Microwaves and Metal, Not the Best Mix

But Why Can’t I Put Tinfoil in The Microwave?

As you can see from those first two videos, we're talking about metal in microwaves this week. 

Last week we  talked all about speed ovens and what we thought were the three best in the industry as of right now in 2021. We ended by pointing out that metal and speed ovens don’t mix any more than it does in your microwave.  The longer we thought about that though we wondered if that was true. Sure, we've seen what happens if you put metal in the microwave. “But is that all the time?” was the question that wouldn't leave us alone.  What we found out surprised us. 

In that first video they put in just a ball of tinfoil. Similar to what you might have if you tossed a baked potato into your microwave. Your blogger has done it more than once after a long night and has had to quickly rescue her microwave. The second.. we admit. That one was more for the sheer variety of metal things they put in there and the chance to learn more. We couldn't help ourselves. 

Table of Contents

Videos

How Microwaves Work & Why Metal Is No Good

What the USDA Says About Metal In Your Microwave

How Microwaves Work & Why Metal Is No Good

Your microwave works thanks to magnetons. That's not entirely accurate, most microwaves work using magnetrons. (We won't say all, because then we'll end up with one that uses something completely different.) A magnetron is  “an electron tube for amplifying or generating microwaves, with the flow of electrons controlled by an external magnetic field.” according to the Free Dictionary. They generate very short, high frequency radio waves using standard AC current. That frequency vibrates at 2.5 ghZ, which is the ideal frequency to be absorbed by fat, water, and sugar. All of the molecules found in your foods for example. By absorbing that energy , the molecules vibrate faster and faster. That speed becomes heat, and your food cooks itself. 

Now, contrary to what most of us thought, microwaves do not cook your food from the inside out. (We were surprised too.) Instead, the radio waves only penetrate about an inch into the food.  The water/fat/sugar molecules contained within the meat and plants are evenly spread throughout what you're heating so the heat spreads out (mostly) evenly.  

So if you wanted to cook something like a thick slab of meat in your microwave (just as an example)  you'd want to do it on low power over a long period of time to ensure it was fully cooked without overdoing the outside. 

The fact that the molecules are what gets heated and not the air in the microwave is why your food doesn't get crispy like it does in an oven. 

Now, inorganic materials like your glass or ceramic dishes don't absorb radio frequencies the same way. So the only heat they absorb is from the food that's sitting on or in them.  Metal though, that's different. Metal can reflect microwave energy.  That's why the inside of every microwave is a very thick metal box. (We'll explain why thickness matters in just a moment.)  This thick metal shield keeps the microwaves focused towards your food, and not leaking out around your kitchen. 

Now, for that same reason, you can safely put a flat metal sheet into your microwave. So long as it's flat, it acts the same as the microwave walls, reflecting the microwaves inwards rather than outwards. 

-You can use this to your advantage! If you cover parts of a meal with a thick piece of smooth foil, you can keep it from overcooking. 

The important thing to note is that the metal needs to be completely flat. Curved or wrinkled pieces of aluminum foil are going to generate lots of sparks. Unlike the thick walls of your microwave, thin, small or pointed pieces will heat until they ignite. SO that crinkled edge of foil that you wrapped around your plate? The thin crinkled edge lets the current run along them arcing against the metal walls. Do this long enough and you're going to have a fire. 

If you're lucky, you can catch it soon enough to save your microwave. If not you might be replacing your microwave, or dealing with a kitchen fire. 

If you do put metal in your microwave, and it starts causing sparks, press the stop/cancel button. You can prevent great amounts of damage. If however you walked away and your microwave is now on fire, reach to where the plug is and unplug it. Or you can also spray it down with a fire extinguisher if the fire has gotten outside of the microwave. 

What the USDA Says About Metal in the Microwave

Now all of that said, the USDA does have some tips if you really want to test this out. (If you do, please know that we're not responsible for what may or may not happen to your microwave.) 

-use only smooth foil. Wrinkled foil gives the current more chance to spark. 

-Cover 1/4 of your food or less with foil. 

- Don't let the foil edges stick out. 

- Which side of the foil faces out doesn't matter. Shiny, dull, it's the same thing in this case. 

- Keep the foil in the middle of the microwave and at least 1" away from the walls. 

- If your model of microwave has a metal rack or turntable, do NOT use foil or metal containers in it and do not let foil touch or be close to the walls, shelving or turntable. 

