Easiest Berry Cheesecake Wraps

So fast you won’t believe it’s not store-bought, and so delicious you’ll be going back for more. 

You need a last-second dessert and you have only half an hour. Think quickly - what do you make?

The answer is cheesecake.

No one thinks cheesecake is a quick dessert - but it can be, if you cheat a little. But only a little, because there are only so many corners you can cut on a dessert that is conventionally round.

This recipe will require an air fryer for maximum efficiency, but you can also bake on a rack if you only have your oven - or perhaps toaster oven; we are huge advocates of using a toaster oven when the weather is warm. Please don't heat up the whole house if you don't have to! It's a fight your air conditioner (and likely also your electric bill) will lose.

Ingredients:

4 large tortillas

1 8 ounce brick of cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese

1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 Tablespoons fruit preserves

cooking spray

cinnamon-sugar for dusting

Tools:

Air fryer (or oven and baking tray with a rack), measuring spoons, mixing bowl(s), spoons, whisk or hand mixer, plate, large ziploc plastic bag (optional)

Take your tortillas and your cream cheese and preserves out of the fridge. All three will be easier to work with if they're a little bit closer to room temperature.

Move your tortillas to a plate and fan them out a bit for easy grabbing later. Any whole wheat or white flour tortilla will do, but if you're shopping specifically for this recipe, we recommend Ole Xtreme Wellness high-fiber tortillas. They're soft, extra flexible, brown up nicely, and have a very mild flavor that won't fight with your cheesecake filling.

Scoop your cream cheese into the mixing bowl and break it into chunks - it will warm a little quicker if the air can circulate around smaller pieces.

Preheat your air fryer (if using one) or oven to 365 degrees. If you're warming up an air fryer, you can allow it to turn off after 5-7 minutes. It doesn't need to stay running the whole time like the oven will; the small area and convection fan in the fryer makes a huge difference. (Maybe you're one of the lucky ones whose oven has a convection fan! Did you know those require additional servicing?)

If your kitchen is plenty cool right now (lucky!) and your cream cheese is still very solid, you can pop it into the microwave for about 30 seconds to soften it up, provided your mixing bowl is microwave safe. Please do not microwave it any longer than that! Melted cream cheese does not work the same way in this recipe. You really don't want it to melt until it's actively baking.

Measure up your vanilla and sugar, and toss them in with your cream cheese. Use a whisk and all your wrist strength, or an electric hand mixer, to whip these two ingredients into the cream cheese. It should appear fluffy and light once thoroughly incorporated.

As far as preserves go, we used two spoons each of blackberry and strawberry preserves in our example photo. You can use whatever you have on hand, but we strongly recommend using a pair of complementary flavors... and avoiding grape! Grape is not your friend for this recipe, regardless of what you attempt to pair it with. Hopefully you have some raspberry or peach or strawberry preserves in your cabinet. We also really like the Smucker's Mosaics flavors for this - especially the cherry and blueberry. We didn't have the strawberry and blackberry on hand, but it's another available Mosaics flavor, specifically the one that inspired our flavor choice today. Additionally, if sugar is a concern, feel free to utilize a low- or no-sugar preserve instead.

Measure your four tablespoons of preserves into a dish and break up the big globs with a fork (it will make your life easier in a minute, trust us). You'll have fewer big pieces with homemade preserves, as they don't typically have as much pectin as the store bought ones. Either way, it's easier to just break it all down before it goes into the cream cheese blend.

Once you've got the preserves to the point they'll blend well, dump them into the mixing bowl with the cream cheese blend and swirl it together. Your goal here is a marbled look, not necessarily all one color. Congratulations, you've made cheesecake filling! Once you've swirled everything together, divide it up into quarters.

If you're working in a confined space, or if you're just super-messy like us, you might consider spooning your filling into a Ziploc bag and trimming a corner so you can simply squeeze to dispense the appropriate amount for each wrap. You can scoop it directly from the mixing bowl into the tortillas, but we always seem to drop some on the counter or on the floor when we do it that way, no matter how careful we are. The family dogs are usually thrilled, but the clean-up crew never is.

Whichever way you choose, transfer roughly 1/4 of your filling into each tortilla. Roll your tortillas like burritos so that all the sides are closed. Spritz the inside edge of the seam with cooking spray as you finish rolling, so that when heat is applied it will sear closed. Place them seam side down on your plate. Once all four have been rolled, spray the tops lightly with your cooking spray and dust gently with cinnamon sugar (or cinnamon mixed with sugar substitute).

