Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't
run a microwave oven empty because of reflected energy back to the
magnetron. But how small can the food be to be safe? Like a tablespoon
of cat food? Or 2 pats of butter? One friend told me to always put a
small glass of water in the oven when heating small amounts of food.
Any ideas?

On 4/8/2017 8:44 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't
run a microwave oven empty because of reflected energy back to the
magnetron. But how small can the food be to be safe? Like a tablespoon
of cat food? Or 2 pats of butter? One friend told me to always put a
small glass of water in the oven when heating small amounts of food. Any
ideas?

Google it up. Not a good idea. I often use for small stuff and like
the idea of buffering with water to be on the safe side.

On 4/8/2017 8:44 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't
run a microwave oven empty because of reflected energy back to the
magnetron. But how small can the food be to be safe? Like a tablespoon
of cat food? Or 2 pats of butter? One friend told me to always put a
small glass of water in the oven when heating small amounts of food. Any
ideas?

If I'm melting 2T of butter it i only running 30 seconds. I've never
had a problem doing it and the MW is over 15 years old. I'd not run it
long like that but never had to. Not the definitive answer, but it works
for me.

On 4/8/2017 5:44 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't
run a microwave oven empty because of reflected energy back to the
magnetron. But how small can the food be to be safe? Like a tablespoon
of cat food? Or 2 pats of butter? One friend told me to always put a
small glass of water in the oven when heating small amounts of food. Any
ideas?

Water or yer head, which also is nearly empty.
LOL

On 4/8/2017 9:23 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 4/8/2017 8:44 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't
run a microwave oven empty because of reflected energy back to the
magnetron. But how small can the food be to be safe? Like a
tablespoon of cat food? Or 2 pats of butter? One friend told me to
always put a small glass of water in the oven when heating small
amounts of food. Any ideas?

If I'm melting 2T of butter it i only running 30 seconds. I've never
had a problem doing it and the MW is over 15 years old. I'd not run it
long like that but never had to. Not the definitive answer, but it works
for me.
One thing I forgot to mention, this is a new microwave oven. The old
one quit after 7 1/2 years. The new one is the so called inverter
model. So, lower power settings, rather than just pulsing on and off,
it somehow changes the actual magnetron output. It works really well
for defrosting and heating smaller quantities of food. As for melting
butter, the low power settings work really nice without cause explosions
of boiling water inside the butter.

On Sat, 8 Apr 2017 09:23:05 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 4/8/2017 8:44 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't

I have an MSMw, Masters of Science in Microwaves, but unfortuantely
all they overed was microwave relay towers. Imagine a full year of
classes on nothing but that.

run a microwave oven empty because of reflected energy back to the
magnetron. But how small can the food be to be safe? Like a tablespoon
of cat food? Or 2 pats of butter? One friend told me to always put a

I would think pretty small, but if the butter boils or vaporizes, or I
guess absorbs all the enegy it can**, it won't absorb anymore and it
will be like it's not there.

**How much can it?. After it's vaporized and above butter's boiling
temperature, can't it just keep getting hotter and hotter until it's
at the melting point of the microwave? Of the metal cabinet etc.

small glass of water in the oven when heating small amounts of food. Any
ideas?

If I'm melting 2T of butter it i only running 30 seconds. I've never

It takes 30 seconds? Maybe so. If it's no a timer and it only melted
a few seconds ago, you're fine. But if you accidentally put it in
3000 seconds, don't put your hand in the butter vapor. It might not
melt the microwave but it woudl be a fourth state of butter. ;-)

had a problem doing it and the MW is over 15 years old. I'd not run it
long like that but never had to. Not the definitive answer, but it works
for me.

So you're asking us why? If it's worked so far I'm sure you're fine.
Read my post today about my landlady who thinks if you close the car
window the bees don't get in.

On 4/16/2017 12:29 PM, Micky wrote:
On Sat, 8 Apr 2017 09:23:05 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 4/8/2017 8:44 AM, Art Todesco wrote:
Here's a question for all the microwave experts. I know you shouldn't

had a problem doing it and the MW is over 15 years old. I'd not run it
long like that but never had to. Not the definitive answer, but it works
for me.

So you're asking us why? If it's worked so far I'm sure you're fine.
Read my post today about my landlady who thinks if you close the car
window the bees don't get in.


I'm not. Art T was and I replied.