Will Running an Empty Microwave Ruin It?

Process

• Microwaves use transmitting antennae to harness a household's electricity supply and convert it into a very high voltage. This high voltage energy interacts with the transmitting antenna, known as a "magnetron," to create powerful "wave energy" similar to the energy produced through radio frequencies. These waves cause the food molecules in the oven to rapidly vibrate, creating friction and heat between the molecules and causing the food to cook.

Maintenance

• As they are sensitive pieces of equipment, microwave ovens should only be serviced by experienced repairmen. Tampering with the oven yourself may result in electric shocks. Cleaning your microwave regularly will help prolong its lifespan. Food particles and spills that are left in the appliance attract energy from the radio waves, resulting in burn marks and eventual damage to the heating function. Microwave oven circuits are also vulnerable to damage caused by power surges or lightning, so fitting a surge processor can help protect the appliance from damage.

General Safety

• According to the Appliance Parts website, microwave ovens are relatively safe compared to many other forms of technology because they use waves rather than radiation to warm food, which means the extreme temperatures achieved by microwave ovens are less likely to result in accidents. Microwave ovens also don't introduce any foreign elements into food molecules and are often more energy efficient than standard ovens.

Running on Empty

• A microwave running on empty is not likely to blow up or set your house on fire. The magnetrons used in microwave oven technology concentrate energy on the food molecules at the center of the oven. If a microwave is run with nothing inside, however, this energy is still used but is concentrated on the interior of the oven itself instead of on the food. This severe concentration of energy can cause permanent damage to the microwave's antenna, meaning it can't cook or heat food effectively in the future. A microwave should never be run with nothing inside for this reason.