History Main / MicrowaveMisuse

* Website/NotAlwaysRight: Several stories about customers microwaving something that should not be microwaved, and then trying to return it:

** [[[https://notalwaysright.com/periodically-stupid/77150/ This home improvement store customer]], far too impatient to actually wait for an answer to the question "are these rocks heat resistant" says he'll just test them in the microwave. He's back the following day, to buy a new microwave.

Source: [[https://www.compralobueno.com/electronica/microondas Mejores microondas]]

* ''Series/BrainiacScienceAbuse'' did this once per episode with a wide variety of objects. Due to the often explosive results of these experiments, there were multiple DoNotTryThisAtHome warnings both before and after. Sadly, due to [[OvershadowedByControversey incident with the explosives being used to fake the alkali metal reaction]], some people doubt the authenticity of these experiments (although the various [=YouTube=] microwave channels prove that most, if not all of them are authentic).

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS06E09ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve Clap Your Hands if You Believe]]" contains a scene parallelling the ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' one mentioned above where Dean traps and cooks an attacking fairy in the microwave. The remains are [[InvisibleToNormals invisible]] to Sam, who just sees an empty microwave instead of the gore when Dean shows him.

* In ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'', one of the eponymous monsters is killed in the microwave.
* ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'' has the Gremlins take revenge by throwing pots and pans into a microwave oven before turning it on, causing it to explode.

* A short horror video on [=YouTube=] titled "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0TSyIn5KMo Cell Phone In Microwave]]" has the kid trying to burn his cell phone down in the microwave to no longer worry about his phone bills. [[spoiler:But when the phone started heating up, [[SurpriseCreepy a monstrous head emerged from the phone]], roaring and trying to break out of the microwave before the room blacks out.]]

* A Creator/JohnVarley short story called "Press Enter#" has an ArtificialIntelligence that [[AIIsACrapshoot shows how deadly it is]] by hypnotizing a computer programmer girl with GagBoobs (when she was younger, she was flat-chested and mistaken for a boy. When she got to America, she had plastic surgery to remove all doubt about her gender) to perform maintenance on her microwave oven, removing its safety features to prevent microwave leakage when the door is open. Then, she sticks her head and silicone tits in it and uses it to commit suicide.

* In ''Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Job,'' while babysitting at the Fosters' house, Darcy tries to cook some bacon on a plastic plate in the microwave, causing the plate to melt and make a mess. The book was written in 1985, when microwaves weren't nearly as common as they are nowadays.

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': In the first chapter of the game, Gordon Freeman is able explore certain parts of Black Mesa. He can find a kitchen area with two employees. There is a microwave on a counter in the room, containing a bowl of food. If the player presses the use button on the keyboard/controller six times while Gordon is facing the microwave, the food will explode. The employee, intending to eat the food, will yell at Gordon.
** In ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', the food was implied to be microwave casserole and the employee, who yelled at Gordon, was none other than Arne Magnusson. Magnusson is still upset at Gordon over the incident.
* ''Maniac Mansion'' series:

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': In the first chapter of the game, Gordon Freeman is able explore certain parts of Black Mesa. He can find a kitchen area with two employees. There is a microwave on a counter in the room, containing a bowl of food. If the player presses the use button on the keyboard/controller six times while Gordon is facing the microwave, the food will explode. The employees will yell at Gordon. In the sequel ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'',

* In ''VideoGame/RiseOfTheReds,'' the GLA Microwave Recycler is partly built from a repurposed microwave oven, partly from a destroyed USA Microwave Tank.

As mentioned above, this may result in StuffBlowingUp. A SuperTrope to MicrowaveTheDog, which is for cases involving microwaved pets. Obviously, DontTryThisAtHome (unfortunately, [[TruthInTelevision there are those who will and do]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain:'' One of the Brain's schemes involves invoking this, claiming a malfunctioning microwave has turned him into a mouse as part of a FrivolousLawsuit, on the logic that "no-one knows how microwaves ''really'' work". Unfortunately for the Brain, the lawyer he's up against does know how microwaves work. (Fortunately, his staged accident also involves instant creamer, with the same justification. When Brain nervously mentions that some of the stuff was also involved, all the defense can say is "...I see."

* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain:'' One of the Brain's schemes involves invoking this, claiming a malfunctioning microwave has turned him into a mouse as part of a FrivolousLawsuit, on the logic that "no-one knows how microwaves ''really'' work". Unfortunately for the Brain, the lawyer he's up against does know how microwaves work.

** Following that series, copycat channels emerged, some of the more popular including ''What Happens When You Microwave This?'' and ''Microwave Me Show''. Contrary to popular belief, ''Dovetastic Microwave Theater" actually came first, as it began in March 2006 while [[AdaptationDisplacement "Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?"]] began in July 2007, when dovetastic was already in his second season, although the latter is what inspired the majority of microwave channels.

* ''Series/BrainiacScienceAbuse'' did this once per episode with a wide variety of objects. Due to the often explosive results of these experiments, there were multiple DoNotTryThisAtHome warnings both before and after.

** Following that series, copycat channels emerged, some of the more popular including ''Dovetastic Microwave Theater'' and ''Microwave Me Show''.

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS06E09ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve Clap Your Hands if You Believe]]" contains a scene parallelling the ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' one mentioned above where Dean traps and cooks an attacking fairy in the microwave. The remains are [[InvisibleToNormals invisible]], who just sees an empty microwave instead of the gore when Dean shows him.

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS06E09ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve Clap Your Hands if You Believe]]" contains a scene parallelling the ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' one mentioned above where Dean traps and cooks an attacking fairy in the microwave. The remains are gone before he can show Sam.

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

As mentioned above, may result in StuffBlowingUp. See subtrope MicrowaveTheDog for microwaved pets. Obviously, DontTryThisAtHome. (Unfortunately, [[TruthInTelevision there are those who will and do.]])

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/{{Gremlins}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/microwave.jpg]]]]