The side of my microwave set on fire
I was microwaving a potato cake, which definitely has no metal inside it (or any which would cause a fire), it was in the middle of the platter when suddenly the side of the microwave caught on fire, there's a small piece of what looks like metal built into the device, but I fail to see why it wouldn't have caught fire the hundreds of other times I used it.
Should I be replacing this microwave or is it a one off?
Best Answer
If anything that is actually part of the microwave caught fire, of course you should replace it.
(Theoretically you could have it repaired by someone knowledgeable, but repairing a microwave is not cost effective.)
Continuing to use damaged electrical equipment is asking for a fire or damage to your electrical systems.
There is no such thing as a 'one off' fire that you can neglect.
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Quick Answer about "The side of my microwave set on fire"
It is very common that during cooking, some food particles and grease escape the food and stick to the wave guide. The heat emitted from the magnetron burns these stuck food particles, which appears as spark to us. This spark damages the wave guide cover. A damaged or shorted wave guide cover causes frequent sparks.What would cause a microwave to catch on fire?
Microwave fires are commonly caused by overheated ingredients, so keep an eye on your food as you cook. If you place metal, such as aluminum foil, or food packaging inside of the microwave cavity, it could start a fire. Electrical issues can also lead to fires, including power surges and shorted-out power supply units.Can you use a microwave if there was a fire in it?
UL-certified microwaves (which is almost all of them) are designed to contain small fires started by common foods (like popcorn or potatoes), so it should be safe to leave a microwave alone while the flames suffocate.Can I use my microwave after it sparks?
In most cases, you're perfectly safe if your microwave starts sparking. However, if you see sparks in the microwave, you should still turn it off immediately. Sparks will damage the inside of your microwave permanently. So, while sparking microwaves aren't dangerous to you, they are dangerous to themselves.【nite-ps】Microwave oven：4.Cooking residues in a microwave oven chamber catching fire
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