With all of that together, we think we're just going to stick to the adage of "don't put metal in the microwave." It's much easier and less risky that way. What about you? Are you willing to give it a try? Do you have an old microwave laying around that you can experiment on? Let us know over on our Facebook or in the comments below. Although we're worried about the outcome, we can admit to being curious too.  

If you wound up on this page because you did manage to set your microwave on fire, we're sorry. We've got a post all about speed ovens that might make replacing it easier? Most of them are capable of handling what your microwave could do and more.  Check that out over here. 

Now, if on the other hand, you wound up here because you have one of your major appliances that needs to be fixed, we can help with that too. We service all major appliances and brands, and we want to keep your home running smoothly. You can reach out to us via phone at ((214) 599-0055 ) or you can go over to our appointment page to set up an appointment. At Appliance Rescue Service, we're here for you. 

Note: The first video we showed belongs to RUPhys2012 and the second belongs to The King of Random. We are not claiming to have made them nor are we making money from them. Go show them some thanks for showing off what shouldn’t go into a microwave.

Speed Oven Comparison : 2021

Wolf vs. Thermador vs. GE Advantium. 

When you think of a speed oven, what brand do you consider to be the best? 

We’ve been getting dozens of you lovely people coming to our site over the last few months, specifically looking for speed ovens, information about them, and the best ones on the market. To satisfy that, we’ve put together this week’s post comparing what we think are the top three. Whether you want a stylish piece that’s going to fit into your kitchen, a professional oven that can handle all of the cooking you do, or a beast of a speed oven, we’ve got what you need. 

Table of Contents: 

The Most Stylish Conscious Speed Oven. 

The Professional’s Choice Of Speed Oven 

The Do Everything And More Speed Oven

Important Safety Note

The Most Stylish Conscious Speed Oven: The Wolf SPO30CMBTH

Starting us off, let’s take a look at the Wolf SPO30CMBTH. (We’re tempted to question if the name was meant to be a reference to Macbeth…) This is the most stylish of our 3 options today. Not only are you able to get it in 24 or 30-inch sizes, but you can also get it matched to your existing oven. If that’s not your thing, you can have it fitted as a built-in, standalone, or tuck it under a countertop. The way that Wolf designs their speed ovens lends itself to a timeless look that will fit in any kitchen. 

Just because it’s stylish doesn’t mean the Wolf is lacking in function. On the contrary in fact, it has 12 different functions. The Wolf speed oven is actually rather similar to a microwave in that it can handle a wide variety of various tasks for you. You can tell it to broil or work in convection, or you can use it for popcorn and heating milk for hot chocolate! The option that amazed us the most, though, was the “micro bake” option. You don’t have to preheat your oven at all. 

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“If you want the most stylish speed oven, then the Wolf SPO30CMBTH is your best bet.”

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The Professional’s Choice Of Speed Oven: The Thermador MC30WP

This is for the professional or at least the experienced chef in your life. Not because it’s too ‘complicated, but because of its design and features. This is a speed oven with commercial-grade design. A heavy-duty handle and high-end knobs give it an enduring and solid design. (ALthough if that’s not your preference, Thermador does offer a more conventionally styled speed oven with their Masterpiece series.) 

One of our favorite features of the Thermador is just how large it is internally. At 1.6 cubic feet inside the speed oven, it’s capable of holding a 9”x13” pan. (Most of the other speed ovens on the market cannot boast this.) The Thermador also has options to work as a microwave, grill, or convection oven. 

There are 36 different “cook Smart” automatic programs, with our favorites being the “whole Cornish Game Hen” and the “scones.” Although it has a brownie function, too, we’re wondering what can be done to improve on the wonder that is brownies. 

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“If a professional oven is what will fit into your kitchen, the Thermador MC30WP is what you want. .”

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The Do Everything and More Speed Oven: The GE Advantium PSA9120SFSS

Rounding out our top 3 picks is the GE Advantium speed oven. While our first two were undoubtedly well made, this one is robust. 

The ‘Advantinum” in the name isn’t just to describe the line. It’s also the technology that GE has developed specifically for this. The Advantium speed oven cooks from the outer layer using radiant heat produced by halogen lights. It can also be paired with microwaves when a specific program calls for it. Pairing in this way ensures that food not only cooks more quickly but also that the moisture is sealed in. 

