What, not supposed to heat *water* in microwave?!1 (Lounge gourmets, be warned away!1)

[UTUSN]

The gourmet part has to do with coffee: For a score of years I've been heating a half-mug of water in the microwave for instant coffee ---- O, the humanity!!!!1

(Pause here to allow for the vapors... )

So my heating is 120 seconds. Perhaps sometimes this is "superheating" when, occasionally, the coffee "crystals" totally *FIZZ* up to the rim momentarily. I thought this meant maximizing whatever "flavor" was in the crystals, guess not.

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http://www.idistracted.net/microwaving-these-things-is-the-worst-thing-you-can-do-pics/
[font size=5]Water[/font]

Surprised to find water on this list? You probably heat water in the microwave all the time and if you do, you’re not alone. While warming up your H2O isn’t usually super dangerous, you can actually superheat the water, which is bad (very bad). Superheating water happens when the water gets beyond boiling point without actually boiling, so there’s no bubbles to tell you that the water is hot. Superheated water, if disturbed, can suddenly boil or vaporize into burning steam that can result in first and second degree burns. So if you can avoid it, try to not heat water in the microwave. And definitely don’t re-heat water that’s already been through the microwave before. Chances are there will be pre-existing heat bubbles that will combust when you put it in a second time. The more you know.

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[patricia92243]

1. I have found that heating water (not coffee, etc) takes as much time as heating it in a pan. Much

easier to deal with, but time-wise about the same.

[trof]

7. I nuke cold coffee for 30 seconds.

[femmocrat]

2. "Pre-existing heat bubbles" ???

And they are "combustible"??? Who knew!

I never took physics, but how can that happen? If the water has cooled, how long can there still be "combustible" bubbles in it? I know that microwaves heat unevenly, but of all the things there are to worry about, this is not on my list.

I have boiled water for tea in the microwave for over 30 years and never had a problem, except an occasional split tea bag--- so I don't pour the water directly on the bag.

[UTUSN]

4. Physics: I didn't exactly "take" physics, just passed it via "grading on the curve" -

Is that the one with "torque"?!1 I grok torque (not the math formula part) when applying force at a certain point for maximal effectiveness - or is that "leverage"?!1

[femmocrat]

5. LOL No idea!

I'm sure some DU-science-guru* will be along to help us out.

(* I would have said "nerd" but I don't know if that is still considered an insult!)

[In_The_Wind]

3. But, the instant mashed potatoes directions tell me to heat 2 cups of water on high for 5 minutes.

[Drahthaardogs]

6. I burned myself badly with super heated water

and I knew better too. Remember the more perfect the container, the more likely it is to superheat water.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. This is particularly likely to happen with super-smooth containers, like some new plastics.

Dropping in a toothpick or other little bit of wood (keep chopsticks on hand, maybe ?) should make this less likely, as it forces bubble formation. A nicely used glass or plastic container is likely to be OK.

Uh, BTW, bubbles in water don't "combust", unless they're some flammable gas.