Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently
purchased a 1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave
and have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I
and the friends I have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using
dry paper towels without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.

Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
your help.

Rick

Rick wrote:
>
> Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently
> purchased a 1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave
> and have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
> ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I
> and the friends I have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using
> dry paper towels without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.
>
> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
> different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
> produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
> others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
> ? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
> hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
> someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
> your help.
>
> Rick




Use waxed paper instead. The paper towel is the hazard, not
the microwave!

gloria p

Rick wrote:
>
> Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently
> purchased a 1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave
> and have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
> ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I
> and the friends I have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using
> dry paper towels without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.
>
> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
> different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
> produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
> others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
> ? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
> hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
> someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
> your help.
>
> Rick




Use waxed paper instead. The paper towel is the hazard, not
the microwave!

gloria p

"Rick wrote:
Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently purchased a
1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave and have had
two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a ceramic bowel
ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I and the friends I
have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using dry paper towels
without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.

Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there different
types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they produce, which
might make certain models more prone to do this than others ? Might
there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps ? My initial
inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire hazard the heck
out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that someone can help me
understand this better. Thanks in advance for your help."

Seeing as there's a plain white paper towel that's advertised as being
perfect for the microwave, and other recipes for the micro tell you to
cover a dish with a paper towel to prevent splattering, I'd say your
oven is at fault. After all, there are other paper items that are put
into a microwave, such as popcorn bags.

My late husband worked in quality control for Philips, and you wouldn't
believe some of the faulty product stories he came home with! I'd
suggest you look on the box the oven came in for an 800 number, and call
the company - they'll be very happy to help you, epecially since they
don't want a lawsuit because of a fire caused by a faulty product!

Come to think of it, I never used a micro until I married him and he
taught me, and he told me to reheat pizza wrapped in a paper towel, or
cover dishes with a paper towel to prevent splatters, so I guess the
answer is YES - your oven has something wrong with it.

DON'T USE IT - GET A REPLACEMENT!!

"Rick wrote:
Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently purchased a
1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave and have had
two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a ceramic bowel
ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I and the friends I
have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using dry paper towels
without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.

Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there different
types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they produce, which
might make certain models more prone to do this than others ? Might
there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps ? My initial
inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire hazard the heck
out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that someone can help me
understand this better. Thanks in advance for your help."

Seeing as there's a plain white paper towel that's advertised as being
perfect for the microwave, and other recipes for the micro tell you to
cover a dish with a paper towel to prevent splattering, I'd say your
oven is at fault. After all, there are other paper items that are put
into a microwave, such as popcorn bags.

My late husband worked in quality control for Philips, and you wouldn't
believe some of the faulty product stories he came home with! I'd
suggest you look on the box the oven came in for an 800 number, and call
the company - they'll be very happy to help you, epecially since they
don't want a lawsuit because of a fire caused by a faulty product!

Come to think of it, I never used a micro until I married him and he
taught me, and he told me to reheat pizza wrapped in a paper towel, or
cover dishes with a paper towel to prevent splatters, so I guess the
answer is YES - your oven has something wrong with it.

DON'T USE IT - GET A REPLACEMENT!!

"Rick wrote:
Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently purchased a
1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave and have had
two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a ceramic bowel
ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I and the friends I
have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using dry paper towels
without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.

Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there different
types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they produce, which
might make certain models more prone to do this than others ? Might
there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps ? My initial
inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire hazard the heck
out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that someone can help me
understand this better. Thanks in advance for your help."

Seeing as there's a plain white paper towel that's advertised as being
perfect for the microwave, and other recipes for the micro tell you to
cover a dish with a paper towel to prevent splattering, I'd say your
oven is at fault. After all, there are other paper items that are put
into a microwave, such as popcorn bags.

My late husband worked in quality control for Philips, and you wouldn't
believe some of the faulty product stories he came home with! I'd
suggest you look on the box the oven came in for an 800 number, and call
the company - they'll be very happy to help you, epecially since they
don't want a lawsuit because of a fire caused by a faulty product!

