I have recently started letting my 6 1/2 year old daughters use the microwave. For the past 3 months there have been no problems, that was until yesterday. My girls are big fans of instant oatmeal. Usually we put water in a coffee mug and heat that in the microwave, then we pour the water in the bowl along with the dry oatmeal. Yesterday my daughter did it backwards. She put the dry oatmeal in a melamine bowl and put that in the microwave for 2 minutes.
Our entire house was filled with smoke. The oatmeal turned comletely black and the bowl had begun to melt (I had still been in bed). After opening all of the windows and turning on every fan and vent in the house, I went back in to tend to the microwave. It wreaks horrendously. I thought that since vinegar absorbs smells I would try using it to clean out the microwave which was also completely covered in a tar toned yellow. Not such a good idea. Now there is a rancid mixture of burnt plastic and vinegar eminating from my kitchen.
Is there any hope? Will I ever be able to get rid of that smell? I don't even want to use the microwave right now because I am afraid the food will absorb the flavor.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Oh, and I have already had a long detailed discussion with the girls about usage of the microwave. My daughter who made the error is grounded from using it until further notice.
These reply's from the gender that claims the cooking skills are funny. The smell is completely infused into the electrical elements behind the cooking cabinet area. That is why it takes a long time to dissapate (sp?)out. A suggestion to speed the process - set it outside with the door open overnight(s). Also - don't go overboard with punishment - this is definitely one of the ones you'll look back and laugh about.
dc
I saw this tip on Rachael Ray a while back and it works like a charm for cleaning a microwave, but I'm no 100% sure about the smell though, but it's worth a try. In a microwave safe bowl, combine 2 cups water, 2 tbsp. baking soda, and 2 tbsp. lemon juice. Nuke on high for 10 minutes. When you remove the bowl, take a paper towel or kitchen towel and wipe the interior clean.
I accidentally put something metal in my friend's microwave about 3 years ago. The metal was covered in plastic so I didn't realize what I was doing. The smell was really bad, but to this day, the microwave works.
My mom's microwave was having a problem where it would not turn off. The other day, she was on the phone and forgot about it, and burned something up in the microwave. Now it won't even heat water. So, she had to throw her's out.
I guess the microwave is okay if it still works.
Well, I don't know about the microwave, but I would recommend getting an inexpensive electric tea kettle- great for boiling water. That way she doesn't have to microwave the water. We use ours everyday.
Try cutting a lemon or orange in 1/2 and microwaving it for 15-30 seconds at a time. You should be able to do it a couple of times (as long as it's still juicy) and then chunk the fruit.
To clean the interior, try nuking a cup of water for 45 seconds and then try to clean it.
One more thought would be to set charcoal or coffee beans in the micro without it being on. Both are good odor obsorbers.
You shouldn't have to throw it away however, it may take a while before the smell completely dissapates. You may want to try cleaning it with a baking soda mixture and also let it set on there to try and absorb the odors. HTH
I don't think you have to get rid of the microwave. Just Friday/sat my dd and her friend heated water with spa "stuff" for Mani/pedi and my m'wave had big odor.
It is slowly going away with every use !! Try popping corn, etc the usuals that cause odor and maybe it will go away sooner.
Ours is better already. !!!! For a day it was like we were in a salon! It I'd better already!!
Good luck
My poor sweet daughter did the same thing with easy mac. We don't allow plastic in the microwave, thank goodness, so it was in a stoneware bowl, but it was just the dry noodles and cheese sauce mix with no water. The mac and cheese was charcoal and completely fused to the bowl so we had to throw the bowl away as well, but I even commented on how relieved I was that it wasn't in a plastic bowl. I feel for you there! The microwave smelled horrible for quite a long time (at least a couple weeks), but the smell did finally dissipate. We just cleaned it like we usually do and cooked in it like usual and the smell finally went away. :-)
I know this is an old thread but I am desperate. I'd like to say MY 6 year old did the exact same thing but, sadly, it was me. In the rush of making dinner I popped the whole thing in...sans water. Needless to say, my micro is out on the porch "thinking about what it did." (Oops, I guess I should be out there?!)
Anyway, if you still read this, did that horrible smell ever go away or did you replace the whole thing? There is a nice yellow burn stain all the way around the bottom of the micro as well and I am worried if I cook in it, our food will taste the way it smells. Not to mention, is it still safe?? I'd LOVE a response! =)
