Microwaving Water!

[icyfroth]

Don't know the veracity of this, but I pass it on ...

A 26-year old man 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 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 suddenly 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 a 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, (nothing
metal).

General Electric's 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 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.

Here is what a local high school science teacher had to say on the matter: 'Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur any time wateris heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a cup).

What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapour bubbles can form. If the cup is very new, then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat that has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point.

What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken.'

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

I always thought that wooden spoon would come in handy lol.

[lyndal1838]

That is not exactly new icy.

I just looked at the instruction book that was with a microwave that was purchased in the late 1970s and it give much the same information...not as much detail of course.

[icyfroth]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

That is not exactly new icy.

I just looked at the instruction book that was with a microwave that was purchased in the late 1970s and it give much the same information...not as much detail of course.

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So? It's still valid, is it not?

[lloydslights]

I'll never forget when I made my first mug of coffee in that manner.  

Fortunately, I take a lot of milk in my mug so there was less water to begin with.  Fortunately, I used to make my coffees on the sink draining board (saves housework with possible spillages .) 

Thereafter one of the signs called the Kitchen, the Laboratory.

DEB

[lyndal1838]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

That is not exactly new icy.

I just looked at the instruction book that was with a microwave that was purchased in the late 1970s and it give much the same information...not as much detail of course.

---

So? It's still valid, is it not?

---

And where did I say it was not valid?

What I have done is confirm that the report you posted is accurate and it has been known for many years.

[icyfroth]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

That is not exactly new icy.

I just looked at the instruction book that was with a microwave that was purchased in the late 1970s and it give much the same information...not as much detail of course.

---

So? It's still valid, is it not?

---

And where did I say it was not valid?

What I have done is confirm that the report you posted is accurate and it has been known for many years.

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Oh well! I'm so glad it has your seal of approval!

[the_great_she_elephant]

Oh well! I'm so glad it has your seal of approval!

SEAL OF APPROVAL

[jimmy*part4]

I needed the reminder. I'd forgotten that, but myth busters says it needs to be distilled water. They also said they couldn't rule out it being possible for other liquids.

I'm impressed...someone saved a manual from the 70s. : )

I never trusted a microwave and avoid using it, but I do sometimes and could see me making that mistake. I have a gas stove that heats things quick enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eIGPvPRzEaQ

[springyzone]

I'm really glad you posted this.

My husband always makes his coffee this way-puts in water and milk and off it goes into the microwave (yuck)

I didn't know the liquid could explode like this. I'll tell him, he won't be happy.

[lyndal1838]

If there is milk in the cup as well it will not behave in the same way as if it is just water.

The instructions for cleaning that old microwave were to boil a cup of water with dishwashing liquid added to clean it.  I have been doing it for over 30 years with no ill effects.