Microwave ovens are great. They cook food in a quick and relatively healthy way. However, microwave ovens do have expiration dates. Here are five signs that your microwave is near the end of its life. Then, why you should replace it with a new one instead of trying to get it fixed.
The glass plate is cracked
Have you ever noticed that microwave ovens have glass plates on the inside, along with a heating element? The glass plate is designed to protect the food from the heat and radiation of the element. It also helps distribute heat evenly, so that your frozen burrito or Hot Pocket won’t get burned on one side while still ice-cold on the other.
It’s actually pretty easy to see whether your glass plate is in good condition or not—all you have to do is look for cracks. If you see any fissures running through it, then you’ll know that your microwave isn’t going to last very long at all.
What does this mean for you? Be prepared for a much shorter lifespan for your microwave than usual. You might want to consider getting it fixed or buying a new one as soon as possible, especially if food starts getting stuck and burning onto the plate, because that can be an even bigger problem when it comes time to clean up after dinner.
Your microwave makes strange noises
You know that sound your microwave makes when it beeps to let you know it’s done heating up? Well, if you suddenly hear a different sound altogether coming from your microwave, it might be time to start thinking about replacing it. There could be any number of reasons why your microwave is making a noise that sounds like a cross between a dying water buffalo and an airplane taking off, but the bottom line is that no matter what the cause, if the sounds coming out of your microwave are unfamiliar, they’re probably not good. It’s important to pay attention to signs of possible appliance death because if you ignore them, things could get dangerous. If your microwave is making strange noises that don’t sound like beeps or chimes or alarms, it might be a sign of something more serious going on inside.
Your food doesn’t cook properly
You know the times when you turn on your microwave and set the timer, only to open the door a few seconds later to find some half-nuked food splattered across the inside of the glass? Or maybe you’ve been putting off making that frozen pizza for a few minutes because it seems like it’s not quite done, but then you check on it again and discover that it’s completely thawed? Your microwave is telling you that its time has come. If your old microwave has been doing things like this, then it’s probably time to get a new one. The signs are pretty clear. Here are five signs your microwave is about to die:
The food doesn’t cook properly in the microwave – As I mentioned above, this is one sign that your microwave is malfunctioning. It means that there isn’t enough energy being produced by your device to heat up certain foods quickly enough. You need to be sure that the food you put in there is defrosted and cooked thoroughly. If not, dangerous bacteria could grow in your food and make you sick.
Inexpensive, durable, and easy to use, microwave ovens have been a blessing to humanity for decades. But no machine is without its downsides; for example, microwaves are prone to burning out over time, making it necessary to replace them from time to time. Indeed, there are a variety of telltale signs out there that indicate when you need to take action.
And you can also get an appliance repair service to take a look at your broken microwave.
