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how to blow up your microwave ????

updated tue 23 jan 01

 

Gwyn Ace on fri 19 jan 01


I don't want to test my theories but I think my nephew
is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking a
terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and then
cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.
He hasn't blown himself up yet but it could be just a matter
of time and luck.
It would seem to me that the water in the walls of the pot could=20
turn to steam and the pot could explode.
Has anyone got personal experience of this technique being used
in a microwave..as it seems to me to be almost suicidal !!!
worried Gwyn in N.Z.
I'm too chicken to test my theory and besides..I love
my microwave.

Anji Henderson on fri 19 jan 01


Yup both sides are intresting .. :) It is easier for
me just not to bother... :) It happened for what ever
reason and well I don't want any one yelling at me or
upset because it happened to them ....

I have some plates that I made a couple few years ago
and I am sick of them (also don't sell used stuff
unless it is to a consingment shop) maybe I shall dubb
them microwaveable and see what happens.... (now my
wonder is do I still have that extended warranty on
the microwave??)

Hummm I wonder if the ones that blew had grog or
sand?? Or maybe I didn't go over them with a rubber
rib (I am forgetfull at times) Who knows ......... :)

Anji


--- mudlark wrote:
> Interesting. Made funtional earthenware for years
> and never had it happen to me or
> ever had it reported. I've had some things heat up a
> bit but found it was with
> work that was just washed (soaked). I use a pretty
> tight body with no sand. 04.
>


=====
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Earl Brunner on fri 19 jan 01


Cooking a cat in your microwave would be suicidal. Vegetables should be ok.
Actually if the terra-cotta pot is open bodied enough he might be on to
something. The water in the clay heats, turns to steam and steams the
vegetables. If it doesn't blow up, it doesn't blow up.

Gwyn Ace wrote:

> I don't want to test my theories but I think my nephew
> is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking a
> terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and then
> cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.
> He hasn't blown himself up yet but it could be just a matter
> of time and luck.
> It would seem to me that the water in the walls of the pot could
> turn to steam and the pot could explode.
> Has anyone got personal experience of this technique being used
> in a microwave..as it seems to me to be almost suicidal !!!
> worried Gwyn in N.Z.
> I'm too chicken to test my theory and besides..I love
> my microwave.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.


--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net

Anji Henderson on fri 19 jan 01


<being used
in a microwave..>>

I have a sneaking suspicion that you really mean the
technique of soaking the pot.. But that is not what I
am talking about ... I have blown up a couple few
Earthen ware things.... I can only account them to the
steam... We no longer make functional earthenware that
can possibly fit in a microwave, nor do we put
earthenware (whats left) in the microwave.......

Hummmm Maybe it works for him because it is uniform,
and mine blew because they were not uniformly soaked??
I don't know .. that last theory doesn't sound like it
holds water to me .. Hahaha Bad pun..

Anji

--- Gwyn Ace wrote:
> I don't want to test my theories but I think my
> nephew
> is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking
> a
> terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and
> then
> cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.
> He hasn't blown himself up yet but it could be just
> a matter
> of time and luck.
> It would seem to me that the water in the walls of
> the pot could
> turn to steam and the pot could explode.
> Has anyone got personal experience of this technique
> being used
> in a microwave..as it seems to me to be almost
> suicidal !!!
> worried Gwyn in N.Z.
> I'm too chicken to test my theory and besides..I
> love
> my microwave.


=====
Good art does not have to match your sofa!!

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Cindy Strnad on fri 19 jan 01


Hi, Gwen.

I don't know. Soaking a terra cotta pot in water and then using it to cook
vegetables in the microwave does sound like a risky thing to do.

On the one hand, one would expect that steam would easily escape the porous
walls of the terra cotta pot before building up to an explosive volume.

On the other hand, it might not. A person would have to test to find out,
and you wouldn't really know unless something exploded, would you?

I had one of those special terra cotta baking dishes long ago, and as I
remember, there wasn't a word about using it in the microwave. It was
recommended for oven use.

On the up side, any explosions are likely to happen with the door closed,
and so your nephew would likely be protected. Maybe he'd be willing to wait
a few minutes after cooking ends before opening the door, just to humor his
auntie. Kind of an iffy proposition, but, nephews being what they are, and
it being unlikely that you'll be able to dissuade him if you haven't
succeeded already, maybe this will be of some comfort to you. And if it does
blow up and he has to buy a new microwave (and he isn't hurt), you can
harrumph and say, "I told you so . . . ".

Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com

Judy Kanigel on fri 19 jan 01


IMHO(In my humble opinion)
Glazed or unglazed could make a difference. An unglazed pot that has been
soaked in water, would allow the water to escape through the pores, and I
would think, steam the vegetables in the process. Great idea.
On the other hand a glazed pot would be mostly sealed. Soaking would allow
water to seep through any slight imperfections in the glaze, trapping the
water inside. When you put a pot in this situation in the microwave, you
might as well press the popcorn button.
Judy in Cambridge, who probably wouldn't try the second choice.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
> Behalf Of Anji Henderson
> Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001 10:37 AM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: How to blow up your microwave ????
>
>
> <> being used
> in a microwave..>>
>
> I have a sneaking suspicion that you really mean the
> technique of soaking the pot.. But that is not what I
> am talking about ... I have blown up a couple few
> Earthen ware things.... I can only account them to the
> steam... We no longer make functional earthenware that
> can possibly fit in a microwave, nor do we put
> earthenware (whats left) in the microwave.......
>
> Hummmm Maybe it works for him because it is uniform,
> and mine blew because they were not uniformly soaked??
> I don't know .. that last theory doesn't sound like it
> holds water to me .. Hahaha Bad pun..
>
> Anji
>
> --- Gwyn Ace wrote:
> > I don't want to test my theories but I think my
> > nephew
> > is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking
> > a
> > terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and
> > then
> > cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.
> > He hasn't blown himself up yet but it could be just
> > a matter
> > of time and luck.
> > It would seem to me that the water in the walls of
> > the pot could
> > turn to steam and the pot could explode.
> > Has anyone got personal experience of this technique
> > being used
> > in a microwave..as it seems to me to be almost
> > suicidal !!!
> > worried Gwyn in N.Z.
> > I'm too chicken to test my theory and besides..I
> > love
> > my microwave.
>
>
> =====
> Good art does not have to match your sofa!!
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> ____________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>

Cindy Strnad on fri 19 jan 01


Oops!

I just realized I left out an important point in my other post to this
subject. In saying it looks as if the earthenware pot may be able to safely
exhaust the steam through its walls, I was assuming this pot, like most of
its breed, was unglazed. If it was glazed, I wouldn't even consider the
possibility that it **might** be safe.

Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com

H.M. Buchanan on fri 19 jan 01


I don't want to test my theories but I think my nephew
is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking a
terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and then
cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.

I haven't had any reports from people using pots that way but I will pass on
this warning. My sister blew up a rather nice cassarole when she used it to
pop corn in the microwave.

Judi Buchanan

mudlark on fri 19 jan 01


Interesting. Made funtional earthenware for years and never had it happen to me or
ever had it reported. I've had some things heat up a bit but found it was with
work that was just washed (soaked). I use a pretty tight body with no sand. 04.

Anji Henderson wrote:

> <> being used
> in a microwave..>>
>
> I have a sneaking suspicion that you really mean the
> technique of soaking the pot.. But that is not what I
> am talking about ... I have blown up a couple few
> Earthen ware things.... I can only account them to the
> steam... We no longer make functional earthenware that
> can possibly fit in a microwave, nor do we put
> earthenware (whats left) in the microwave.......
>
> Hummmm Maybe it works for him because it is uniform,
> and mine blew because they were not uniformly soaked??
> I don't know .. that last theory doesn't sound like it
> holds water to me .. Hahaha Bad pun..
>
> Anji
>
> --- Gwyn Ace wrote:
> > I don't want to test my theories but I think my
> > nephew
> > is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking
> > a
> > terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and
> > then
> > cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.
> > He hasn't blown himself up yet but it could be just
> > a matter
> > of time and luck.
> > It would seem to me that the water in the walls of
> > the pot could
> > turn to steam and the pot could explode.
> > Has anyone got personal experience of this technique
> > being used
> > in a microwave..as it seems to me to be almost
> > suicidal !!!
> > worried Gwyn in N.Z.
> > I'm too chicken to test my theory and besides..I
> > love
> > my microwave.
>
> =====
> Good art does not have to match your sofa!!
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.

Snail Scott on sat 20 jan 01


At 01:41 PM 1/20/01 +1100, you wrote:
Microwaves heat from the centre of the
>mass out ward. The food he is cooking has probably been cooked sufficiently
>before the temperature of the pot rises to vaporisation point.Tf
>Feri.
>

No, they don't. This can be proven experimentally
with a block of frozen lasagna.

Microwaves heat by exciting the water molecules in
food (or pottery.) The reason most pots stay cool
until a few minutes have passed is because the hot
food inside them is heating them through conduction,
since (usually) the pot has no water in it for the
microwave to heat up directly.

If the terra-cotta pot in question has been
soaked before microwaving, it should heat up as fast
as a food item with similar moisture content,
(although the moisture content of even an absorbent
clay is less than that of many foods).