Transfer each gently to your air fryer basket or your baking pan with a rack. Cook 10 minutes at 365, and remove them gently with tongs once the upper crust of the wraps has turned golden. The oven may take a little bit longer than ten minutes. If they still look pale and doughy when you go to remove them, let them cook another two minutes or so. Check frequently and trust yourself to see the difference in color once it happens. Regardless of how long it's in the fryer or oven, allow it to cool for a few minutes - that filling is HOT.

Serve warm, topped with whipped cream, dusted with powdered sugar, with a scoop of ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, garnished with fresh berries... Whatever you like the best. We went with some frozen yogurt - because any dessert worth scorching yourself on is deserving of some frozen goodness to balance it out.

Let us know what you think about this delicious dessert over on our Facebook. We’d love to hear from you! 

If you want another sweet treat to make, check out our double chocolate guinness cakes. 

Deep Dive on Washing Machines - Part One

How many types are there and what are the differences?

Table of Contents

Types of Washing Machines

Agitator Types

Other Articles 

Death and taxes are said to be the only consistencies in life, we want to add laundry. And for it to be possible to get all of your laundry done, you need to have a good washing machine. Like most other appliances we've improved the washing since it was invented in 1691. We've come a long way, but there are still so many different things to consider if you're looking for a new one. So this post we're focusing in on what separates the different types of washing machines and what you need to know about them to find one that works for you. 

Types of Washing Machines

We've found four different types of washing machines are the primaries on the market right now. The first two are named based on how you load the laundry into them. The others are based on how they are built and function. 

Front Loading 

A front-loading washing machine has the door on the front panel of the washing machine if you're standing in front of it. They come in all different shapes and sizes, but they can still be really beneficial if you're short on space. These units are typically able to be stacked with a matching or similar dryer. So, instead of having to find the space for two units, you can just have the one, and stack the other on top. Unless you live in a Hobbit hole, you should be good to go. (And if you do live in a Hobbit hole, can we come visit?)  Despite saving you on floor space, a front loading machine will usually have a very large interior space, which means it can handle larger loads of laundry and bulky items like comforters. Fashionistas love them because they treat your clothes gently, as they don't have an agitator, instead using blades to tumble your clothes.  They are also a good choice for the eco-conscious as they are very efficient with both energy and water usage. 

They do have two major cons though that buyers need to be aware of. First off, they are more expensive that other washers, due to their design. Second, they can get a 'musty' smell if you aren't careful from water getting caught inside. 

Top Loading 

For some, the front load washer isn't an option. You might have back, knee, or hip troubles, or heck, you have a small child that might decide to climb into it. We understand. That's where a top-loading washing machine comes in. A top-loading machine is just as sleek and modern as a front-loading, but they don't have the price tag.  They're less expensive to buy and less expensive to repair. On top of that (pun intended)  they have a shorter cycle time, which means you can get more loads done in a shorter amount of time. 

However, they do have their own unique drawbacks as well. If you try and load too many items into them, things don't get cleaned as well. So there's a fine line to walk in terms of your load size. You also end up using your dryer for a longer period of time because these don't get all of the water out of your clothes during the spin cycle. 

No matter which of the two types you choose, they are good choices that have some very reliable brands and models to choose from. We highly suggest going with one of these if you have the space and choice.  

But wait you say, didn't you say there were four options? 

And you're right, there are. BUT they're vastly different from our first two choices and they're going to have very specific use cases. 

Laundry Center 

Our first oddball is the all-in-one laundry center. It's not just one unit that you stack on the other, but instead, the two are connected with a gap between them. These are ideal for a tiny home or apartment.  You also don't have to worry about them sliding off or moving while in use the way you might with stacking units.  They don't usually come with as many bells and whistles as their individual unit cousins, but they do their job and do it well. 
Just like their cousins though, they do have some drawbacks. They are tall! Even taller than stacking one of the individual units on top of another. Some of them are front loading, but most will have a front loading dryer and a top-loading washer. The problem with this is that if you have that one escapee sock (as happens every load for most of us) you could end up smacking your head on the dryer. A final issue is that you're going to be doing many more loads of laundry due to a small interior capacity. 

These are a good choice if you need a washer and dryer for a small space. But we'll be honest and admit we love our front-loading washer. 

