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Post by the light works on Jul 11, 2015 15:25:01 GMT
in the NASA impossible engine thread, Greg recounted an experience with microwaving peeled hard boiled eggs, which I think would make a great minimyth, having all the necessary components of being fast, cheap, dramatic, and (with proper safety gear) reasonably safe.
I'll let him have the honor of posting the details; and perhaps we can catalog other hidden dangers of improperly handling food.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jul 11, 2015 15:50:14 GMT
I knew that you should not make hard-boiled eggs in a microwave. That makes sense being in a closed shell and all. But I had no idea that hard-boiled eggs should never even be reheated in a microwave, even if not in the shells. Here's my experience for whatever it's worth. When our hard-boiled eggs blew, they were not in the shells but otherwise intact. They had already been cooked and removed from the shells the day before and we were just trying to reheat them a little. We put them in the microwave for a short period and then removed them and put them on the kitchen table. A few seconds later, they started to explode. And it wasn't a mild explosion either. It was very violent. Hot egg went everywhere. One piece stuck to my wife's face and caused a nasty burn. There was egg stuck all over the walls and the ceiling. My son, who was about 3 at the time, dove under the table. It was NOT good. He's 31 now and still will not eat a hard boiled egg. I always thought they had to be in the shell to explode. In doing a little research on the subject, I found that's not the case. After a peeled hard`boiled egg sits for a while, a thin membrane forms over the surface of the yolk. Heating the egg in a microwave oven causes pressure to build up inside the yolk and when it gets high enough, the membrane ruptures, suddenly releasing the pressure and that's what causes the egg to explode. If you want to reheat hard-boiled eggs in a microwave, you have to mash the yolks first. Read more: citadelofmyths.freeforums.net/thread/1363/nasa-tests-impossible-engine?page=3#ixzz3fb84A5YtSounds like a good minimyth to me. All the ingredients. No special equipment required except some safety clothing. Home appliances and explosions. And it's really surprising how violent they explode. As bad as if someone stuck a large firecracker in them. |
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Post by the light works on Jul 11, 2015 16:11:36 GMT
a little less reliable would be myths about exploding baked potatoes. I was taught to slice the end off with a knife, while other people are trained to stab the potato with a fork. does either method make a difference, or it is all luck of the draw? I HAVE pulled a potato out of the oven that was showing signs of internal pressure, but haven't actually had an explosion.I don't know if this is something that could be tested without a lot of hours spent baking potatoes, though.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jul 11, 2015 16:20:10 GMT
There is also a myth that green string beans, if cut the right length and at an angle, will actually creating electrical arcing at the tips when put in a microwave oven. Something else that would be relatively easy to try.
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Post by the light works on Jul 11, 2015 16:30:13 GMT
There is also a myth that green string beans, if cut the right length and at an angle, will actually creating electrical arcing at the tips when put in a microwave oven. Something else that would be relatively easy to try. there are a few things that arc in the microwave. I wonder if it would be a worthwhile minimyth to actually do some quantitative analysis on the phenomenon. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Jul 11, 2015 16:38:06 GMT
there are a few things that arc in the microwave. I wonder if it would be a worthwhile minimyth to actually do some quantitative analysis on the phenomenon. Other foods may arc as well. I think the key is they have to be cut about a quarter wavelength of the microwave's frequency. (2.45GHz) Which a quarter wave would be about 1 1/ 4". The voltage created at the tips of a dipole antenna is very high. And that's basically what you would have. |
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Post by the light works on Jul 11, 2015 16:52:16 GMT
there are a few things that arc in the microwave. I wonder if it would be a worthwhile minimyth to actually do some quantitative analysis on the phenomenon. Other foods may arc as well. I think the key is they have to be cut about a quarter wavelength of the microwave's frequency. (2.45GHz) Which a quarter wave would be about 1 1/4". The voltage created at the tips of a dipole antenna is very high. And that's basically what you would have. aha. that makes sense. it is also something that could be theoretically be measured. |
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Post by silverdragon on Jul 11, 2015 20:36:42 GMT
Superheated Water.
This is an old one, but it may well explain a few things in a way that "Viewers" may catch on to what is happening...
If you heat Water in a microwave, without stirring it at all, you van OVER-Heat it, and as soon as you either stir it or drop a wooden spoon into it, it will flash over into steam.
Yes it has been done before, 2007, but its worth a look back at that.
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Post by OziRiS on Jul 12, 2015 0:42:10 GMT
I'm thinking maybe we could come up with more microwave fables, so they could make a whole segment of a show out of it, instead of just one mini-myth?
We've already got the one about hard boiled eggs, baked potatoes and now string beans.
Got any more?
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Post by ironhold on Jul 12, 2015 1:22:36 GMT
There is also a myth that green string beans, if cut the right length and at an angle, will actually creating electrical arcing at the tips when put in a microwave oven. Something else that would be relatively easy to try. I showed it to my mom (who does most of the cooking in the house), and she says that they don't look right. They sound like they're hard, meaning that they're either dried or frozen. Already cooked green beans shouldn't do this. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Jul 12, 2015 3:19:14 GMT
Already cooked green beans shouldn't do this. So there is a myth here. |
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Post by silverdragon on Jul 21, 2015 8:46:58 GMT
I have a sort-of mini myth that surrounds food in Microwaves...
the idea of metal cans.
You all know that metal cans and microwaves are not a good idea.
The basic idea is that the microwaves will just bounce off the can and mess up the microwave oven...
Or Will It?....
Will it actually cook whats inside the can.
Will a sealed can therefore either break the oven, or explode.
(Which will break the oven)
My money is evens on both... just which happens first, I aint sure.
I looked on you-tube and all I got was idiots.
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Post by the light works on Jul 21, 2015 14:29:47 GMT
I have a sort-of mini myth that surrounds food in Microwaves... the idea of metal cans. You all know that metal cans and microwaves are not a good idea. The basic idea is that the microwaves will just bounce off the can and mess up the microwave oven... Or Will It?.... Will it actually cook whats inside the can. Will a sealed can therefore either break the oven, or explode. (Which will break the oven) My money is evens on both... just which happens first, I aint sure. I looked on you-tube and all I got was idiots. well, of course you did. I'm not testing it in my microwave... but my understanding of the question is whether the can effectively shields the contents from the microwaves. I see a two part test; one with an adjustable magnetron and a pair of receivers - one next to a can and one under a can. another with a microwave and a can of something. |
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Post by ponytail61 on Jul 21, 2015 22:50:46 GMT
Here's one. Which cooks a can of ravioli faster, a microwave or lava?
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Post by ironhold on Jul 22, 2015 1:46:16 GMT
Here's one. Which cooks a can of ravioli faster, a microwave or lava? One would presume that the finished product should be edible... |
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Post by GTCGreg on Jul 22, 2015 3:18:52 GMT
Here's one. Which cooks a can of ravioli faster, a microwave or lava? One would presume that the finished product should be edible... Then you can't start with canned raviolies. |
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Post by the light works on Jul 22, 2015 3:34:25 GMT
Then you can't start with canned raviolies. I think there's more than one burn happening... |
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