11 ways you’re shortening the life of your microwave

One essential thing any microwave cook should know is the foods you should never microwave. Benjamin Shrauner, Owner of Sell Your KC House.com, offers a quick primer. “Certain foods like potatoes or eggs can build up pressure when microwaved, and, when they blow, send a mini-shockwave through the unit, which can be damaging,” he told Reader’s Digest. You should definitely avoid microwaving a whole egg, since the water that the eggs contain can heat up and expand. Potatoes, though, can be safely microwaved; just make sure to poke a few holes in the potato with a fork so that the pressure buildup will have somewhere to go.