Can you put metal in a microwave oven?

Answer

NO, it will spark and maybe smoke.

Answer

NO BAD IDEA. Metal will cause the magnatron to over heat and the oven will be useless. Don't do it.

Answer

The metal will also causing arching in the microwave. Just say NO to metal in the microwave.

you are all twats permits it, but even so, I don't make a regular practice of it!!!!

Generally, as has been said, NO, it isn't a good idea!!!!

If in doubt, DON'T!!!!

BUT, after all, the cavity you put your things into, to be heated by the microwave, is METAL isn't it!!!!

If metal IS permitted by the manufacturer, just make sure you FOLLOW ALL their instructions & be sure it's not touching the metal cavity inside, or the metal parts of the turn table, or each other, so it won't arc.

For example, if permitted, you could probably warm up a bottle of olive oil, from the fridge, thats solidified from the cold, and leave the metal cap on the bottle, IF it doesn't touch the inside of the microwaves cavity.

You could for instance, if permitted, wrap the bony part of say, chicken legs, with metal foil, as long as it's not touching each other, or the insides of the microwave, so they wouldn't cook too quickly & dry out the meat.

BUT ONLY use metal in your microwave, IF your manufacturer says it's ok to do so & ONLY do it the WAY he said is permissible.

Or as has been said, it could damage the microwaves power tube.

Just some additional thoughts for considration.

Answer

The only time you should use metal in the microwave is if youre heating a luncheon product like the Chef Boyardee bowls or Swanson soups,and make sure you put the plastic lid back on after you open it and before you think about heating it.

Another answer

Here's a suggestion. Let the manufacturer make the call on this one. No one on this board can tell for sure without the owners manual or the model number of the machine in question (so one could look at the owner's manual). "No" is a safe answer, but it may not be correct. A microwave has some cooking capabilities that may not be obvious, and anyone who has one of these puppies should know whether or not something like foil can be used inside it. Some microwave ovens allow a bit of foil over a portion of a food item being cooked, like the ends of drumstick on a bird. If the manufacturer's manual is not handy, it may be possible to go to the manufacturer's web site and actually view it online. Certainly the pamphlet can be had by ordering it. Get the manual. Read it. There might be several things in there that weren't obvious. Like whether or not foil can be used in the oven.

A link is provided to the USDA page with microwave use and safety suggestions. Surf on over and scroll down to the section on the use of foil and see what they have to say.

***Yes, you can indeed put metal ina microwave. However if you turn the microwave on with the metal still inside, it would not be good for the microwave, the metal, or any spectators not suitably shielded due to the many reasons presented above. For that reason, I would not advise doing it unless in the presence of a qualified explosives expert.***

Practical (Correct) Answer

Don't freak out people. Just don't let the metal touch or come close to the metal casing and all will be well. People freak out about the smallest things. Manufacturers tell you not to do so that they are covered on all bases because there are STUPID PEOPLE. It doesn't mean that if you put the fork or something in the microwave it will ruin it.

Try it. Put a fork in the microwave and cook something with the fork in there. Aaahhh if you tried it you will see nothing happened. Now try letting it touch the edge for a second. Aaaahh you see sparks, but all is well.

LEARN....JUST LEARN....how a microwave works.....it HAS METAL ON THE INSIDE PEOPLE....seriously take a physics class....

Comment on above

I disagree with the above comment about "It doesn't mean that if you put the fork or something in the microwave it will ruin it" because our microwave was ruined by doing exactly that: a grandaughter left a spoon in the microwave bowl when she put it in our microwave oven, which melted a hole in the bottom of the bowl, and wrecked the oven. We didn't know this had happened until after she had left in a hurry without telling anyone, when we wondered why the oven didn't subsequently work. I don't know if the spoon touched the metal sides or not, but knowingly putting metal in a microwave oven is not wise or recommended, even if the manufacturer says you can do it. As all arcing degrades the life of the Magnetron, and it's in the best interests of the manufacturer to sell you another Oven , it means it's shortsighted to knowingly put metal in a Microwave oven unless you have more money than sense. Just because you got away with it this time doesn't mean you will next time.

By the way, the question is not worded properly: it should be "SHOULD you put metal in a microwave [oven]?" It's a bit like saying "Can you put a gun to your head and pull the trigger?" Of course you can, but it's not recommended!

Comment

The manufacturer of my microwave oven included a metal shelf. (It looks similar to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Microwave_metal_shelf.JPG ).

If the manufacturer of this oven recommends putting this metal shelf in the oven, who am I to say that's wrong? The oven seems to work fine with the metal shelf that came with it.

First answer by Buntingj. Last edit by DavidCary. Contributor trust: 3 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 102 [recommend question]