Warning: Water In The Microwave

Editor's Note: This was sent to me via e-mail and I thought I'd pass it on to our readers. Microwaves, like food irradiators, alter foods from the inside out! When boiling water for your herbal teas, please use your old-fashioned kettle.

I guess I didn't know this. I heat water in a mug often in the microwave. I never thought of it as being too dangerous. I feel that the following is information that anyone who uses a microwave oven to heat water should be made aware of.

About five days ago my 26-year-old son decided to have a cup of instant coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before).

When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly, the water in the cup "blew up" into his face, due to the build up of energy.

His whole face is blistered and he has first and second degree burns to his face that may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye.

While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven.

If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stirrer stick/spoon, teabag, etc. It is however a much safer choice to boil the water in a kettle.

NOTE: Subsequently on reviewing the above, I have consulted a set of Microwave Operation Instructions and under the heading, Liquids, it states:

"Liquids that have been heated by microwave can suddenly erupt. This is due to layers heated to higher temperatures being trapped under the surface. To avoid this happening to any liquid, e.g., coffee, custard, gravy, etc.:

• Stir the liquid thoroughly before heating in the microwave.

• Stir the liquid at least twice during the heating time.

• Stir the liquid again at the end. NEVER OVERHEAT LIQUIDS.

• Always use a suitable sized container, at least one-third larger, than the volume of liquid to be heated. If in doubt, use conventional methods, kettle, etc."

Please pass this information on!