How will you feel when you come home tired and ready to eat your favorite food when you are hungry, and at that moment you noticed that your Microwave Oven formed rust? Of course, eating from a rusty microwave oven will not be appealing at all. I once had to fall into just such a situation that’s why I know it is painful enough. We should also be aware of how safe it is to use a rusty microwave oven.
Is it bad if your microwave has rust inside?
Yes, it is bad if your microwave has rust inside. So, you should know how to identify the rust inside & how to take prevent rust formation.
How do you know when a microwave is unsafe?
A microwave can be used for a long time, but there are some signs that it is time to change the microwave. You can be sure if any of the following symptoms occur:
- Horrible sound
- Smoke and burning smells
- The keypad doesn’t work properly
- The door doesn’t seal properly
How Does Rust Form On Microwave Oven Surfaces?
Prolonged use of microwave oven results in rust from inside it due to the effect of humidity. The paint inside the microwave will start chipping, mainly due to the liquid being spilled inside the microwave oven. Oxidation occurs as a result and this is responsible for the Rust Form. Also, food debris accumulates due to the microwave oven surface being unclean and affects rusting.
Therefore, not keeping the oven clean with a dry cloth after regular use is one of the main reasons for Rust Form.
Why Is Rust Inside A Microwave Oven Dangerous?
Arcing and rust Arcing
A good quality oven usually has a ceramic coating on the inside which is kept inside the oven for safety. Prolonged use of the oven may result in rust accumulation inside the coating. So, in that case, when the microwave rays bounce against the metal, it may spark due to rust arcing in the middle of cooking.
There is another reason why it can spark and that is because of the use of cooking utensils that are not microwave-safe. So, make sure that the kitchenware inside your oven is microwave-safe.
Microwave radiation leakage
Is Leaking a Microwave oven Dangerous? Yes, long-term radiation exposure due to leakage can affect human biological cell processes and can cause glaucoma, leukemia, and sterility, etc. But, according to the Microwave Technologies Association, no clear evidence is found due to microwave radiation.
Now the question is that how do you confirm that your oven is leaking radiation or not. Yes, you can test the radiation leakage at your home. There are three common methods for radiation leakage test as follows:
- Cell phone microwave test: First of all, unplug the power wire of the microwave oven. Now, place a cell phone inside the oven & close the oven door properly. Use another phone to call in the phone which you have just placed inside the oven. If the phone rings after dialing, that’s mean your microwave radiation leakage is confirmed.
- Microwave Leakage Detector test: If you have Digital Microwave Oven Leakage Meter, you can test the radiation leakage professionally. To run the test, you need to place at least a glass of water as the running oven doesn’t become damaged due to an empty oven by the magnetrons. Now, Move the detector towards the oven walls by pressing the max button. If it shows below 5 mill watts per square centimeter, congratulation to you because there is no leakage.
- Fluorescent bulb Test: In this test, you need to dim your room light for a better result. For your microwave oven safety, place a glass of water in the oven. Now, run the oven & move the Fluorescent bulb around the oven. If there is any radiation leakage, the bulb will flicker.
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How to Prevent Rust Formation inside a Microwave?
First of all, you need to unplug the microwave power cord. Now, collect a DIY cleaning solution to clean the rusted area with a wet cloth. The rust will become flexible after cleaning with a liquid cleaning solution. Now, scrape off the rusted paint area with a metal brush. After scraping, use sandpaper to sand the affected area which will ensure smoothness of the surface.
Now, spray a coat of paint to the required area wearing the protective mask. Let the spray coating as it is for at least 12 hours without microwaving. If the rust is out of control, consider replacing the microwave for avoiding accidental issues.
How to clean the rusty microwave periodically?
If you can keep the microwave oven clean regularly, there will be no chance of rust accumulation. So, after using the oven, you can wipe the oven with a cloth applying baking soda and water solution. Also, if there is a bad smell inside the microwave oven, mix some lemon slices in a bowl of water to remove it and leave it in a low-temperature setting for 5 minutes for the water to evaporate. Now, turn off the oven and wipe the inside of the oven with a damp cloth.
You may read: How to Clean Grease Buildup on Waffle Irons?
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the popular rust removers?
- WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover Soak.
- Evapo-Rust the Original Super Safe Rust Remover.
- Iron Out Spray Rust Stain Remover.
- Corroseal Water-Based Rust Converter Metal Primer.
- Whink Rust Remover.
Which safest microwave does not rust?
Igenix IG2980 Solo Manual Microwave is rust-friendly. This is a no rust microwave for better interior which is scratch and rust-resistant.
What is the best interior material for a microwave?
If we think about better heat conductivity, the stainless steel interior cavity is great for protecting the leakage. A ceramic cavity is good for easy cleaning but it takes long time to heat.
Can you touch up paint inside a microwave?
You can paint over rust, scratches but make sure cleaning the oven as the rust in microwave goes away. In the market, there are different microwave touch up paint repair kit available for fixing issues.
Kelly is a passionate chef & kitchen expert. She completed her Masters in Culinary Arts and Kitchen Management.