You’ve probably bought a big, fancy new microwave. It cost a lot, and you’ll probably use it a lot. That makes microwaves good for investment. The more money you put into the microwave, the more it is worth to you. And if you take good care of it, it will last for a long time. Microwaves are expensive. But you can save money on them. Here are some things you can do:
- Don’t throw popcorn kernels and hot dog buns into it. Foods with fats and oils, like popcorn and hot dogs, tend to leak grease and splatter all over the inside.
- Don’t put anything inside the microwave that has metal in it. (This includes, for example, paperclips and keys.) Metal conducts electricity, and that can damage the microwave.
- Don’t put liquids into the microwave. Liquids can leak out of the microwave and damage it.
- Don’t use the microwave as a lunchbox. Don’t put a big sandwich in there or a bunch of frozen vegetables. The microwave has a really high temperature, and the food will melt or splatter all over the inside of the microwave.
- Don’t put anything in the microwave that can’t fit. Don’t put a big tray or several dishes in there.
- Don’t put anything in the microwave that isn’t food. Don’t put cups, paper towels, plastic containers, or paper plates in there. The microwave gets very hot, and that can burn or melt the things in there.
- Don’t put anything in the microwave that hasn’t been thoroughly heated. Don’t put frozen food in there.Your microwave cannot last forever, but you can make it last longer. A microwave can last from three to 20 years. The older your microwave gets, the less-efficient it gets.
When your microwave gets older, it loses some of its efficiency. Your microwave’s efficiency is how much microwave energy it puts out for a given amount of electricity.
