Microwaves. They’re our best buddies when we need popcorn for movie night and when we feel too lazy to cook a nutritious meal (that greasy lasagna from our local gas station has really stolen our hearts). But for some people, microwaves are riddles wrapped in mysteries inside enigmas.
When you use your microwave properly, everything’s dandy. But if you mess up… well, the consequences can be catastrophic. Not to mention hilarious! Bored Panda has collected some of the funniest microwave fails by not-so-smart people to get your week off to a great start. So scroll down, upvote your fave stories, and remember—don’t put random crap in your microwave.
Knowledge is power. So we've also prepared a small list of tips about some of the less-obvious things that you shouldn’t put in your futuristic food-heating box.
This post may include affiliate links.
My Mom Microwaved Some Birdseed To Disinfect It Before Putting It In A Beanbag And Accidentally Made Tiny Popcorn
Yesterday This Guy Put Ghost Pepper Popcorn In Our Industrial Microwave At Work For Over 5 Minutes. The Office Was Filled With Black Smoke Burning People's Eyes
No-one could breathe. He basically maced the building. We were moved to the other end so we could keep working
My Friend Opened Their Microwave And Couldn't Figure Out What This Was. It Was A Forgotten Slice Of Pizza
To start things off, you probably already knew this one, but you shouldn’t put aluminum foil inside a microwave because it burns and ignites. In fact, don’t heat up any kind of metal.
The same goes for paper bags which may release fumes and toxins and might catch on fire. (Note how most things that shouldn’t be in microwaves burst into flames). Keep in mind that popcorn bags have susceptors in them, so it’s safe to use them. Yay, movie nights aren’t canceled!
He Forgot To Put Water In His Cup O Noodles
I Have No Idea How This Happened. Cup Took Considerable Force To Get Back Down
My Submission For Dumbest Way To Injure Yourself: I Burnt My Hand Taking Tomato Soup Out Of The Microwave. The Toast I Was Making Popped Up And It Scared Me
i always mentally prepare myself for the toast to pop, but i still jump every time
You should also never microwave plastic bags or styrofoam containers. You know, the ones that you get your take-away and leftover food in. They release harmful chemicals and you really don’t want to deal with the mess they leave behind.
Nor should you put wet clothes inside to ‘dry’ them out. It won’t work. Be smart—use a dryer. If you don’t have one, you’ll just have to hang up your clothes and wait for them to dry the old fashioned way.
When I Was 3-Years-Old I Decided To Put My Dad's Brand New Cellphone In The Microwave
He didn’t understand what I meant by “phone hot, daddy! Phone hot! ” until he walked into the kitchen and saw it full of smoke. 17 years later, he still has it and refuses to let me live it down
I Installed My Own Microwave Today And Saved $150 In Install Fees
This Is What Happens When You Microwave Mcdonalds Fries For 30 Minutes (Instead Of 30 Seconds)
Bury them in the desert so that an archaeologist can have fun figuring them out in 2000 years.
I'm sure they could bury fresh ones too and those would still be around after 2000 years!
Load More Replies...
I really don't understand this. There are so many like this. If you wanna microwave something for 30 seconds, don't you stay by the microwave?? What are you doing?? Are you gonna do laundry or something and come back 26 minutes later "I wonder if the 30 seconds are over yet"?
I have forgotten before. Usually it's a case of popping it in the microwave and running to the bathroom...then promptly returning to my computer. However I've never gotten the timer that wrong on the microwave either, so I just come back to cold food.
Load More Replies...
It's scare that they're still whole. You can't destroy McDonalds fries.
When things burn they often hold their shape until handled. 🙄
Load More Replies...
if this wasn;t a drunk accident, you have a lot of explaining why you lost concentration on something that was supposed to be 30 seconds
Honestly, once they go cold, just toss them. Reheated fries are gross. Especially if you use a microwave.
Looks like those things you light for 4th of July that supposedly turn in to snakes.
I've made a similar mistake, we never had a microwave when I was growing up so I was 16 the firet time I used one, i was working a night shift and put microwave popcorn on, having no idea how quick it was I put it on for 25 mins. Came back to the microwave in flames, the fire alarm screaming and as the store was inside a shopping centre the fire brigade was automatically called. I had some explaining to do
How do you not know your microwave is running for 30 mins? Did you try an edible and underestimate the potency? That's the only thing that explains this. I know because I tried an edible and also WAY underestimated the potency. Now that I think about tho, I'm not sure I could have made it to the kitchen to microwave anything
Blackened Crispy fries! That would need a LOT of ketchup - lots & lots! Who knows - a new fad in the making!
