Do Microwave Ovens Burn Out

Causes

• The most common cause of microwave oven burnout is operating an oven that contains no food or beverage. It also can be the result of a malfunctioning machine and cooking dehydrated food. Burnout occurs when the oven absorbs its own radiation energy, which winds up bounding back and forth between the appliance's magnetron tube and cooking chamber. Very old microwave ovens may be more susceptible to burnout.

Dangers

• Microwave oven burnout is a serious danger. When it occurs, the appliance releases the poisonous chemical beryllium. In addition, burnout can cause an electrical fire.

Prevention

• To prevent burnout, never run a microwave oven without food in it, and don't try to cook dehydrated food in a microwave oven. As a general safety rule, a microwave oven should never be unattended. Provide adult supervision for children operating a microwave oven. An older microwave oven warrants examination for malfunctions, and it should be replaced if necessary.

Life Expectancy

• Like most appliances, microwave ovens don’t last forever, and their risk for burnout and other dangers increases as they age. The average lifespan for a microwave oven is about 10 years. If a model is more than 10 years old, replacing it deserves consideration.