Washer - Dryer Combo

A washer-dryer combo is a machine that does everything in one. It's not stacked, it's not attached, it's one unit that does everything. They're usually on wheels so that you can put them in a corner when not in use and then pull them out on laundry day. Many also don't require an external air vent to be set up, which is beneficial if you're living in an apartment. They also have different temperature controls,  letting you specify how you want your laundry done. 

The drawbacks though are hard to get over for many people. They are expensive because the technology is still relatively new. Since they need to be portable, they aren't very large internally. And then there's the fact that they have an extended cycle time to get your clothes completely dry. The first two we can forgive but the last one we just can't get over. 

We talked in-depth about washer-dryer combo units back in February of this year, if you want a deeper explanation of them, we've included the link at the bottom of the page. 

For the second two of our types of washing machines, both were combination units (after a fashion) that served for small homes and apartments. We feel that the laundry center is currently the better choice, but you might feel differently.   

Agitator Types 

Depending on the type of washing machine you have the exact question of /how/ it gets your clothes clean is different. For the most part, there are two different systems that are used, an agitator and an impeller. 

Agitator 

Have you ever opened up a washing machine and seen the big spindle with fins coming up from the bottom and you can twist it back and forth? That's an agitator. It spins in different ways based on the settings you have for a wash. It works by moving the water and clothes back and forth in the drum, against the spindle, the drum and each other to 'scrub' the dirt out. The good news is that this type of agitator is GREAT at getting the dirt out of your clothes. The bad news is that while it's really good at cleaning, it's not so good at being gentle with your clothes. Even when you sort out your jeans from your undergarments, they're still getting tossed and beaten around by the agitator. So depending on how delicate you need to be with your clothes, that might rule some washers out. 

Impeller 

An impeller by contrast is a small cone with fins coming out from it. It sits at the back of a front loading washer and drives your clothes around the drum of the machine. The idea is that your clothes have more room to move and cycle back from the outer edge of the rim to the center, gently being cleaned.  They're more gentle on cleaning clothes, rubbing the clothes together to get dirt out.  They also lead to a shorter dry time, because they can spin at high speeds to wick away moisture. 

Usually, this is the point when we dive into the most common features. However due to the length of this article already, we're going to break this into two parts and come back next week to cover some of the features you might find when shopping for a new washer. 

So, what type of washer works best for you or your family? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook. 

If on the other hand, you're here because your washing machine is broken, making noises or otherwise making you concerned for the safety of your clothes or house, feel free to give us a call. Whatever the issue might be, we can guarantee that we'll find out what's going on and get it fixed. Reach out to us via our website or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). 

Additional Reading: 

All-In-One Washer Dryer Combo - If you’re wondering more about this and how it works.

Top Loading Washing Machines Under $1000 - If you're interested in purchasing a new washer today

Simple Steps for Cleaning Your Washing Machine - If you want to do things on your own before you call us (or someone else) in.  ( We get it, self-sufficiency is good!) 

All of Your Laundry Questions Answered - If you've still got questions about laundry and how to get it done properly. 

How Cleaning Your Fridge Can Keep It Cool

For When Your Fridge Isn’t Doing Its Job

Have you ever wondered why your refrigerator fails to do its job? When you open up the fridge and you just find ice built up on the butter, but then the condiments on the door are almost room temperature? What about opening your freezer and finding that your ice cream is now soft-serve? We’ve all had it happen. The most common reason is that your fridge is facing one of three issues. It’s packed too tight, the vents inside are dirty or the condenser coils are blocked or dirty. 

Table of Contents

Sections of Your Refrigerator

Cleaning Your Refrigerator 

Links 

Sections of Your Refrigerator 

Let’s start off with a quick intro to the different parts of your refrigerator that actually make it, you know, work. This is the stuff most of us don’t look at, but it’s important if you want to figure out how and why things aren’t working right. 

Compressor

Your compressor is where everything starts. You can find it at the back or bottom of your refrigerator. The compressor pressurizes the liquid refrigerant before it pumps it through the system, turning it into a vapor.  It's now a hot gas! 

Condenser Coil

Your condenser coils will be located on either the back or bottom of your refrigerator, usually hidden behind a grille if it's on the bottom. The refrigerant condenses into a liquid inside the pipes and releases heat that gets pushed into the outside air. So now it's still high pressure, but in a liquid state. 