The GE speed oven has several cooking modes that wowed us. Speed cooking, convection baking, broiling, toasting, warming, proofing, and “traditional microwave power.” Our favorite options have to be those for warming and proofing though. The Advantium is capable of tweaking the halogen lamps so minutely that your food proofs precisely as needed. Or, if your guests are running late, you can keep it warm and at the ideal temperature until it’s time to serve. 

In all honesty, if GE told us these speed ovens could sing as well, we wouldn’t be surprised. 

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“If you’re looking for a robust speed oven that will do everything (and possibly replace your standard oven) the GE Advantium is the way to go. ”

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Important Safety Note

Now before you rush off to get a speed oven, there is one important thing we want to impress on you. A speed oven does still function in many ways as a microwave. So, if you’re using it as a microwave or any mode that incorporates the microwave power, DO NOT USE METAL. 

Just like your standard microwave, you will end up with sparks and possibly a roasted oven. 

So please, definitely enjoy using your speed oven, but make sure to read up on which functions use microwaves and which don't’? 

What do you think about speed ovens? Do you think you’ll be shopping for one at some point? Let us know in the comment below or over on our Facebook! We’d love to hear about your experiences in using one, and we might even round them up in a post in the future!

If you’re not here because you’re shopping for one, but because your speed oven is being wonky, give us a call ((214) 599-0055) or hop on over to our appointment page. Wherever you live in Dallas or the surrounding area, we want to help.  

If you want to know more about speed ovens in general, check out our earlier post going into what they are how they work. 

Why The Media Wants You To Be Scared of Your Gas Stove

And Why It Makes NO Sense

Back in February of this year, we talked about not using your gas stove as a source of heat. We pointed that out because it’s not good for your health to have a build up of  gases in enclosed rooms.  Now, scientists are saying gas ovens aren’t safe in the home at all - even when used properly. 

To state it plainly, this article wants you to believe that gas ovens are the key contributor to childhood asthma. The different studies cited as the article’s sources all work together to paint a scary picture. They talk about NO2 and particle pollutants and how the indoor measurements are higher in homes with gas stoves. They lay out the theoretical benefits (at least in terms of cost) of cutting out gas appliances. Then they paint a rosy picture of what things could look like if we switched to all electric ranges, furnaces and water heaters. 

As we’ve said in the past, we don’t choose one type of range over another. Both gas and electric ovens have their benefits and drawbacks. However, there are several things that bother us about this article. 

• The article consistently says that the homes being looked at are ‘older’ or ‘run down,’ but apparently wants you to believe that advances haven't been made in gas technologies. 

• They cite that, out of those interviews, only ⅓ of homeowners used their vent hoods. What they don’t consider is that this misuse is human error and not a design error. 

• The entire article is written in a way to make the reader scared. The words that are in large print are all phrased for the worst possible impact. Yes, they’re the ‘tweetable” lines, but they’re designed to make you stop and read closer because you’re scared. 

• Yes, switching to electric would cut out whatever particles even a properly used gas oven creates. However, as cited, most of these homes are lower income or older homes. We have to ask: who is going to pay for the supposed upgrade? The cost of cutting out and rewiring to support all-electric ranges, furnaces and water heaters, would be hefty. Despite the ‘rebates’ spoken of in the article, any one who deals in real estate knows that the price would eventually come back to the homeowner - and in the case of rental units, passed down to the renters. Whether it’s through rent hikes “just until the change is paid off,” or through the cost of the electricity to power the new appliances, the cost to the “lower income minorities” the writers want to say they’re worried about would be burdensome. 

• When numbers or studies are cited, they are all skewed or explained in such a way as to be misleading to the general public. Ask yourself what information the writer may be selectively omitting in favor of making their points. 

We don’t have an issue with gas vs electric ovens or stoves. What we do dislike are scare tactics intended to mislead an audience. This article does present valid concerns, which is why we initially found and read it. What we’re left with, though, is this:
A) When you’re using your gas appliances, please make sure that you’re using them properly. Whether this means having an expert check your lines, doing some simple maintenance, or just turning on your vent hood, please do.
B) Please read critically. There are many sources of information out there, and all of them want your time and attention. Not all of them are going to evenly weigh the facts. 

Where do you think this fight will go from here? Will people be swayed into making the switch to all electric? Will more stringent rules regarding how vent hoods tie into your range be passed? Let us know over on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you and what your thoughts on the matter are. 

