Moving into my apartment, I was perplexed when I checked out my appliances. The stainless steel fridge and dishwasher were great upgrades, but the microwave made me pause. I spotted a rack inside, just like in a conventional oven. Ever since trying to soften a foil-wrapped pat of butter in the microwave as a kid, I've always known you weren't supposed to put metal in the microwave...
Metal in the Microwave and Other 'WTF?' Tech Moments
But apparently there's a reason you can leave that obviously metallic rack in the microwave. We checked out a script from a radio show out of the California Institute of Technology hosted by alumna Sandra Tsing Loh, "The Loh Down on Science," that gives us a clue:
Microwave ovens produce electromagnetic waves that jiggle electrons ... that motion [is what] heats up your food. The electrons in metal are mobile—they can move freely among atoms—and that's where microwave problems start.A thin metal like aluminum foil doesn't have room for all the wiggling, roving electrons. Instead, they bang into aluminum atoms, and then other aluminum atoms, and the
foil heats up [and] catches fire. Sharp edges and points—like on a fork—can also be prickly. Electrons congregate in the edges and points, building up negative charge. Eventually, they start leaping off, causing sparks.But when the metal is thick [and] smooth with rounded edges [like] that metal rack, the moving electrons can bounce around freely while rarely hitting another metal atom. [The] rack doesn't get hot!
Who knew? There was a simple physics answer for a perplexing piece of home technology. Is there anything else about your home computer, TV or appliances that makes you say, "Huh?"
Email us your question or let us know in the comments and we'll see if we can solve the mystery together!
Image: Taryn
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Okay, here's a wild experiment I did with my Daisy Girl Scouts.
We took an ordinary incadescent light bulb, placed it in a glass measuring cup that had just enough water in it to rest the base in it, then turned on the microwave for about a minute.
The lightbulb LIT...showing the kindergarteners that there's electricity everywhere...even in WATER!
*****
I remember my parents' combo microwave/convection oven had a metal rack in it as well. Never thought as to why it didn't ignite.
**** One more thing I wanna share ****
My hubby, daughter and I were at an Arby's restaurant. We ordered 3 of their turnovers. After we ate our meal, my daughter wanted her turnover warmed, so hubby suggested asking. He said, "What's the wort thing that could happen? They say 'no' to you?"
She took it up to the counter and asked if it could be heated. The counter person took it to the back, placed it on a piece an Arby wrapper, and nuked it. A couple moments later, he opened the door and noticed IT WAS ON FIRE! The turnover AND the paper!
Whenever hubby starts to say, "So What's the worst that could happen?" my daughter and I start giggling, now knowing one answer could be, "it gets placed on an Arby's wrapper that goes into the microwave and catches on fire!"
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Of course! Just like you can staple a paper bag with some popcorn kernels shut and throw it in the microwave without it catching on fire.
Oh, Alton Brown, what would I do without you?
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