Did they set off the smoke alarm? If you don't have one in or near the kitchen, something like this could have burned down your home.
Who puts their fries in for what they thinks is 30 seconds and doesn't come back for 30 minutes anyway? They would be stone cold again.
How does a person put something in the microwave for 30 seconds and not think about it again for 30 minutes? That must have been one hell of a distraction to make you forget your food you were warming up.
Yes, yes, we know—microwaves are for food. But some food items have no place inside the machine. For example, if you were to put, oh we don’t know, say a hard-boiled egg inside, it’s likely to explode. And not in a pleasant “oh look, Ma, I accidentally made delicious scrambled eggs without even trying” kind of way.
The same warning goes for hot peppers. You might like spicy food, but be sure to add those peppers after you take your meal out of the microwave. If they’re inside, they’ll heat up and will release something similar to a gust of pepper-spray when you open up the door. Great for warding off intruders if you’re starring in ‘Home Alone.’ Bad for lunch at the office.
Wife: “Are You Sure That Jalapeño Dip Container Is Microwaveable?” Me, An Intellectual: “Of Course It Is.” Jalapeño Dip Container:
My Daughter Took It Upon Herself To Microwave Some Syrup For Her Waffles... For 5 Minutes
So Heard It Was Fine Putting Your Phone In The Microwave To Charge It. My Charger Broke Yesterday, My Battery Was Pretty Low So Thought I'd Give It A Go... This Happened
So, dear Pandas, which microwave fail was your fave one? Did you learn anything new about what not to heat up in microwaves? Do you have any microwave fails of your own to share with us? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Goodbye Everyone. It's Been Good Knowing You
This Is What Happens When You Tell Your Kid To Make His Own Snack. So He Microwaves An Egg For 11 Minutes
This happened when I told my younger brother to make snack for himself... SPOILER: he burnt the chip bag, he wanted warm chips
What Happens If You Microwave A Spoon
$5000 Canadian After Someone Using The Microwave To Disinfect It
Left My Fork In The Microwave Today
Just Going To Heat Up Some Coffee In The Microwave. Tried To Grab It. Tried To Pour It. What The. Well Damn
My Friend's Husband Thought He Could Microwave His Shirt To Dry It Faster
A Friend's Client Paid Him In Cash. He Put The Cash In The Microwave To Kill Traces Of Coronavirus
A Guest Put It In The Hotel Microwave To Give It "A Quick Charge." Fire Alarm Followed
Hope, This Helped
Brownie Out Of A Cup - Level: Hiroshima
If You Were Wondering What Happens When You Put Foil In The Microwave
I Tried To Microwave A Sandwich And There Is A Big Difference Between 4 And 5 Minutes
Life Pro Tip: Even If Your Boiled Egg Is A Bit Underdone, Don't Put It In The Microwave
My Friend's Kids Decided To Microwave Crayola Markers
Excuse me sir, I think your pet unicorn barfed in there
So, Apparently You Shouldn't Microwave Spaghetti Squash
Someone Brought These Bills To The Bank They Tried To Sanitize In A Microwave
My Mom Set The Microwave For 75 Mins And Not 75 Secs
Tomato Soup Disaster
My Little Sister Accidentally Microwaved A Bagel For Ten Minutes
Last Night’s Dinner Started Out With A Bang, But I Cleaned It Up Bought Another Squash And Tried Again
Attempted One Of Those Microwave Mug Cakes. Looks, Uh, Less Than Appetizing
Forgot To Add Water To My Microwave Mac N Cheese
Why Would You Even Want To Heat Cheetos?
Cooking Everyone Breakfast When The Glass From The Microwave Door Unexpectedly Fell Out
My High Brain Learned That Bowls Get Hot In The Microwave
Another Case Of Someone Microwaving Money To "Sanitize It"
I work at a bank. We are still open through the drive up. Someone literally microwaved their money to "Sanitize it" and sent it to us to deposit into their account....I can't. They said "I'm sure some of it isn't usable but whatever you can deposit into my account, please do."