-Snail

Gayle Bair on sat 20 jan 01


Feri,
It is my understanding and
experience that microwaves
heat from the outside toward
the center of the mass.
Regardless I never use any
handmade ceramic pieces or
plastic in the microwave.
It's strictly glass or
Corelle in the microwave for me.
Gayle Bair-no rocket scientist!


I don't want to test my theories but I think my nephew
is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking a

Gwynne,
I agree that your nephew is in danger of blowing himself up or at least of
injuring himself. So far he's been lucky and I suspect it has to do with the
time he leaves the pot in the oven. Microwaves heat from the centre of the
mass out ward. The food he is cooking has probably been cooked sufficiently
before the temperature of the pot rises to vaporisation point.The moment
this happens he is in danger. The expansion of steam is instantaneous and
that is what causes the explosion. If he varies the conditions under which
he is cooking, perhaps by putting less/more in the pot or by extending the
time he uses, then he may be endangering himself
Feri.

____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

iandol on sat 20 jan 01


There seems to be something missing in this discussion.

Thinking as a technician:

Has anyone thought about the rate at which microwave energy is applied, =
absorbed and dissipated by the clay, the contents and the water ?
On a low level setting, the water may just get hot. The idea must be to =
keep it hovering about the 98-100 Celsius mark, not to make the water =
change into superheated steam.
Our microwave has five settings. Based on proportioning the on/off =
cycle, by starting with the lowest setting and observing the results, it =
should be possible to determine both time and setting for a particular =
quantity of food.
IMHO, one should RTFM. But in this case, it seems we may be writing it.

Will remember the manual when the climate reverts back to a regular 25+ =
winter for us and I can make one of these pots.
Regards,
Ivor,
Redhill, South Australia

pedresel on sat 20 jan 01


I until recently had a terracotta cooking pot like that. I used it in
the oven but had a problem with getting it dry enough to store without
growing green fuzzy stuff inside (hint store them perched up on a couple
of chopsticks for air-flow and keep the lid partway off). Anyway had the
brilliant idea to microwave it dry. It was working great until there
was this "thunk" and the thing cracked vertically down the side. It
seems I had enough water pooled on the bottom that the top dried out
first and then the differential heating got it. Small loss -- I had
screwed up and made the handle on the lid too small to grab with oven
mitts on.

Anyway, my analysis is that if you kept the whole pot moist and
relatively full it would likely be fine. And the good news is that the
failure was very subdued -- I can't imagine any shrapnel going through
the microwave.

Mind you veggies microwave fine in a plastic dish or glazed bowl covered
with a plate. Usually don't have to add any water, even.

-- Evan in W. Richland WA USA who made a terracotta tortilla warmer and
has been wondering whether to soak it before use in a microwave or maybe
just put a moist cloth inside. I'll let you all know if the thing works
'cus you could probably make bucks with these -- stack em high and
single fire.

Gwyn Ace wrote:
>
> I don't want to test my theories but I think my nephew
> is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking a
> terracotta cooking pot in water for half an hour and then
> cooking his vegetables etc in his microwave.

ferenc jakab on sat 20 jan 01


I don't want to test my theories but I think my nephew
is in danger of blowing himself up !! He is soaking a

Gwynne,
I agree that your nephew is in danger of blowing himself up or at least of
injuring himself. So far he's been lucky and I suspect it has to do with the
time he leaves the pot in the oven. Microwaves heat from the centre of the
mass out ward. The food he is cooking has probably been cooked sufficiently
before the temperature of the pot rises to vaporisation point.The moment
this happens he is in danger. The expansion of steam is instantaneous and
that is what causes the explosion. If he varies the conditions under which
he is cooking, perhaps by putting less/more in the pot or by extending the
time he uses, then he may be endangering himself
Feri.

Ron Roy on mon 22 jan 01


This sounds like the basis for an enlightening experiment. I'm sure the
explosives could be muffled so there would be no damage.

What Judy says makes some sense to me but I am thinking it depends on the
thickness of the clay and how fast the water can get out and how fast the
heat is applied.

The water can get in through imperfections in the clay but it also gets in
through unglazed feet.

RR

>IMHO(In my humble opinion)
>Glazed or unglazed could make a difference. An unglazed pot that has been
>soaked in water, would allow the water to escape through the pores, and I
>would think, steam the vegetables in the process. Great idea.
>On the other hand a glazed pot would be mostly sealed. Soaking would allow
>water to seep through any slight imperfections in the glaze, trapping the
>water inside. When you put a pot in this situation in the microwave, you
>might as well press the popcorn button.
>Judy in Cambridge, who probably wouldn't try the second choice.

Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849