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Comment by portman | Hacker News Reader

"While putting metal in a microwave can damage the magnetron by causing an impedance mismatch, it depends on the shape and size of the metal and the time it is in the microwave. Electrical arcing may also occur on pieces of metal that are not smooth, or have points (e.g. a fork). Distributed metallic surfaces that are not subject to arcing and do not appreciably alter the magnetron's RF load can be used in a microwave with no danger; examples include the metalized surfaces used in browning sleeves and pizza-cooking platforms."

I learned something today! I had always thought that ALL metal in the microwave was verboten. Fascinating that it's the shape of the metal, not its material, that matters.

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There even some microwaves that are sold with a metal plate/ grate that can inserted inside to cook fish or vegetables on.

I guess the metal will absorb the microwave energy and heat up and then the food will get seared by contact with the metal, instead of directly receiving the microwave radiation.

My parents have one of those microwaves and when I saw it I was just as perplexed about it.

My understanding along with the comments in the article is that non ferrous metals are acceptable.

Interestingly, it was only later in my life (late teens - boarding school) that I learned metal was bad. I spent my childhood warming my breakfast cereal with the metal spoon in the bowl, no problems. (Nobody wants a cold spoon with warm cereal!) Now I know why I never had a problem - glad I didn't eat breakfast with a fork.

Who eats warm cereal? is my question. Is this common where you grew up? If so, may I ask where that was?

It's normal for oat based cereals (such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_Brek) and porridge to be eaten warm. These are common breakfasts in Europe - I don't know about the US. When I visited the US South a decade ago, I had grits which were also warm, but I don't know if that's the common way.

It's been a while since I, personally, have had porridge, but it's far from dead here in the states.

Eating some oatmeal right now, actually.

Here in Minnesota, USA, warm cereals (primarily oatmeal, Malt-o-meal and Cream of Wheat) are very popular in the colder months (September through April or May, most years).

They also rock when you're sick, especially with a sore throat (as I am today).

However, I almost always cook mine on the stove top, not in the microwave.

I realized this only after accidentally heating a metal cup.

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