Come to think of it, I never used a micro until I married him and he
taught me, and he told me to reheat pizza wrapped in a paper towel, or
cover dishes with a paper towel to prevent splatters, so I guess the
answer is YES - your oven has something wrong with it.

DON'T USE IT - GET A REPLACEMENT!!

On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 22:13:22 GMT, Puester >
wrote:

>Rick wrote:
>>
>> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
>> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ?
>
>Use waxed paper instead. The paper towel is the hazard, not
>the microwave!

Paper towels, particularly those made with recycled paper, may have
traces of metals or other m'wave-unfriendly ingredients. Yes, it's the
towel, not the m'wave.

On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 22:13:22 GMT, Puester >
wrote:

>Rick wrote:
>>
>> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
>> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ?
>
>Use waxed paper instead. The paper towel is the hazard, not
>the microwave!

Paper towels, particularly those made with recycled paper, may have
traces of metals or other m'wave-unfriendly ingredients. Yes, it's the
towel, not the m'wave.

> Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps ?
> My initial
> inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire hazard the heck
> out of my kitchen,

Now you know, don't use paper towels any more.

> but before I do I was hoping that someone can help me
> understand this better. Thanks in advance for your help."
>
> Seeing as there's a plain white paper towel that's advertised as being
> perfect for the microwave,

Which would imply that there are other makes that are NOT safe. Kowing
that, assume that if it's not specifically advertised as being safe that it
isn't safe.

Do you assume that because one brand of coffee is advertised as being
caffein free, that all other brands are decaff as well?

> After all, there are other paper items that are put
> into a microwave, such as popcorn bags.

Duh! They are specially packed in microwave safe paper.


from http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fs-mwave.html:
"Containers and Wraps
[...]
Microwave plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags, parchment paper, and
white *microwave-safe paper towels* should be safe to use. Do not let
plastic wrap touch foods during microwaving.
Never use thin plastic storage bags, brown paper or plastic grocery bags,
newspapers, or aluminum foil in the microwave oven."


--
Tim C.

http://www.interbasket.net/talk/atta...stid=32186.jpg

*-----------------------*
Posted at:
www.GroupSrv.com
*-----------------------*

http://www.interbasket.net/talk/atta...stid=32186.jpg

*-----------------------*
Posted at:
www.GroupSrv.com
*-----------------------*

"Rick" wrote in message
>
> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
> different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
> produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
> others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
> ? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
> hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
> someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
> your help.
>
> Rick

How long was it microwaved, resulting in a crispy paper towel? I have a
high-wattage Kenmore and haven't had any problems.

Dora

"Rick" wrote in message
>
> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
> different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
> produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
> others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
> ? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
> hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
> someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
> your help.
>
> Rick

How long was it microwaved, resulting in a crispy paper towel? I have a
high-wattage Kenmore and haven't had any problems.

Dora

In article >,
Rick > wrote:
>have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
>ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke).

Yes. It's likely that your ceramic bowl is hot enough to ignite the
paper towel. I've had dishes in the microwave singe and char paper
towels, but not get to the point where they actually ignite.

Many ceramics aren't pure dielectic materials; they have a high
electrical loss factor, which means they will heat up in a microwave
oven. Some plastics do too -- I have a plastic bowl that will burn
a paper towel in the microwave if left too long.

Try it with a Pyrex glass bowl. I'll be the towel won't ignite
then.

-A

In article >,
Rick > wrote:
>have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
>ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke).

Yes. It's likely that your ceramic bowl is hot enough to ignite the
paper towel. I've had dishes in the microwave singe and char paper
towels, but not get to the point where they actually ignite.

Many ceramics aren't pure dielectic materials; they have a high
electrical loss factor, which means they will heat up in a microwave
oven. Some plastics do too -- I have a plastic bowl that will burn
a paper towel in the microwave if left too long.

Try it with a Pyrex glass bowl. I'll be the towel won't ignite
then.

-A

OK, here's the answer I got when I called General Electric and asked
them about this:

It IS safe to use any paper towel (plain or print) in a microwave,
EXCEPT those which contain recycled materials.