Expansion Device

The expansion device is located in between the two sets of coils. It acts as a barrier between the condenser coil and the evaporator coil. On one side, the refrigerant is in a liquid state at high pressure. On the other, is a low pressure area. The expansion device sucks the refrigerant from one side to the other, immediately boiling it and returning it to a vapor state, then flowing into the evaporator coils. 

Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coils  are where the actual cooling happens. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the surrounding air and releases cool air. Small vents on the inside of the freezer and refrigerator allow air to move from the freezer and into the fridge. 

Cleaning Your Refrigerator

Now that you know what the different sections are, you might see that only a small section is available to access, that's the condenser coils, either underneath or behind the fridge. You might think that your refrigerator only needs to be cleaned once in a blue moon. In fact, you should consider cleaning it on a regular basis, especially if you have pets that traverse the kitchen. 

Inside

Start the process by emptying everything out from your fridge and freezer. If you want to, you can allow your fridge to defrost while you're at this.  Make sure to place everything into a cooler or on the counters while you move on. 

Now remove all of your shelves and drawers that can be taken out. (This is one of the reasons we recommend purchasing refrigerators that have moveable shelves and drawers. It makes everything easier to clean and sort.) Important note: Before you clean the different pieces, you need to allow the shelves to come up to room temperature. If you don't, the sudden shock can cause the glass or plastic to shatter. No one wants that mess.

Go ahead and scrub everything down using a mix of warm water and dish soap, carefully drying it with a clean cloth.  Take a moment to find the vents that are inside your fridge and freezer and take a close look at them. These are where the cooling air is forced through from the evaporator coils. Make sure that the vents aren't obstructed by any dust, grime or other detritus. You can also go ahead and give them a quick scrub while you have everything cleared out from your refrigerator. 

Let's take a look back at the contents of your fridge. Are things covered in spilled condiments or last week's noodles? Give everything a quick wipe down, making sure to dry it thoroughly.  Once you're done with that,  consider how to best use the space within your fridge. Nothing says you need to do it the way the manufacturer or magazines show. The two rules we tend to go by are a) can we easily find what we need, and b) are the vents remaining unblocked. If the answers to both of these are yes, you're good. 

Outside

Once the inside of your refrigerator is sorted, let's turn to the outside. Start by grabbing some cleaner that's relevant to what your refrigerator is cased in, be it stainless steel or cabinetry. Use a damp cloth and wipe it down. Make sure to use a non-abrasive sponge if there's anything that is sticky or gross. Rinse off the outside with clean, cool water, and quickly dry with a soft cloth. (This is especially important if your refrigerator is stainless steel so that you don't have any water spots or discoloration.) As a final step, if you have stainless steel, grab some polish and go with the grain to bring it back to a shine. 

Condenser Coils

Before you decide to start messing with your condenser coils, make sure to check over your Use & Care Manual. Some makers prefer for only a certified technician to clean the coils. If that's not the case let's get things taken care of. Start by unplugging or disconnecting your refrigerator.  Once that's done you can safely locate your condenser coils either on the back or base of your refrigerator. If they are on the bottom, they'll be behind a decorative grille.  Now use a vacuum cleaner with an extendable attachment and a soft brush. Once you've got everything gathered up, replace the grille and carefully bring your refrigerator forward. Sweep and vacuum behind and under the fridge, making sure to clean your brush as needed. 

And that's it! You've cleaned your refrigerator from top to bottom and reorganized it. Hopefully, this should help it 'breathe' more easily and keep everything nice and cold. If that hasn't solved it, you can reach out to us via Facebook, our website, or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055). We're here to help keep your home in shape, and that's especially important during the peak of summer!  If this did help your refrigerator and freezer work, please let us know that too! 

Links to Other Articles 

Want to learn more about buying your ideal refrigerator? This is the article you want. 

What about organizing your fridge to keep things fresher, longer? Check out this article! 

Sweet Potato Enchiladas

A filling dinner for any night

We know it sounds weird. We thought it sounded weird. But after trying it, you'll see it's really not, we promise!

The best part is that it all comes together with a minimum of fuss and mess if you do a little of the prep work the day before, and you'll even have a little left over for later!

You'll need some pantry staples, some fresh produce and a little bit from the store. Feel free to play with the ingredients a little until you get the consistency or the aroma you like best. Take our mix here as a suggestion - a starting point, if you will.

