Microwaved water - a MUST read

[Finedon.Dandy]

I for one did not know this - I got this email from my Aussie relatives.


"I think most of us know that water or milk etc when just removed from the microwave can expand alarmingly, especially when putting spoon or substance into the fluid. But I am sending this as a reminder.


A 26-year old decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he told me he wanted to bring the water to a boil..

When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face, which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye.

While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven.. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as: a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc. It is however a much safer choice to boil the water in a tea kettle.


General Electric's (GE) response:

Thanks for contacting us. I will be happy to assist you.

The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.

To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or adding anything into it.


If you pass this on, you could very well save someone from a lot of pain and suffering."




I was soooo shocked when I read this; I just had to pass onto my grape family.

Tammy

[Kristen]

FWIW the link below site says that it can happen, but is rare and conditions will need to be "near perfect" for it to happen, and the water to hit you in the face.

They have the same text as your Email, which suggests that its been doing the rounds.

snopes.com: Superheated Microwaved Water

Not to imply that it couldn't happen ...

[Hilary B]

Yes, it CAN happen, and yes, probably not often. I always use a measuring jug to heat water or milk in the microwave for coffee, leaving plenty of room, and with the container wider at the top than at surface level, that way if it DOES decide to suddenly expand, it loses much of the potential force, also the jug being see-through, you can tell whether it is boiling without leaning over the top....

[Alison]

Probably could happen but regardless of any dangers, it's a heck of a lot easier to use a kettle anyway!

[BarleySugar]

When I worked in the lab we always had to add anti-bumping granules to liquids we were boiling. The problem occurs when the liquid becomes 'super heated', because the gas bubbles do not form. Once the liquid is moved, or a spoon inserted, the gas will be released and cause an 'explosion'. It doesn't happen very often in the home because there are usually particles in the liquid which act as a focus for the gas bubbles to form on. There's a lot of techniqual jargon to explain it, but this is basically what happens, as I remember it. There is more potential in a microwave than on the hob as the heat builds up in the centre, rather than at the edge of the container.

[Matt.]

As another issue about the dangers of maicrowaving I've read a few articles about the uncertainaity about what the microwaving process does. If you look on the net there are loads of non scientfic experiments where people have watered plants with (cooled) microwaved water vs regular tap. It certainly appears to kill plants. Also stuff on breast milk and the negative effects that microwaving has.

I don't know if any of this is true or not but I know I'm not keen on using the microwave unless necessary. I certainly won't use it for heating water to drink!

[SlugLobber]

Anti-bumping granules! Now there's a blast from the past!

It is quite rare for water alone to do this, but I don't understand why anyone would heat water in this way! Melting agarose gel is notorious for doing it, which is why I let it stand for a few seconds before removing it. Poor lad, though!

[SueA]

I've never used the microwave to heat water or just a liquid up but know plenty of people who make cups of coffee or warm up their cup of tea in it, wonder if that could react in the same way? I'd rather just put the kettle on.

[HeyWayne]

I've never used the microwave to heat water or just a liquid up but know plenty of people who make cups of coffee or warm up their cup of tea in it, wonder if that could react in the same way? I'd rather just put the kettle on.

Just make sure they don't leave the spoon in it!

I for one prefer to use the kettle.

[zazen999]

We got rid of our microwave; tool of the devil.

[Alison]

The only thing I find our microwave useful for is bringing things to room temperature whilst keeping them away from the cats. Don't do this by acutally powering it up, just put things in and close the door to let a bit of time do it's magic. Can't remember the last time I actually turned it on but it is a very useful little cupboard on the work side!

[willowstar]

kettles aren't common in lots of countries though...my mum struggles to find decent kettles in the US, so lots of my American friends use the microwave for tea/coffee etc...

[Alison]

A friend of mine who has relative in the US reckons that the reason that tea isn't that popular over there (in comparison with here) is that they use the microwave to heat the water up and therefore don't make proper tea with boiling water. Just doesn't taste right. OK for herbal but not for a traditional cuppa. She bought her relatives a proper kettle and they now drink loads of tea - probably not true for everybody but was for them!