New technologies are certainly taken in stride these days, in fact they are expected, and who better knows how to make them work than our kids, so it is easy to unwittingly put them in harm's way by allowing them to use appliances that they can operate, but may not fully understand.
As parents, we probably have gotten a call at work from one of our kids when they got home from school asking us what they can eat. We may be parents who have no choice, but to leave the kids at home to fend for themselves for a couple of hours from time to time. It's a reality for many, no need to apologize; it however can create a very dangerous situation.
Countertop Burners
When we get that call, or leave a note that starts with, 'when you get home from school,' our most frequent suggestion for hot snacks is to heat them up in the microwave. After all, microwave ovens are easy to use, even our young kids know how, and there are a variety of snacks already microwave packaged. There is nothing wrong with this, we're busy and they are hungry, but don't assume that they know the proper way to cook with a microwave oven. Inform them of the dangers and teach them the proper cooking methods that will keep them safe.
Before the age of the microwave oven parents would lovingly admonish their kids with, 'be sure to turn the burner off and remember it's hot.' Excellent advice for sure, but it is absolutely inadequate when speaking of microwave cooking. This is why.
First, solid foods and liquids react differently when heated in a microwave oven than they would on a stove top or in a standard oven creating a variety of dangerous situations. Second, how the solids and liquids are packaged or even what type of containers you may place them in can impact what conditions will exist when they are heated.
The Biggest Dangers
The two biggest dangers come from steam and actual explosions of liquids. Steam is the easiest to understand with the dangers typically caused by the packaging. When discussing prepackaged food, bags of micro wave popcorn come to mind for what could be the most frequent threat. Kids love popcorn. Most microwaves are programmed to cook popcorn at the push of a button, so it is easy even for very young children to use. The popcorn is cooked in a sealed container trapping steam which is created as the kernels pop. When the bag is opened the steam is quickly released. Another situation which creates a danger from steam is when leftovers are heated up. They have been repackaged into whatever container is to be used for heating. Often these containers are covered by plastic wrap or sealable lids. If the cover is improperly placed steam may become trapped and then released in a blast.
Heating liquids, such as water for hot chocolate, may very well be considered the most dangerous use of a microwave. Microwaves heat very quickly and can superheat liquids. Superheated liquids are liquids that have passed the boiling temperature without bubbling or off gassing. The smoother the container's surface the higher the likely hood of super heating occurring. Liquid in a new ceramic cup with glazing that has not been scratched is more apt to super heat than liquid in an old scratched up plastic travel cup. The surface of the smoother cup has less porosity making it more difficult to form the bubbles we all recognize to mean boiling. The lack of bubbling does not mean the energy created while heating the liquid is not present. It simply means the energy has been unable to break the bonds of the surface tension allowing it to dissipate. This is a dangerous situation.
When Things Goes Wrong
Common microwave accidents include: Eating unevenly heated food. In this case one side may be palatable with the other hot enough to easily burn the inside of your child's mouth. Another potential accident is when heated food spills onto the user while removing the container from the microwave. This typically occurs with what is known as an over the range microwave or over the counter microwave. The OTR microwave, as it is commonly known, also functions as a hood vent above the range or cook top. They are typically mounted at 72 inches above the floor. When a microwave is mounted under a wall cabinet it is referred to as an OTC microwave and mounting heights vary, but seldom will it be lower than 54 inches. In either application the mounting height puts the appliance above the eye levels of many children making it more difficult to safely use.
The more insidious accidents, the ones that have the greatest potential to cause extreme harm, have already been mentioned and they are burns caused by steam and explosively hot liquids. Typically, steam burns occur when a container or a popcorn bag for example, is opened too soon after completing the cooking cycle. The pressure in the container has not released and a blast of steam may occur when the package is opened. Steam blasts are capable of causing serious burns. Injuries from super heated liquids are also cause for great concern. Microwaves heat quickly, allowing liquids under certain circumstances to heat beyond boiling without off gassing, or bubbling. In this situation the energy has not dissipated, it is being held within the liquid and it is explosive in nature. When the liquid is disturbed, by moving it for example, it can literally explode onto the user with devastating results. Please query super heated liquids on your favorite search engine and you will find many scientific explanations for this occurrence. As interesting as the explanations are, the only thing that you truly need to understand is that the risks are real and for the most part preventable.
9 Simple Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe
1. Never tightly cover a container that you place in a microwave oven. Always leave a small vent to help prevent pressure from building up during the cooking cycle.
2. Do not open heated containers towards yourself. Even when a container is vented steam may still be discharged when uncovering it.
3. Never remove a heated container from a microwave if you cannot see into it. This is primarily in reference to using OTR and OTC microwaves, but this could also apply to a counter top microwave if being used by a small child.
4. Let heated items stand for one or two minutes after heating. It not only helps food to cook thoroughly, it gives steam which was captured a chance to escape.
5. Always put something into a liquid that is going to be heated. It will help prevent the conditions that allow super heating to occur. Buy a box of wooden stir sticks. They work great.
6. Make a rule that liquids are never heated for more than 2 minutes.
7. Never reheat a liquid that has been forgotten in the microwave and is still warm. It is much easier for super heating to occur during the second heating cycle!
8. Review the cooking instructions on all microwave ready packaged foods that you keep in your kitchen with your kids. Make an agreement with them on a list of the foods they can prepare.
9. Have your kids cook with you. This is the best way to teach safe practices.
Take the time to teach safe practices to your children, as well as, their friends when at your home. No one else may be teaching them. Don't assume a child knows how to use the appliance or is too young to learn. When they have an unsupervised moment they may very well try. Most microwave cooking accidents result in burns, which can easily be 2nd or 3rd degree.
Microwave ovens are not dangerous, the improper use of them is. Establish, teach, practice and monitoe safe cooking practices in your home.