You gave the straight dope on microwaving metal here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940923a.html
I once saw on tv a man put a piece of metal inside a microwave without creating sparks. He said that as long as the metal was not touching the sides, it would not spark. I think he put it on top of tupaware so that the metal was ewually distant from all 6 sides. Since you cannot believe everything you see on tv, but you can believe everything you read from the Straight Dope, I am asking you if this is possible. And if so, why? He also put some light bulbs in there and made them glow but that is whole other thread.
Thanks
Perhaps this would get more responses if it was posted in “Comments on Cecil’s Columns”?
Then again, I think there’s already a thread in there on this subject…
I agree… that is where I thought I posted this thing. I just now went to check it there and did not find it. I searched for it and found it here. WTF…
I put metal in my microwave all the time, but you have to be careful. The trick is to not reflect a lot of the microwave energy, and not to put anything with a resonance at 2450 MHz. Also, don’t put anything near the sides of the microwave, or shapes of metal where sparks could jump from one piece to another.
For example, don’t put a fork in, since you could get sparks between the tines, but a spoon is ok (don’t keep the handle near the side though). I usually try to keep the metal end of the utensil in the food (e.g. a spoon in the coffee or soup, or knife under the food on a plate).
I’ve seen microwave recipies that direct you to put strips of aluminum foil over certain parts of the food to control the cooking (the foil would reflect the microwaves and prevent the area under it from cooking).
Arjuna34