacturer?

[Conquest10]

Do the bowls have a top to them? I remember using some bowls before (I think it was chef boyardee) that had metal on the rim but with a plastic top over it. I was really scared to turn it on but I saw no sparks.

[adam]

Yeah that's exactly how the bowl is. It bounces around like crazy when I nuke it.

No zzyzzx I haven't called the manufacturer yet.

[AlecWest]

I accidently put a plate into the microwave that had a gold trim on it.

The spark blew a hole in the protective mesh on the glass door.

I once had a coffee mug that I "thought" had gold-colored lettering on it. But when I put it into the microwave, the sparks flew. In short, it wasn't "gold-colored" - it was "gold" lettering. Oddly though, the gold changed color (darkened) and no sparks flew after the first time.

But, if I had hurt the microwave, I could have still claimed innocense. Prior to that, my ex put an eggplant into the microwave and it (ulp) exploded. Sounded like a cherry bomb going off and a lot of ugly smelly smoke came out of it. Once the microwave was cleaned up, though, it worked just fine. But if my mug had killed it, I could have always said, "Don't know what happened, dear. Just got this eggplant smell for a second and it stopped working."

[Mr. Dweezel]

"Don't know what happened, dear.

That's nasty, but I'll write it down in case I ever need an excuse!!

[hech54]

Believe it or not...most microwaves sold in North America cannot handle metal in them....not the same for microwaves here in Europe however where people looked at me like I was from the planet Zoltar when I mentioned "no metal in the microwave".

Almost once each week I place an aluminum tray with a frozen fish/boxed dinner type of thing in my microwave and thaw it a bit before placing it in a conventional oven....something I would NEVER do back home in America.

Many conventional ovens here in Germany also double as microwaves....and you can even cook with both at one time(many prepackaged/TV dinner type meals have instruction for both "microwave oven" and "conventional oven"). These types of "microwave ovens" have been around for quite a long time too.

"Metal in the microwave" also has alot to do the the general shape of the metal too. A rolled up ball of aluminum foil or a spoon sticking out of a cup or bowl will also send my microwave into a tailspin...but not as bad as a microwave in North America.

Strange but true guys.

[smearbrick1]

Adam, you never clarified... you are leaving the plastic lid on the cup but removing the inner lid, correct?

[thecoalman]

I say you blow one up and sue them for post traumatic stress sydrome. :P

I know a few lawyers that would probably take the case...

Seriously though if you do cantact them keep us up to date, I'd like to here what they have to say.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Believe it or not...most microwaves sold in North America cannot handle metal in them....not the same for microwaves here in Europe however where people looked at me like I was from the planet Zoltar when I mentioned "no metal in the microwave".

Almost once each week I place an aluminum tray with a frozen fish/boxed dinner type of thing in my microwave and thaw it a bit before placing it in a conventional oven....something I would NEVER do back home in America.

Many conventional ovens here in Germany also double as microwaves....and you can even cook with both at one time(many prepackaged/TV dinner type meals have instruction for both "microwave oven" and "conventional oven"). These types of "microwave ovens" have been around for quite a long time too.

"Metal in the microwave" also has alot to do the the general shape of the metal too. A rolled up ball of aluminum foil or a spoon sticking out of a cup or bowl will also send my microwave into a tailspin...but not as bad as a microwave in North America.

Strange but true guys.

I hear you can play NTSC DVD's on European microwave ovens.

BTW...anybody put a CD/DVD in a microwave oven?

[adam]

smearbrick1 I'm doing exactly what the directions say. I remove the plastic lid, pull off the metal seal top, shake my head as I see the rim of the container is made of metal too, then replace the plastic lid. Then I stand back and enjoy the fireworks.

[Conquest10]

That's weird. I was expecting the sparks and didn't get any but you do. What type of microwave do you have?

[adam]

The name of the manufacturer is Goldstar. Its a fairly small and really cheap microwave that mounts over the stove.

You didn't get sparks but did your cup react at all? Mine bounces so high it hits the roof of the microwave.

Maybe the Chefboyardee ones aren't as bad. The packaging looks identical but there may be less metal.

[zzyzzx]

I'm still waiting for the results from the phone call. I mean it's possible that the food company is unaware of what the packaging company is doing to them, or something like that.

[Conquest10]

No, no reaction at all. It was like a just put in a regular bowl. Does the lid cover the metal?

[adam]

Yes the lid fits snugly and totally covers the metal. The sparks look as if they just go straight through the plastic. To be honest its hard to tell because the cup keeps jumping around all over the place.

I wasn't plannign on ever contacting the manufacturer since I really don't care, I just thought it was strange and wondered if it was just my quirky microwave. But for the sake of discussion I'll give them a call or email tomorrow.

[thecoalman]

Yes the lid fits snugly and totally covers the metal. The sparks look as if they just go straight through the plastic. To be honest its hard to tell because the cup keeps jumping around all over the place.
.

This sounds entertaining, how about a video. Possibly an entry for the Baldrick... if they hold it again.

[hech54]

Believe it or not...most microwaves sold in North America cannot handle metal in them....not the same for microwaves here in Europe however where people looked at me like I was from the planet Zoltar when I mentioned "no metal in the microwave".

Almost once each week I place an aluminum tray with a frozen fish/boxed dinner type of thing in my microwave and thaw it a bit before placing it in a conventional oven....something I would NEVER do back home in America.

Many conventional ovens here in Germany also double as microwaves....and you can even cook with both at one time(many prepackaged/TV dinner type meals have instruction for both "microwave oven" and "conventional oven"). These types of "microwave ovens" have been around for quite a long time too.

"Metal in the microwave" also has alot to do the the general shape of the metal too. A rolled up ball of aluminum foil or a spoon sticking out of a cup or bowl will also send my microwave into a tailspin...but not as bad as a microwave in North America.

Strange but true guys.

I hear you can play NTSC DVD's on European microwave ovens.

BTW...anybody put a CD/DVD in a microwave oven?

I swear there was a thread about that here once....a DVDR in the microwave.

[offline]

Never microwave with plastic either - it releases dioxins into the food.

[BJ_M]

Yes the lid fits snugly and totally covers the metal. The sparks look as if they just go straight through the plastic. To be honest its hard to tell because the cup keeps jumping around all over the place.

I wasn't plannign on ever contacting the manufacturer since I really don't care, I just thought it was strange and wondered if it was just my quirky microwave. But for the sake of discussion I'll give them a call or email tomorrow.

i also find it odd that there is a tight lid over something you are microwaving ... as it allows pressure to build up and could blow off

[Conquest10]

There are little holes on the top of the lid.

[adam]

Well the plot thickens I guess. I tried one of the herb roasted rice with chickens today and it made the same weird popping noises as before but no sparks or bouncing around. Its the same manufacturer, Hormel Rice Cups. So the ones that do it are the terriaki chickens and its done it all three times I've cooked those.

So if you want to have some fun buy Hormel Terriaki chicken rice cups and see if you can make them blow up your microwave. How's that for an ad pitch?

I'll try and take some video of it when I get a chance but I'll have to wait til the wife is gone otherwise she will just make fun of me.

[träskmannen]

I hear you can play NTSC DVD's on European microwave ovens.

Of course you can't. They will only play PAL uless you use hacked firmware...

[ZippyP.]

I swear there was a thread about that here once....a DVDR in the microwave.

I've done it, lots of cool sparks. A quick and dirty way to erase a disk. It's a bit smelly as I recall.

[tweedledee]

I hear you can play NTSC DVD's on European microwave ovens.

Of course you can't. They will only play PAL uless you use hacked firmware...

Microwave DVD players can play Lord of the rings in 7 minutes.