When talking about water and a microwave oven, it is almost certain that the topic is related to heating water in a microwave oven or boiling water in a microwave oven. Most of us have used the microwave oven to help us in our cooking chores. Microwave cooking is considered to be quick, neat and safe, it is the issue of boiling water in a microwave that needs special mention. This is because, lack of awareness regarding how to boil water in a microwave oven, could be dangerous.
Should A Microwave Be Used To Boil Water.
Before we get into the details, we would like to mention that boiling water in a microwave can be done in a safe and effective manner. There are a few simple precautions that need to be followed, but it might not be easy to ensure that everyone in the house follows them. For this reason, we would suggest that you avoid using the microwave to boil water at home. This might not be something that the microwave oven manufacturers would want to hear, but it is true. It is not uncommon to see children aged around 10 to 12 years using the microwave for heating snacks or other foodstuffs. They are just too small to understand the dangers, of heating water in the microwave. We have mentioned that boiling water in the microwave could be dangerous, we will now try to understand what exactly could happen when the microwave is used to heat or boil water.
The Normal Steps Used To Boil Water.
Boiling water in the microwave or using a conventional burner to do the task would be quite similar. You would first pour the water in a vessel that is meant to be used in a microwave and place the vessel in the microwave, then shut the door of the microwave oven. The settings would be done according to the manual supplied with the microwave oven. The microwave would be switched on and you would wait for the alloted time to be completed. You would wait for the microwave to shut off, open the door and take the vessel out. This is where you need to be careful, the process of taking out the boiled water from the microwave oven is where the true danger lurks. Our entire article on boiling water in a microwave, centers around this simple step of taking the boiled water out of the microwave.
Boiling Water In The Microwave, The Dangerous Step.
You would have followed all the instructions in the manual and are now ready to take the boiled water out of the microwave oven. The door is opened and you lift the vessel out of the microwave, at this moment there is a real possibility of the hot water, bursting on your face. Now remember that, this is a true danger that could occur when you try to boil water in a microwave oven. There is a long scientific explanation to why this happens, but to most of us the pain and agony of having the hot water splash across the face is far more important. Briefly, we would like to say that a vessel containing only water, when heated in a microwave could cause this painful accident. This danger of boiling water in a microwave increases if the vessel is smooth, a ceramic mug of water is a good example. The water that is boiled in a microwave is said to be 'superheated' and the mildest jerk of the vessel causes the trapped heat to quickly escape.
How Can You Safely Boil Water In A Microwave.
We would recommend that you use a conventional water heater or burner when boiling water. However if you are interested in knowing a safe way to boil water in the microwave, read the details in this paragraph. Always use a vessel that is clearly marked as 'microwave-able', not all vessels are suitable for microwave use. When boiling water in a microwave for making a cup of coffee or tea, add the coffee powder or place the tea bag in the vessel before turning on the microwave. Remember to do this before turning on the microwave and not after the water has boiled in the microwave. You could also place a small wooden spoon or stick (normally provided to stir the coffee) in the vessel before turning on the microwave. In both cases the action should be done before the microwave is turned on to start the boiling process. The coffee powder, tea leaf, tea bag or wooden stick or spoon would reduce the chances of the microwave boiled water becoming superheated. Make sure that,the spoon or stick placed in the vessel is a wooden one and not made of steel or plastic.
The microwave would normally turn itself off once the water boiling process is completed. Do not rush to take the microwave boiled water out of the microwave oven. It is safer to assume that the water boiled in the microwave, would be superheated despite the precautions taken. Open the door of the microwave oven and leave the vessel in the oven for a few minutes. Do not add a wooden spoon, coffee powder or tea bag at this stage, it should have been done before turning the microwave on. Leave the vessel in the oven as, this would allow some of the heat trapped in the vessel to be released.
Most people would be in a hurry to use the boiled water and this could de dangerous with microwave boiled water. After you have finished boiling the water in the microwave and let the vessel stand still for a while, be careful when taking the vessel out of the microwave. Hold the vessel away from your face and body, this extra precaution is a very good practice that should be strictly followed. The above advice if strictly followed, would ensure your safety when boiling water in a microwave.
Special Caution When Boiling Water In A Microwave At Home.
These are a few random thoughts and suggestions regarding boiling water in a microwave at home. If you have young children in the house who are accustomed to using the microwave, avoid boiling water in the microwave oven. It is very unlikely that the children will follow all the above detailed steps to ensure that, they safely boil water in the microwave oven. Very elderly people are prone to be forgetful and should be advised not to boil water in the microwave.
We mentioned above that, the water that is boiled in the microwave should be left in the microwave for some time even after boiling. Ensure that the possibility does not arise where you leave the vessel in the microwave oven and someone (in your absence) tries to remove the vessel from the microwave. The best thing would be for you to wait near the microwave oven that has the boiled water, four to five minutes would be sufficient unless the volume of water is very high.
Ensure that at least one senior member of the family has, read and understood the entire manual that came with your microwave. This is very important and any additional information that you get regarding issues like how to boil water in the microwave, would be very good. The person who has read the complete manual can then explain the essential issues to the other members in the family.
This article has been written with the intention of getting people to understand how, a simple thing like boiling water in a microwave, could be dangerous. If you are interested in the technical reasons for the peculiar behavior of microwave superheated boiled water, read the full report at this link
http://www.health.food-recipe-cooking.com/boiling-water-in-a-microwave-01.htm
Or you can read the complete section of health articles at this link where, you will find many important and interesting health and safety issues that have been explained in a lucid and simple manner.
http://www.health.food-recipe-cooking.com/health-all.htm
The information is provided in the public interest and is not a sales gimmick, so please view it in the right perspective. Send this link to a friend, relative or acquaintance and they will be grateful that you cared.
Posted: 2007-03-25 06:16:04