Microwave fire
 

I had a fire in my microwave. I put a sweet potato in and pressed baked potato. Within 3 minutes the potato was on fire. We turned the microwave off and once the fire was extinguished, we removed the potato and cleaned the microwave. The entire house smelled.

We called the appliance warranty folks and the man who came out told us that it was because it was a sweet potato and proceeded to tell us how to get the smell out of the microwave.

My concern is that the fire is a fault of the microwave and not the potato and I'm concerned that I could have another fire. The repair man did not look at anything inside the microwave (control panel - filter). All he did was sniff and confirm that there was a smell.

We were told that's all he would do. We refused to sign the service paper.

I just want to feel safe. Does anyone else have an experience like this?

If you google 'Microwave sweet potato fire" you will find many similar stories.

Banana and carrot fires have been reported.

Turns out sweet potatoes, corn, peas -- anything with a high sugar content -- are at risk for a fire. Sounds like the microwave tech actually did his job. (BTW -- what did he recommend to get the smell out?)

If you haven't already, you might try lowering the power setting on the microwave so it's not on high -- maybe from 9 to 5. Might take 90 seconds more to cook, but hopefully food won't be so splodey.

I would recommend the Progressive Microwave Potato Cooker. Works well on baked potatoes and sweet potatoes.
I got mine at Amazon since I couldn't find it in my local stores.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...4L._SX450_.jpg

Does your machine have a turntable, to even-out the heating?

Plus, always better to heat/rest/heat rather than blast for a single stretch.

The one thing I noticed when I was looking on the web for info was that every sweet potato fire mentioned was of pieces, not once were whole potatoes mentioned. So, the trick may be to not cut them into pieces -- nuke 'em whole and then cut (which is what I have always done).

I have been microwaving sweet potatoes for years and never had a problem.

I have a stainless steel GE microwave above my range........the seal around the door is melting........go figure. Never had a fire , although I have had a fire in the GE wall oven.........when the "coil" at the bottom caught on fire and really was frightening............so I can imagine your own distress with your microwave........mine was a large fire and I just let it burn out..........not opening the door........our repair guy replaced the coil the next day.

Here's what I found on sweet potatoes in general:


Basic Microwave Sweet PotatoPrep: 5 min, Cook: 5 min.

• 4 sweet potatoes
• paper towel

Wash sweet potatoes. Puncture a few times with a fork. Place on paper towel on microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for 4-5 minutes for the first potato, plus 2-3 minutes for each additional potato. Turn over potatoes halfway through cooking.

Microwave cooks from inside out; need for expansion....
 

Anything that is not expandable MUST be punctured in the microwave to avoid exploding. Similar to the way one must puncture a frozen dish that has a tight liner on the top to puncture liner to accommodate expansion.

Ever try husked corn on the cob cooked in the microwave? DElicious....yum. No need to puncture, merely wrap each corn on the cob in wax paper, set in the microwave in a clock-like position.....set cooking time for 5 mins and it's real good.

Another favorite of mine is butternut squash cooked in the microwave. Don't peal but cut in quarters lengthwise. Fit pieces (cut side down) into a glass pyrex and cover with wax paper and cook for 5 mins.....THEN turn the squash over so that the skinside is underneath, cover again with the same wax paper and cook for another 5 mins. Serve in the shell. Magnificent.

Guess I got carried away here with the microwave.

Bona petite!!

I think OP was talking about it catching on fire, not exploding. I too wonder about the microwave. I've nuked sweet potatoes a lot with no problem.

You have to prick them all over with a fork, and it only takes about 4 minutes to cook a sweet potato

I think those of us (including me) who have been nuking sweet potatoes have been lucky from what I've read on the web. It has happened and has occurred more than once. As I said, not one report I saw was caused by cooking a whole potato or even a mashed potato, every fire mentioned was either diced, sliced or chopped.

Just because you've been doing it for years and nothing has happened, doesn't mean it can't or won't. I can remember getting pneumonia in my early 40's. I felt miserable but actually told the doctor, "But I've never had pneumonia!" His reply, "So, that means you can't have it now?" Same principle here.

Hi recommended a quart of water with lemon. Microwave it for 5 minutes and then let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe the mist in the microwave. It has helped.