The myth of whether water will explode if boiled in the microwave has many perspectives, and is a very complicated myth. The actual myth is very hard to accomplish. In order to get water to actually explode after being boiled in a microwave, the conditions have to be exact. According to http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048953.htm, The Food and Drug Administration shares its perspective, which is that it will rarely happen. The FDA explains that if a clean, smooth cup is used to heat the water, the chances of it exploding are increased. Glass in particular will increase the risk of an explosion. Also, if anything is added to the water, there will be a lower chance that there will be a detonation. Dirtier cups actually also reduce the risk, because it prevents extreme froth and bubbling. This myth exists for several reasons. First of all, it can be proven scientifically. Secondly, there have been credible reports of it actually occurring. This myth is directly related to science, in the sense that a chemical explosion is taking place. According to
An Example of "Superheated" Water
The myth of whether water can explode from being boiled in the microwave can be proven through science, experiments, and real life occurrences. According to credible sources like, http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048953.htm and http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety/index.asp water is capable of erupting from being boiled in the microwave. After being heated at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, specialists have confirmed that water will explode. The myth of whether water will explode if boiled in the microwave has proven to be true.
11 comments:
This myth seems fairly important, as I'm sure no one wants to have an explosion in their kitchen. I wonder, though, how long it takes to "super heat" the water to the point that it will explode. My first thoughts went to making hot chocolate in the microwave and how close I could have been to having an explosion!
It would probably take different amounts of time for different sizes of cups or mugs. However, as long as it reaches 212 degrees, it is possible that it could superheat and cause an explosion.
Now i am kinda scared to boil water. So in order for the water to explode, it should not have any impurities. So is there a way that we can check for impurities or a way to prevent the water to exploding? Or is it just bad luck?
This seems kind of cool but of course not if it happened to somebody. That would be really scary if you had overheated the water and it wasnt boiling so you couldnt tell. Now im going to be sure not to boil water in the microwave if it doesnt have impurities. But does that mean tap water wont exlpode if you heat it up enough??
It's super unlikely that your water would ever explode. And basically like if there are cracks, dirt, or things like that in the cup, you wouldn't want to use it. Except for if you use the wrong dishes, it's a very low chance.
It may simply be how the microwave heats up the water...so depending where you heat the tap water, it may explode too. Because stoves and microwaves use different methods for heating food up, tap water may or may not explode.
Anna: you should only worry if it's distilled water. That's the most likely to explode.
I didn't understand one part though, because in the first part, you said that if the cup was clean, it was more likely to explode, but in the second part, you said if it was dirty then it was more likely to explode. Which is it?
Thanks for catching that! Glass has a very high risk, because its makeup is comparible to frozen liquid. Dirtier cups actually reduce the risk, and cleaner cups are more likely to cause an explosion.
I'm changing it thanks:)
I wouldn't have guessed that a dirtier cup would decrease the chance of it exploding. It seems ovbious now, but I just hadn't even thought about the cleanliness of the cup! I heat milk for hot chocolate, like someone said above, and water for tea a lot. That is scary, although 212 degrees is very hot.
So basically I could heat up tap water as long as I wanted to. Why is it that water without impurities is more likely to explode??
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