I put a standard ceramic coffee mug of cold in the microwave (900W) for 2 minutes. Picked in up by the handle and blistered my fingers. It was as though it had been in an oven. I used a hot mitt to transfer the water into my thermos and the outside of the thermos became very warm. It cooled back down after about 3 minutes.
Why did this happen?
Was there something about that particular mug?
Why did the water become so hot as to heat right through the thermos?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Why did this happen?
Was there something about that particular mug?
Why did the water become so hot as to heat right through the thermos?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Thanks Cliff. I've done some googling and I think your suggestion is correct.
The only thing left is the temperature passing through the thermos. Can water be superheated if it's not under pressure, and why did the thermos heat so quickly and then cool back down quickly as well?
The only thing left is the temperature passing through the thermos. Can water be superheated if it's not under pressure, and why did the thermos heat so quickly and then cool back down quickly as well?
I swear to god, wine and brandy do taste better in crystal than in plain glass. But that is not my point today.
Water can certainly superheat in a microwave, but it usually bumps as soon as you move it. A bump is a furious boil, seemingly out of nowhere, when the superheated water is disturbed at all. I always dip a spoon into a container of water in my microwave before I pick it up, just in case.
Water can certainly superheat in a microwave, but it usually bumps as soon as you move it. A bump is a furious boil, seemingly out of nowhere, when the superheated water is disturbed at all. I always dip a spoon into a container of water in my microwave before I pick it up, just in case.
Yes, I have had that too but never bothered to question it. Just wrote it off as too much rum and went about my business. Curious that it didn't happen this time.A bump is a furious boil
In fact the water did not appear to have boiled at all as the mug was quite full and there was no overspill on the tray.
Probably cold(ish) Fusion.
I boil water in the microwave for my coffee. With very clean glass the water never seems to boil, but it is super hot. A bump can set it off, as can putting in coffee grounds. I enjoy the effect.
But I've noticed what Cal has, some mugs heat more than others, as do some bowls and plates. What's in them that heats up? They will heat when empty, so it's not conduction from the food or drinks.
I boil water in the microwave for my coffee. With very clean glass the water never seems to boil, but it is super hot. A bump can set it off, as can putting in coffee grounds. I enjoy the effect.
But I've noticed what Cal has, some mugs heat more than others, as do some bowls and plates. What's in them that heats up? They will heat when empty, so it's not conduction from the food or drinks.
...I always dip a spoon into a container of water in my microwave before I pick it up, just in case.
This is good advice, especially for those of us with microwaves on higher shelves (over the range top for example), where the potential for injury from a flash-boil is also higher.
Someone who looks like me sometimes enters "22" instead of "2" and, if not noted, gets VERY boiled water; but half-empty cup and steamy oven.
Which after you wipe down the mess leaves you with a squeaky clean microwave oven. Ya know... When life gives you boiled water, make lemonade. Or something...
I've had microwaved water spontaneously boil when I submersed a teabag in it. I chalked that up as superheated water that got disturbed by the teabag and found it kinda cool. It reminded me of an experiment/demo done in chemistry class where a test tube of water is brought to a boil by only heating the bottom of the test tube. The liquid at bottom boils suddenly and shoots all the water out of the test tube.
Tom
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