If after reading this you realize that your gas oven needs a check up, please feel free to call us ((214) 599-0055) or visit our website. Wherever you live in Coppell or the surrounding area, we want to help. 

Decadent and Simple Peanut Butter Cup Pudding

For when you want more than just one candy.

We would really like to call this recipe something more specific, but that would risk running afoul of some copyright laws. We like to think our favorite candy manufacturer would give us a green light, but better safe than sorry. Imagine, if you will, a familiar orange wrapper with yellow letters and the fantastic peanut butter and chocolate treat it contains. And now you can see what we want to call this recipe, but cannot. 

Chances are, if your imagination is strong enough (or your stomach empty enough), you can now also taste exactly what we were thinking of. Sorry. For what it's worth, this pudding is a pretty close approximation. And you probably don't even have to run to the store for anything! Phew - candy crisis avoided (narrowly).

You'll need a lot of milk, some peanut butter, some baker's chocolate, sugar, starch, butter, vanilla and a bit of chill time for this recipe. You'll only be actively working on it for five or ten minutes, because the fridge will do the rest for you - provided it's working, of course. If it isn't, please see our contact information at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons corn starch

1/4 teaspoon table salt

3 cups milk (full fat works best)

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons baker's cocoa

3/4 cup peanut butter (we recommend smooth; crunchy is terribly difficult to whisk)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Tools:

Pan, whisk, fine sieve or sifter, measuring cups and spoons, heat-proof bowl that is also safe to move to the refrigerator (so, plastic, most likely), something to cover the bowl (a lid, foil, an overturned plate, etc.).

For starters, use a bigger pan than you think you need. Go for at least a two quart pan. We know, three cups of milk doesn't sound like a lot, and you're certainly not adding a whole lot of volume to it... But keep in mind that milk foams. Plus, you're going to be vigorously whisking this in a few steps. So to save yourself from having to scrub scalded milk off the stove later, just use a bigger pan. Trust us on this one.

Measure your milk, sugar, salt and starch into the pan. In order to avoid lumpy pudding, you may wish to sift the corn starch into the milk. It's optional, but we don't think anyone really wants lumps of starch in their pudding. When you're done, don't toss the sieve or sifter into the sink for a wash yet - you'll probably want it again later.

Turn the heat on under the pan and bring it up to medium. Your goal is to get the milk mixture to foam aggressively and begin to boil, but you don't want to allow it to scald (scalded milk is great for hot chocolate, but will negatively affect the taste of the pudding). Stir it frequently while you wait for it to come up to boil. If you see the foam around the edge pan starting to brown, lower the heat a notch. It'll take longer to come to boil, but you want uniformity, not speed here.

Once you have it up at a foamy boil, take the heat all the way down as low as it will go and whisk /constantly/ for a minute or two. Don't let it rest here. You can stop whisking when you see the whisk leaving tracks in the foam that take more than three seconds to fill back in. If you get past the two minute mark whisking constantly, and you still don't have a visible track from the whisk when you slow down, turn the heat back up, simmer it another minute, and then try again. This step is a big deal for getting the pudding to set later, so please don't be tempted to cut a corner. If you're really, really struggling, you can add another half teaspoon of corn starch - but stop at half a teaspoon!

After you've achieved the ideal texture, pour or sift in the baker's cocoa. This is why we mentioned that you might not want to put the sieve up for a wash yet - cocoa tends to form little lumps. (We kind of like the cocoa lumps, though, so we leave them alone. Not sifting makes it look a little like the cookie bits in cookies and cream ice cream.)

Once the cocoa has been mixed in, turn the heat completely off. Drop in the peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract. Whisk until it's all thoroughly incorporated.

Whisking room temperature peanut butter is no easy task. If you'd like, you can melt it in the microwave before pouring it into the milk. That will make it easier to stir, but you have to be extra careful to heat it only just barely enough in the microwave. Melting is the goal, but even a few seconds too long on high can burn the edges and make them solidify. Solidified, scorched peanut butter will not make tasty pudding (although it's actually pretty good as an ice cream topping, believe it or not. Also, we clearly have ice cream on the brain today).

Once you've reached the point where it's all one color and you're no longer turning up hidden pockets of peanut butter, you're good to put it into that heat-proof bowl (or perhaps portion containers), cover it with plastic wrap, foil or a lid, and tuck it safely into the fridge to chill. It will take a couple hours to set up completely, but once it does, you have dessert ready to go.

