You can’t put metal in a microwave because it stops the invisible energy from moving properly inside.
What’s happening inside the microwave
A microwave works by sending out tiny waves of energy, like when you shake a bucket of water, the water moves around, and that makes the food warm up. But if you put metal in there, it acts like a shield: the energy hits the metal and can’t go through to heat your food.
Why is metal special?
Think about a pan on a stove, when you turn the heat on, the pan gets hot, and then it heats up your food. But in a microwave, the energy isn’t coming from the pan, it's coming from the air around it. When the energy hits the metal, it bounces off or even jumps out as sparks, like when you hit the wrong button on a toy.
So if you put metal in the microwave, some of the invisible energy can't get to your food, and sometimes, it makes little sparks instead!
Examples
- A metal fork causes sparks and a burnt smell when placed in the microwave.
- Putting a tin can in the microwave results in bright flashes of light.
- Metal makes your popcorn explode more than usual.
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See also
- What's The Deal With Metal In The Microwave?
- How Does Microwaving metal is FINE (sometimes) Work?
- How Does An easy to understand explanation of how microwaves work Work?
- Why is some metal safe to use in a microwave, but others not?
- How a Microwave Oven Works?