OK, here's the answer I got when I called General Electric and asked
them about this:

It IS safe to use any paper towel (plain or print) in a microwave,
EXCEPT those which contain recycled materials.

Never use any recycled paper in a microwave because of minute amounts
of metal often found in recycled paper. Use a new (non-recycled)
paper plate, or one of those plastic covers especially made for
microwaves. (By the way, the photocopy repairman at my office told us
never to use any recycled paper in a photocopier or a printer because
of the metal often found in recycled paper -- it will eventually ruin
a printer, and some copier manufacturers consider the warranty voided
if recycled paper is put through the machines.)


(Rick) wrote in message . com>...
> Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently
> purchased a 1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave
> and have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
> ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I
> and the friends I have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using
> dry paper towels without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.
>
> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
> different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
> produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
> others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
> ? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
> hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
> someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
> your help.
>
> Rick

Never use any recycled paper in a microwave because of minute amounts
of metal often found in recycled paper. Use a new (non-recycled)
paper plate, or one of those plastic covers especially made for
microwaves. (By the way, the photocopy repairman at my office told us
never to use any recycled paper in a photocopier or a printer because
of the metal often found in recycled paper -- it will eventually ruin
a printer, and some copier manufacturers consider the warranty voided
if recycled paper is put through the machines.)


(Rick) wrote in message . com>...
> Has anyone had any recent experience with this ? We recently
> purchased a 1200W (stronger than our previous) Kenmore model microwave
> and have had two incidents where a dry paper towel placed on top of a
> ceramic bowel ignited (the first time, we thought, was a fluke). I
> and the friends I have spoken to have microwaved foods for years using
> dry paper towels without this problem so I'm really puzzled here.
>
> Is it 'normal' behavior for a microwave to ignite a dry paper towel
> sitting on top of a microwave-safe cooking vessel ? Are there
> different types of microwaves, as far as the radiation type they
> produce, which might make certain models more prone to do this than
> others ? Might there be any other explanations, a faulty oven perhaps
> ? My initial inclination is to get what seems to be a genuine fire
> hazard the heck out of my kitchen, but before I do I was hoping that
> someone can help me understand this better. Thanks in advance for
> your help.
>
> Rick

"limey" > wrote in message >...
>
> How long was it microwaved, resulting in a crispy paper towel? I have a
> high-wattage Kenmore and haven't had any problems.
>
> Dora


Not long, 90 seconds maybe. Thanks for the posts, all. The thing
that has me confounded is that, in my circles at least, paper towels
are pretty much universally thought of as microwave-safe, and have
been all along. If they're not, or if there are certain towels, ovens
or vessels that substantially increase the chance of a flash, then the
public is badly misinformed on this and a lot of people are at risk
when they cook this way.

Rick

"limey" > wrote in message >...
>
> How long was it microwaved, resulting in a crispy paper towel? I have a
> high-wattage Kenmore and haven't had any problems.
>
> Dora


Not long, 90 seconds maybe. Thanks for the posts, all. The thing
that has me confounded is that, in my circles at least, paper towels
are pretty much universally thought of as microwave-safe, and have
been all along. If they're not, or if there are certain towels, ovens
or vessels that substantially increase the chance of a flash, then the
public is badly misinformed on this and a lot of people are at risk
when they cook this way.

Rick

Mary wrote:

> (By the way, the photocopy repairman at my office told us
> never to use any recycled paper in a photocopier or a printer because
> of the metal often found in recycled paper -- it will eventually ruin
> a printer,

Bull! No doubt he must have stock in Georgia Pacific or some other paper
company or something. Or hopes he call sell you a new copier or printer
or something.

Mary wrote:

> (By the way, the photocopy repairman at my office told us
> never to use any recycled paper in a photocopier or a printer because
> of the metal often found in recycled paper -- it will eventually ruin
> a printer,

Bull! No doubt he must have stock in Georgia Pacific or some other paper
company or something. Or hopes he call sell you a new copier or printer
or something.