Untitled Document

Super-heated liquids from microwave
can cause serious injuries

Printed at the request of Cheryl Rost
Office of Risk Management
A young man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil.

When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the microwave. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly the water, in the cup, "blew up" into his face.

The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water had flown out and into his face, due to the build up of energy. His whole face was blistered and he had first and second degree burns, to his face, which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight, in his left eye.

While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is fairly common occurrence and liquid (alone) should never be heated, in a microwave oven. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as: a wooden stir stick, a tea bag, etc. It is however a much safer choice to boil water in a teakettle.

General Electric's response:
Thanks for contacting us. I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point.

They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.

To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes, per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or adding anything into it.

Published 4-21-06