Why Do Some Plates Get Hot in The Microwave? – The Explanation

What is heated in the microwave?

To understand why some plates get hot, you first have to know what actually happens in the microwave.

• Microwave radiation occurs when electromagnetic field energy is generated in the device.
• Due to the absorption of the radiation, molecular vibrations are excited. The food heats up with it.
• Microwave-suitable crockery is completely transparent for the microwave, which means that the crockery itself does not get hot.

Why is the plate getting hot?

• Porcelain gets hot in the microwave because the glaze on the dishes usually has microscopic cracks.
• These arise, for example, when stacking or sorting in the dishwasher.
• Water can penetrate the porcelain through these fine cracks and heat up in the microwave.
• Otherwise, dishes only get hot because of the warm food that transfers energy to the plate.
• Gold-rimmed dishes should never be placed in the microwave, as the resulting sparks can damage the microwave.
• Stoneware is absolutely unsuitable for the microwave due to its porous structure, among other things.

How to check if dishes are microwave safe?

It is very easy to determine whether a plate is microwave-safe:

1. Place the plate in the microwave on full power for a minute or two.
2. If the plate has taken over the temperature, it is not suitable.
3. Plastic dishes are the most suitable (must be marked as microwave-safe), as this is where the microwaves heat up the food the easiest.