We know your kitchen is going to be full of the smell of peanut-buttery goodness, but the wait is worth it. Go do something while the timer counts down. Maybe you could let us know over on Facebook what you thought of this recipe. When the timer has gone off and you’ve dished up the pudding, you can top it with a couple of different things. We like keeping it simple, a little bit of whipped cream and some chocolate syrup is all this needs for us. For kiddos, you might add some sprinkles though, or you could add in some fruit preserves. We’ve heard that strawberry or grape make a good addition. You can even use the pudding as layers for a trifle if you want to get really fancy. 

Remember up top how we mentioned your fridge not working? Heaven forbid that’s the case not that it’s officially summer, but if so, we can help. We’ve got the knowledge and skill to fix all of your major appliances, from your trust refrigerator to your dryer and anything in between. Just give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or set up an appointment on our website. We want to help keep your home running smoothly, even when the heat is driving the world crazy. 

Some other articles we think you might like. 

Double Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes 

Easy As 1-2-3 Christmas Cookies 

Making Cleaning More Fun

How to make cleaning less of a chore and more something to enjoy

When it's already hitting temperatures of 100+, you don't want to clean. You definitely don't want to fight with your kids about cleaning. It's hot and sticky outside and it leaves you exhausted when you get home from work. What if by changing the way you look at it, you could make it more fun and interesting? 

Some of these ideas are going to sound strange and maybe a little silly. We hope you'll give them a try anyway. You never know if it works for you until you give it a shot, right? So, whether it's getting through the mountain of laundry, or finally tackling that project you've been putting off, let's get going. 

Bring in some rules

No, we don't mean /those/ kind of rules. We're talking rules that make things more interesting. Are you trying to get your steps in every day? Maybe you can have a set number of items you can carry from the laundry pile to the washer or dryer. Maybe your child is great at playing basketball or soccer. You can have them 'shoot hoops' when it comes to cleaning up their room. You can challenge your spouse to a race to see who can finish cleaning the dishes first. Bringing in elements of play to a chore makes it go that much more quickly. All it takes is being willing to look at it from a  different angle. 

What would the Gaines say? 

Or a different decorating expert that you like and admire. We're not saying this to stress you out, just the opposite really. Imagine you're watching them go through your home on your favorite show. What would they say? How would they look at things and what suggestions would they make? Go through your home room by room with a notebook and see what ideas you might come up with.  You could also check out something like The Lazy Genius podcast for her tips on how to clean and organize your home. 

Take some YOU time! 

Most of us don't look at cleaning as anything beyond 'necessary' or at worst, a 'chore.' What if instead you looked at it as a time to take care of yourself? Sure you're getting things done, and you're doing some work. You can use that time though to do all sorts of things. Go through something that stresses you out as you're scrubbing the bathroom. You'll have time to work it out in your head and you get the frustration out in a positive way. Or you could use doing the dishes or folding laundry as sort of mindful meditation, focusing on your breathing and staying in the moment. 

Catch up on your To Be Read list. 

If you don't want to be in the moment grab your favorite book! With Audible, podcasts and Youtube, there's no end to ways to listen to a new book or story that will entertain you while you're getting things done. We suggest getting a good set of wireless headphones and diving in. You'd be amazed at how fast a good story can make chores pass by. 

Take time to reward yourself

If you're at work and you finish a major project, you reward yourself, right? Why wouldn't you do that at home? It doesn't have to be a huge reward, it can be something as simple as some time to sit down and watch your favorite show, or head down to the pool for a relaxing swim. The point is keeping things balanced. If you do a 'small' chore, something that you find easy, make it a 'small' reward. If it's something larger, like going through and cleaning and reorganizing your garage, you might make it a larger reward. Giving yourself reasonable incentives to get things done not only makes it more likely that you will finish the job, but also that you're going to be less annoyed about having to get it done. 

That's us though. What about you? How do you convince yourself to get through cleaning on a regular basis? What do you do to bring more enjoyment to these regular tasks? Let us know over on our Facebook page or in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you. 

If on the other hand you ended up here because you melted something in your dishwasher, or you're trying to figure out how to clean your oven, we've got articles to help with that as well. 

If during your cleaning you've found that your refrigerator isn't working right, or your washer has a leak, we can help with that too. Give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or set up an appointment at our website. Wherever you live in Plano and the surrounding area we're here to help keep your home running.