If the money is still more than half viable, then the bank should be able to take it. After they make the deposit, it is then sent to the government to be destroyed since they can't use them again. For destroyed coin, they write them off and throw them away unless it's a large amount. Those they can refuse. This is what was done years ago when I was a teller
So I Guess It's Not Microwave Safe. Veggies Were Still Good Though
No no the veggies were not still good! You just ate so much leached chemicals
Chocolate, Metal Top, Microwave
Learned The Hard Way About Attempting To Microwave Quinoa. Let’s Just Say We’re No Longer Friends
I Made A Mug-Cake. I’m 27
My Mom Works At The Bank, Today An Elderly Couple Gave Her Microwaved Money, Thinking It Will Clean It From Coronavirus
Making Soup In The Microwave
I Tried To Make Rice In The Microwave And My Plastic Container Melted
Invest in a rice cooker with a steamer. They cook rice just like Asian restaurants and are fantastic. One and a half cups of water per cup of rice. (Eg. two cups of rice = three cups of water, etc). Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots or broccolini are placed in the steamer above the rice. Set and forget. Automatically turns off from Cook to Keep Warm. Every Asian home has one and most Australian homes too. Nobody I know of cooks rice in a microwave.
Went To Replace Microwave, It Fell On Our Stove
Cooking Fail. Thought I Hit Microwave. Hit Oven Instead
What really compells me is that most of the people shown here obviouisly have not the faintest idea that the basic principle of heating is vastly different between a microwave oven and ovens that work with convection or induction.
Bold of you to assume that these people know how a regular oven works
Load More Replies...
This s**t is one reason the human race is doomed. Not the only reason, but definitely top 5.
When you are running low on nuclear reactor power, microwave batteries. DO NOT TRY AT HOME IT IS A JOKE!
I don't know how stupid u have to be to use microwave , for simple things. Not to mention completely not required things. Idiots
When I was a kid, microwaves just started to show up here in Poland and my uncle got one from the USA and in the manuals, it was literally written not to microwave cats to dry them.
Rules are written to protect people from idiots and said idiots from themselves.
Load More Replies...
Do American Microwaves really have no setting for Watts? I heard this so often.
There's usually a power setting, but the metric by which it is measured is not specified because most Americans don't know how energy works. I mean... look at how many people microwave their phones.
Load More Replies...
Microwaves like most appliances come with a manual telling how to use it safely. Can't these people read?
Are you...are you actually saying we should read the instructions?!? You heathen!
Load More Replies...
The other day I but my drink in the microwave for a min and heard a load bang... I have a new microwave know.
I was a restaurant cook when the first commercial microwaves came out (huge, badly shielded) and for the first couple of years it was a common prank to tell new cooks that if they needed an egg in a hurry to just pop it in one for 30 seconds. (that's how I know about putting holes in stuff before you cook it.)
I can't believe how many people do not understand how to use a microwave. It ALWAYS needs liquid - even a small amount. NEVER put paper or metal products, and certainly not money!
You can heat nachos (in a sitable container) for a short time on a low setting
Load More Replies...
What really compells me is that most of the people shown here obviouisly have not the faintest idea that the basic principle of heating is vastly different between a microwave oven and ovens that work with convection or induction.
Bold of you to assume that these people know how a regular oven works
Load More Replies... This s**t is one reason the human race is doomed. Not the only reason, but definitely top 5.
When you are running low on nuclear reactor power, microwave batteries. DO NOT TRY AT HOME IT IS A JOKE!
I don't know how stupid u have to be to use microwave , for simple things. Not to mention completely not required things. Idiots
When I was a kid, microwaves just started to show up here in Poland and my uncle got one from the USA and in the manuals, it was literally written not to microwave cats to dry them.
Rules are written to protect people from idiots and said idiots from themselves.
Load More Replies... Do American Microwaves really have no setting for Watts? I heard this so often.
There's usually a power setting, but the metric by which it is measured is not specified because most Americans don't know how energy works. I mean... look at how many people microwave their phones.
Load More Replies... Microwaves like most appliances come with a manual telling how to use it safely. Can't these people read?
Are you...are you actually saying we should read the instructions?!? You heathen!
Load More Replies... The other day I but my drink in the microwave for a min and heard a load bang... I have a new microwave know.
I was a restaurant cook when the first commercial microwaves came out (huge, badly shielded) and for the first couple of years it was a common prank to tell new cooks that if they needed an egg in a hurry to just pop it in one for 30 seconds. (that's how I know about putting holes in stuff before you cook it.)
I can't believe how many people do not understand how to use a microwave. It ALWAYS needs liquid - even a small amount. NEVER put paper or metal products, and certainly not money!
You can heat nachos (in a sitable container) for a short time on a low setting
Load More Replies... 