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Isn't it dangerous to microwave water due to superheating?
by young_unixer 6y ago
Isn't it dangerous to microwave water due to superheating?
- virgil_disgr4ce 6y agoI had just written a reply about how superheating is unlikely because the water would have to be pure (i.e. distilled), but I looked it up and it turns out that's a myth! So exploding superheated water is indeed a potential risk from microwaving
- hamburglar 6y agoI'm always on the lookout for it (if I see bubbles, I know it's safe), since I regularly boil water in the microwave, and I've even tried to superheat water just to see what it was like, but I've never actually succeeded at it. My understanding is that it's more about whether your container has nucleation sites for bubbles to form than about the purity of the water. My pyrex measuring cup must have plenty of scratches on the inside.
- m463 6y agotry boiling it twice. once, cool a little, then try it again.
- hamburglar 6y agoThanks for the tip, but no luck; it just started boiling again.
- m463 6y agobut did it start to gradually boil, or boil sort of all-at-once?
- srtjstjsj 6y agoOnly if you use far too much power x time.
- m463 6y agoYou know, I've boiled water in the microwave and then forgotten it (I want a nag beep)... So I heated it a second time and it got to boiling point violently all at once. I think it's because all the air is boiled out of it the first time, which agitates things as it reaches 212f/100c