 Ingredients

2 small sweet potatoes

2 cups cooked dry beans (black or pinto - avoid garbanzo and kidney)

1/4 of one sweet onion

2 cups salsa

10 corn tortillas

8 ounces shredded cheese

1 Tablespoon butter (salted)

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon dry chopped chives

1 teaspoon parsley

1 teaspoon Adobo (can substitute favorite taco seasoning)

2 Tablespoons minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Optional suggestions (for cooking beans):

1 bay leaf

2 tsp garlic powder

Tools:

Aluminum foil, rimmed baking pan, colander, potato masher, knife, cutting board, spoon, fork, spatula, measuring spoons, two covered microwave-safe bowls, two plates or a tortilla keeper.

The day before you want to make your enchiladas, you'll want to soak and cook your dry beans and roast your sweet potatoes. The beans will take about two hours on the stovetop or four in the crock pot - or if you have an instant pot, they'll take almost exactly as long as the potatoes (40 minutes on high, followed by natural decompression). We like to add a bay leaf and some garlic powder while the beans are cooking, but this is entirely optional. When they're done, rinse and drain the beans and refrigerate overnight in a covered container. Or you can skip all this and just crack open two cans of already prepared beans tomorrow, as long as you'll still have time to rinse and drain them.

Jab your sweet potatoes a few times with a fork, wrap them in foil and place them in the oven. It's fine if they're directly on the rack as long as the wrap is sealed. They do have a tendency to ooze a little bit, so if they're loosely wrapped, you might consider putting them on a baking sheet to save yourself the cleanup later. Let them roast in there at 400 for an hour and twenty minutes. Refrigerate overnight in their wrap.

Enchilada day!

 Pull the potatoes and beans from the fridge. Reheat the beans on medium in the microwave, in a covered dish. Skin the sweet potatoes and chop them into chunks, and put them in the other microwave safe dish. Mash them to the desired consistency (we like lumps, but you may not) with your potato masher, or make one of the kids do it.

Chop your onion (again, to desired size) and add it to the sweet potatoes. Measure your spices into this bowl, too - the cumin, chili powder, garlic, Adobo or taco seasoning, onion powder, chives, parsley, salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir and make sure you're not leaving lumps of garlic all clumped together along one edge. Sure, garlic is great, but if it's not thoroughly incorporated, it tries to take over the flavor of the dish.

Once it's all mixed, drop in that tablespoon of butter, cover the dish and swap it with the beans. Heat it for thirty seconds at a time until it's nice and warm, and stir in the butter that's now melted in a little well on top of it.

Flip the bowl of beans into the bowl of sweet potatoes and stir like your life depends on it. Just kidding. Maybe don't get too aggressive with it, because we weren't looking to puree the beans here.

Once it's well-mixed, take your ten corn tortillas and put them in a tortilla keeper or drop them on a microwave safe plate. Invert another plate on top of it and put them into the microwave for 30 seconds. Don't remove the upper plate or the tortilla keeper lid until you go to grab a tortilla and roll an enchilada.

Now is a good time to grab the cheese from the fridge and to line your pan with foil. You can leave the tortillas in the microwave for a minute or two as long as it's not running. Please do not zap them for more than half a minute! Any longer and you'll dry them out. You really need them to stay soft and pliable for this.

Pour some of your salsa into the bottom of the pan - maybe half a cup to one cup, depending on the size of the pan - and use a spoon to smear it around a little bit. You want something sticky so your enchiladas stay where you put them instead of falling open and spilling the good stuff all over the pan.

Preheat your oven to 400 (yes, again).

Grab your first tortilla, put the cover back on the others, sprinkle in some cheese and drop a big blob of filling into the center (usually about 1/4 cup at a time). Leaving the ends open, roll it up and place it seam side down in the pan. Repeat until the pan is full or you run out of filling or tortillas.

Once they're all in the pan, sprinkle your remaining cheese over them and drizzle the remaining salsa on top. Spread it all around with the spoon so that everything has at least a thin layer of salsa and/or cheese on it - anything left exposed risks being scorched.

Put the pan into the oven and bake uncovered for half an hour. Allow it to cool for five minutes before you get a spatula in there so the tortillas have time to firm back up a bit. Enjoy with a salad or a side of rice.

Now that you’ve tried it, what do you think? Delicious, right? Let us know over on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you. 

If you need something to pair with this, or you’re really looking to go all out check out this recipe from our archives. 

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Chorizo and Fancy Cheeses

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.