OT: how safe is your microwave?

[SuzE-Q]

Since the reason I don't have a microwave to make Cat's delicious fudge at home is because I was worried about the age of my last one, and whether it could be leeching microwaves since it was such a dinosaur, I thought you'd all enjoy this way to check your own microwaves.

I wish I'd known this test before I threw mine out, but if I ever get a new one, I am going to perform this test just to reassure myself, even though microwaves may only be emitting nonionizing radiation which is actually not harmful to our DNA anyway unless we've heated up our tissues with it.

But this is an interesting way to check your own microwave, just make sure you don't turn it on!

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[agate]

I think I'll wait and do this test a little later, when I'm not quite so busy, but thank you for posting the information. I just hesitate to do anything at all with my microwave or my cellphone other than the usual jobs they do.

[Howie]

I'm with you Agate. If it's unsafe, so be it. It hasn't killed me yet, and cooks well, but I admit, it needs a good cleaning inside. I just keep putting it off!

[Cat Dancer]

I never really bought into the idea that the microwave oven was a great risk. I don't stand in front of it (or in my case, sit in front of it) while cooking anyway. We're not careless with ours.. don't drop it on the floor or anything. I have had a couple break ... usually they'll simply not work, or in one case, caught fire! (ooops!) But again, I'm jst not hanging around it, so whatever rays it might put off are pretty far away from me. :)

[agate]

I'm not afraid of being hurt by the microwave but I'm very afraid that I'll damage the microwave.

Heavy pricey gadget I'd just have to replace.

[Howie]

I would hate to replace mine too because it sits on top of the fridge. I was in better shape when I put it up there, and it was really hard to do then. I wouldn't even try now.

[agate]

Yes, moving a microwave any distance at all is a major project!

Every now and again I get the very ambitious idea of cleaning the counter top under the microwave. I slide the microwave along in various ways until I get the job done. It's not so easy because there's not much space to slide it onto but I'm very determined not to lift it. I don't think I could safely lift it.

Every time I've moved it to another spot in the kitchen I've transported it on wheels by sliding it onto a wheeled cabinet and just rolling the cabinet.

It's my way of moving anything heavy. I've worked fairly diligently to get some items of furniture on wheels. I have 4 cabinets on wheels and one chair on wheels, besides the wheelchair, and the bed is on casters. I'm so glad someone invented the wheel.

That person and the person who invented air conditioning are my all-time favorite heroes.

[Howie]

Because of this post, I cleaned my toaster oven. Tomorrow when I go to the store, I'm getting aluminum foil. I should have before. The solid tray at the very bottom worked me to death, but with foil covering the bottom, every now and then take out the old, and put in the new, and the tray stays clean.

The next project is to give the microwave a complete cleaning. All I ever microwave are my daily Compleats dinners, and you just pull a small part of the corner to let it vent. How the microwave gets so dirty, all I can figure is the dinner spits juices the whole time. But they are a good meal, and fast, and kept in the cabinet, so I won't give them up.

[SuzE-Q]

My microwave door had a chip in the corner, so that's why I wasn't 100% sure the seal wasn't broken. I wish I'd known I could just put my cellphone inside and call it or activate its wifi while inside to know for sure.

Another reason I was fine with tossing it was that it was over 20 years old and I figured standards and technology had probably improved since then. I'd intended to get a new one (agate, they're actually quite cheap these days compared to how expensive they used to be!), but found I wasn't missing it, except for reheating my cup of tea. And now Cat's fudge.

Howie, I got a new full size oven recently and was surprised to read in the manual about not putting one of those aluminium trays in the bottom. So, I just looked up toaster oven, and it also lists reasons to think twice before putting foil in the bottom. It also gives suggestions on how to do it if you're going to.

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[Howie]

Thanks Suze. I will look for Parchment Paper tomorrow when I go to the store. I just want the drippings to not stick to the drip tray.

I was eating Garlic Sticks which did not drip at all, but have been getting buttered toast, and buttered garlic toast lately, and it is quite messy, even getting it out of the box, and onto the rack.

Thanks for the info!

[Catdancer]

Parchment paper can show up.either in the baking section, or the section with foil, waxed paper, plastic wrap.

We use our micro probably a half dozen times a day: make tea, reheat coffee, bacon and eggs, reheat leftovers, baked potatoes,,popcorn....don't know how I managed without one.

[Howie]

NOTHING can fry bacon as perfectly as a microwave. I always put it on, and covered, with a paper towel. I'm getting hungry!

[Virginia]

Cat, are you saying you cook eggs in the microwave?

Mine is a built in over the stove type, so even though it is 23 years old I would hate to see it go.

[SuzE-Q]

I agree, I DID enjoy microwaved bacon!

Yes, popcorn. I'd forgotten about that. I do miss that, but I guess I've been buying it pre-popped, so we haven't entirely gone without. I'm sure if I walk by one on sale in a store, or see an ad for one that can be delivered, I'll probably pick it up. I'm intending on moving though, so I have been on the fence of whether it should be white, black or metal-toned. That's another reason I've hesitated.

Howie, I cooked something in the toaster oven with a piece of parchment paper underneath.

When I was taking it out, the paper inadvertently touched one of the elements and caught fire. It burns fast. And high, especially when it's already hot and stiff from being in the oven for a while. And like paper, it curls, which is why mine was no longer flat on the pan any longer.

I won't use parchment paper again in there, even under food, because I had a scary difficult time getting a flaming piece out safely without causing a mess. That was not a good experience for me. I can't say I'd trust a piece laying so close beneath the heating element. My toaster oven had been turned off already too, so the element was no longer fiery red.

[Howie]

I think I'm just going to use the drip tray with nothing on it like I've done for YEARS, and it just now caught my attention it needed cleaning. AND I'm going back to garlic sticks which don't drip at all, and I have an unopened box in the freezer right now. Problem SOLVED!