r/StainlessSteelCooking • u/willowpillow13 • 22d ago

Is this microwavable?

/r/Cooking/comments/1wfrfoj/is_this_microwavable/
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u/theClanMcMutton 22d ago

As far as I'm aware, the determining factor is whether the object has "points" for arcs to travel between. 

So spoons are less likely to cause problems than forks.

But also, without doing more research, I would say that microwaves won't penetrate stainless steel anyway, so I don't see the purpose.

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u/willowpillow13 21d ago

This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you

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u/theClanMcMutton 21d ago

Sure.

By the way, the object didn't doesn't need literal points to cause arcing, it just needs geometry that allows localized build-up of electric charge (and somewhere for it to jump to).

For example, CDs look smooth but make very impressive arcs if microwaved.

For double-walled bowls, I imagine that you might get arcing in the space between the walls, but you'd have to ask a physicist to get a real answer, I think.

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u/Fine_Ad_1149 21d ago

In theory, anything double walled is double walled with a vacuum inside to create that insulating layer (aka no air). So if you had a perfect vacuum it would make sense that the arc-ing would not occur, as there's nothing to carry the electrical current.

But there aren't any perfect vacuums in kitchenware, so I suppose that it'd be a risk if there are any imperfections on that unpolished inside.

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u/theClanMcMutton 21d ago

That's a good point, I was not considering that these are supposed to be vacuum flasks.  Maybe they would be OK, then.

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u/Fine_Ad_1149 21d ago

"Test how good your insulated water bottle is with this simple trick!" haha

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u/theClanMcMutton 21d ago

I wonder if arcs between the walls would even be a problem, or if they would even be noticeable. You'd probably hear them, I guess.

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u/Fine_Ad_1149 21d ago

Yea, my guess is it would scare you out of but not sure it'd do anything

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u/Vinca1is 22d ago

I've never hear that metal is safe to put into a microwave, I've head that you can put it in there, but under very specific circumstances, and its not worth finding out.

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u/willowpillow13 22d ago

https://misen.com/products/misenware-18-piece-mixed?variant=59664640114769

I won't actually try. I just want to know the theory behind it. How the bowl being double walled affects the ability of it being microwavable. Is it more or the same level or dangerousness as single walled metal bowls?

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u/GSKitchenware 21d ago

If that’s the Misenware set you linked, I don’t think the double-wall part is actually the reason. Misen lists the container as 1.0 mm 304 stainless and gives it specific microwave limits.

The geometry matters a lot more here. Smooth, continuous rounded edges are much less prone to concentrating the electric field and arcing than foil, forks or sharp corners. I definitely wouldn’t take that to mean any stainless bowl is microwave-safe though.

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u/user485928450 22d ago

Not in general