Do you like living on the edge?

[Bub]

So I am a careful kind of guy, driving in my car, with my seat belt on, listening to Science Friday on NPR when I heard the episode about grapes that explode in a microwave oven.

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-do-grapes-spark-in-the-microwave/

While this is apparently a very popular topic on the internet, it was news to me.
Some people say that it can damage your microwave oven, others say that it does not.
Have you ever heard about this or, better yet, have you ever tried it?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PGX289yjew8" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>

 

[user 4351]

I've never tried blowing up a grape in the microwave, but I can tell you that I've reheated chicken salad with chunked grapes in it with no ill effects. if this truly works, it must be something about the grape being alone under a contained space.

 

[Brewdude]

First I've heard about this. Don't think I'll try it either.


Cheers,

RR

 

[Corncobcon]

Darn grapes, they are bad for a dog's digestive system also! :affraid:

 

[huffelpuff]

I've heard about it but never desired to try it. I have however microwaved marshmallows. That gets interesting quickly. The other thing I have done is microwave the foil/Mylar potato chip bags. I gotta say I don't miss being forced to do science projects lol. Anyway you end up with a chip bag that would look right at home in a doll house.

Jim

 

[user 2027]

I remember the first microwave we got back in '75-'76? It was an Amanda and we called it the $500 clock that boils water because we didn't know what to do with it. One morning I thought, wonder if it will cook my egg. So cracked an egg into a bowl, stirred it and put it in. Grun-un-un-un-un-un-un-PUHHHHHH and the entire microwave was coated in egg. That Amanda was serious power compared to today.

Use to destroy CD-RW that had sensitive info on them in the microwave. Pretty sparks.

 

[taharris]

So I am a careful kind of guy, driving in my car, with my seat belt on, listening to Science Friday on NPR when I heard the episode about grapes that explode in a microwave oven.

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-do-grapes-spark-in-the-microwave/

While this is apparently a very popular topic on the internet, it was news to me.
Some people say that it can damage your microwave oven, others say that it does not.
Have you ever heard about this or, better yet, have you ever tried it?

That sounds like fun!

Let me know how it goes.

Todd

 

[Bub]

I remember a LONG TIME ago when microwave ovens came out and restaurants advertised their food was cooked by microwaves.
We have come a long way.

 

[swhipple]

I tried it this morning. I think my grapes were the wrong shape  I got nothing but cooked grapes. Supposedly it will work and there is some pretty interesting science behind how it generates the plasma.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wCrtk-pyP0I" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>

 

[huffelpuff]

Thank you! That is an awesome explanation of the science behind the phenomenon and it was entertaining to boot.

Oh the other stupid thing I've done with the microwave is take the transformer out of an old one, cut the upper windings out of it and rewrap different wire into it to make a small spot welder. On a scale of stupid things to do I'd put that up there at about a 9. It works but man it's so unsafe to eff around with high voltage.

Jim

 

[dkj42]

Did all my living on the edge in '69-'70 in SEA. :cyclops:

 

[Ozark Wizard]

Did all my living on the edge in '69-'70 in SEA.  :cyclops:

Good answer!