What makes soup explode in the microwave?

Asked by: Amy Thomas, London


As the microwaves used to heat food bounce around inside the oven, they create patches of high and low intensity – and thus uneven levels of heating. The problem with soup is that it tends to be relatively gloopy (or ‘viscous’), slowing the diffusion of heat within it. As a result, some parts of the soup start to form expanding bubbles of hot vapour which can burst through the surface, making a mess. Stirring the soup halfway through often solves the problem.

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