So basically our microwave broke but landlord said the oven has a microwave setting. How can that work with all the metal in an oven? Do I put a baking sheet in there or do I set a bowl/plate on the wire rack like I’d put them in a microwave? Is it dangerous? That might sound like a dumb question but I’m pregnant and paranoid. Honestly I don’t really know how a normal microwave works either but this is making me worry.
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I don’t think an oven can work like a microwave? Is this really a thing?
What model of oven do you have?
Metal only sparks in a microwave if it has parts that stick out such that the ends are close enough that the energy could arc from one point to the other. For example, a fork is such a shape, but a spoon or a knife are not really shaped in a way that energy could arc across it. A friend of mine bought an expensive oven + microwave combo for her kitchen, and it has specially designed oven grills in it that are also microwave safe.
I have one that does both. No issue at all with it.
https://www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com/nl/inspiratie/innovatie/noviteiten/iq700
Was he being sarcastic/snarky and saying that you can heat things up in the oven?
If there is a microwave you n the oven , it should be safe .. best bet is to only use glass/ceramic in it .. you can have metal in a microwave, the key thing is that there are no sharp points that could act as antennas for the microwaves or metal objects being close as to cause arcing ..
So, ovens with a microwave function are really popular in Japan.
When using the microwave function you stick to the no metal rule, when using it as a regular oven metal is fine.
I have an ancient Thermador stacked over. From the 80s and the top oven is a microwave as well. It had metal racks. I’ve never used it as such, since 30 years ago I bought a Panasonic microwave for $40 and it’s still running. We use it every day.
An oven works by heating air, and then blowing it around. Things in the oven get as hot as the temperature that you set it at.
A microwave works by sending out microwave radiation. Some materials absorb this radiation well, and heat up. Other materials absorb it poorly. Lucky for us, food absorbs it well.
Metals, especially pointy bits like forks, can cause issues with microwave radiation so generally you don’t put them in. You can consult the manual to see if the wire rack is safe to use. In your case, I see the Ikea Smaksak manual notes for microwave use that the wire rack should not be used in microwave setting, and to rely on the glass plate instead.
Please refer to this (English!) manual : https://www.handleidi.ng/ikea/smaksak/handleiding?file=3538872
Page 13 and page 16, and page 19.