What's the deal with microwaves rusting so fast?

[pstehle]

Maybe take the collar off the cat before you stick him in? Seriously, I've never had a microwave rust or fail, apart from the odd door switch, and I'm 65! I've fixed plenty that needed anything from a maggie to a cap or diode, though... (and for the record, I've never tried to microwave a live critter!) The stainless used on most appliances is a pretty low grade, magnetic and easily corroded.

My present oven is a "Kitchenaid" OTR combo that matches the rest of my stuff, just a glorified Whirlpool probably built in China. I got so tired of needing to turn up the TV every time it ran, that I installed a pair of flat squirrel cage fans to cool the magnetron, then added a relay and some wiring to let it run only when the magnetron transformer is powered. The rocket scientists that designed it saved a buck or so on a separate fan, using one side of the vent blower to cool it. I guess the plastic duct was cheaper than the old blowers cost. Quite literally, you couldn't hear yourself think while it was running, and you were blowing air out of the house the whole time, the vent had roughly half it's original capacity, plus the added benefit of sucking greasy air into the electronics any time you used the vent...

 

[qsd-dan]

I've seen a bunch of rusted out microwaves on Reddit. I've never had one but unsure if it's a quality control problem or misuse. It never occurs on an older microwave, it's always from this century.

 

[circlew]

I had a rather expensive GE that I bought around 2006, and the interior started to rust about a year later. Then it blew up a couple years after. My current MW, a cheap Sunbeam I got on sale at Target three years ago has a couple small spots, but nothing major.

 

[phillymatt53]

My 2003 Sharp Carousel microwave doesn't have any rust in or on it.
The paint coating is like new inside and out.

 

[DADoES]

I have a cloth by my microwave and aways wipe any appreciable moisture after a cooking operation, which also keeps the interior clean of spatters.

 

[rolls_rapide]

I have had rust, in a Panasonic white-interior type (no grill, or convection), fitted with plastic cover over the wave-guide outlet. This was one of the 'fuzzy logic' machines, which detects the steam burst from food, and calculates the cooking time. 'Genius' I think it was called.

I used to cook vegetables in it, thus steam and condensation, leading to the rust. I think the spots of rust formed around one of the internal seams on the back wall. Or around the turntable floor/turntable bearing running track. Can't remember now. About 25 years ago! And it was wiped out and aired after each use.

 

[phillymatt53]

I have a cloth by my microwave and aways wipe any appreciable moisture after a cooking operation, which also keeps the interior clean of spatters.

Spatters eh?
I use one of those dinner plate sized covers with vent slots designed for microwave cooking.
The only thing that may get dirty is the revolving glass turntable.

 

[vacerator]

Don't clean the interior with a dish rag thats been used. Food acids erode paint.

 

[DADoES]

Spatters eh?
I use one of those dinner plate sized covers with vent slots designed for microwave cooking.
The only thing that may get dirty is the revolving glass turntable.

Your concern is appreciated. I have such a cover and use it occasionally but it's inappropriate or too restrictive in some cases. I often use the auto-cook (moisture sensor) features. I've found that the designated Reheat function is too aggressive in many instances. The Fish selection with the dish uncovered works nicely.

 

[appledude1]

Well, to me the lack of quality in newer microwaves is evident - when my mom divorced, I got her a microwave for her mobile home - from Walker Scott in 1982 or so, an Amana Radarange. These were fantastic! Heavy beasts, in 35 years or so I replaced the dial spring once, and then finally the magnatron went out. If I had time to do so, I would have repaired or had this repaired for them. When I moved out in 1989, I bought a black Amana Radarange, which has never needed a repair, and still works flawlessly to this day - maybe taking an extra 5 or 10 seconds to heat something up as compared to brand new - not enough to really notice. I also bought an RR3 as a back up for if my micro goes down and needs servicing, plus it looks so cool displayed, as it has a similar appearance to my moms old chrome 1982 one - had it shipped, it actually works fine, but I want someone to service it, make sure it looks clean inside mechanically, fix the dinger for telling you it is done, and replace a burnt light bulb socket - I wish they still made Radaranges here in America, but today the micros all seem flimsier, cheaper, and don't last like the used too. When I worked on my my moms (and be careful, you can easily get killed, I bought a few books on microwave repair and watched videos) - I was impressed at how very well made these were!