Smoke coming from microwave.

[yorkie86]

I have a proline micro chef ST44 micrrowave oven, it’s approximately 10 years old. I put a sweet potato soup to cook (not reheat) for about 12 minutes and went off to the bedroom.

I think I heard a bang type noise (I thought maybe it was the liquid overboiling) but when I got to the kitchen white smoke was everywhere and I was afraid it had caught fire because I could hear a noise inside but didn’t know if it was flames or just a fierce boiling.

When I opened it there were no flames, no sign of burning in either the oven or food (it tasted fine) and though the oven was hot not ridiculously so. The flat was full of smoke though. I’m puzzled therefore what caused it, it would be unusual for soup to cause so much smoke wouldn’t it, it’s not like something had burnt to a crisp!

I’m nervous about using it again as this is the first time this has happened. Is it safe to try reheating something or should I just consider the oven’s age and get a new one?
(how long do microwaves last on average anyway?)

I need the microwave as I don’t have a conventional oven and don’t fancy living on sandwiches and takeaways for the forseeable future.

Thanks for any help.

btw if the worst does come to the worst what are the best microwaves on sale currently?

[Martin]

Re: Smoke coming from microwave.

12 MINUTES TO RE-HEAT A BOWL OF SOUP??? Was that a typo on your behalf as 2 minutes would be sufficient for any microwave?

I suggest you do try the microwave again to see if it still operates. Fill a mug 2/3rds full with cold water, place in centre of microwave then set on high for 1 minute (maximum). The water in the mug in that time should now be around 80 degs C (as hot as a freshly boiled mug of tea).

[yorkie86]

Re: Smoke coming from microwave.

No as I said cook not reheat. It’s a 950w oven some recipes say 20minutes!

Anyway I tried but as it was making a strange crackly noise I don’t think I’ll risk a burnt kitchen.

Thanks anyway!

[spiderpig]

Re: Smoke coming from microwave.

The old ST40 ovens were bad for the insulation breaking down in the HV transformer (used to carry a few Daewoo transformers on the car). The smoke appears thick & fast and absolutely stinks. As Martin says give it a quick try, lots of smoke/no flames/sparking = HV transformer.

[yorkie86]

Re: Smoke coming from microwave.

Had a quick look at some microwaves.

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/site/en_GB/c … -SD251WBPQ

At first I thought these two were exactly the same apart frome the colour (I prefer white) but the white appears to lack Auto Weight Cook, Auto Weight Reheat & Auto Weight Chaos Defrost, but when I went on Curry’s site it says the white one has an Auto Weight Censor (which it doesn’t mention on the panasonic site) would that amount to practically the same thing as the other features?

And the white one costs £10 more than the silver one, for less features?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household- … 2-pdt.html

I’m not wedded to the colour if it’s the better microwave – it was a Which best buy 2011, out of stock at the moment though unlike the white.

Or if anyone has a better suggestion!

[Author]

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