Can You Microwave a Tea Bag That Has a Staple in It?

Published on Wednesday, October 18, 2006, by Michele Foley / Edit Post

Can you put a tea bag in the microwave if it has a staple in it?

According to electrical engineer William Beatty, it’s fine as long as the staple is submerged in water. If metal is left unexposed in a microwave oven, the metal will deflect the microwaves and cause sparks. However, if it is submerged in water, the microwaves dissipate and are absorbed by the liquid. In turn, the water is heated.

Although one dry staple probably won’t start a fire, it can do some damage.

“It will be much the same as running the microwave empty, which could [burn] a hole through the microwave wall,” warns Mats Selen, professor of physics at the University of Illinois.

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  • I cook popcorn in those small brown paper bags by putting a couple of tablespoons of kernels in the bag, folding the top over, and stapling it shut. Works fine with no sparks.

  • I have microwaved myself a cup of tea a mug with a using a bag in the water countless times and the bag often has a staple in it and that has made no difference.

    Mats Selen if full of beans.....in the old days when they first came out maybe but if you accidently run a mike empty for a bit a few times there will not be any harm.

  • I will have to try running a microwave empty!

  • “It will be much the same as running the microwave empty, which could [burn] a hole through the microwave wall,” warns Mats Selen, professor of physics at the University of Illinois.

    who the heck runs a microwave empty?

  • Just to clarify, I meant that previous comment as a response to miriamjw two items above.

  • Why? As long as you're just using the microwave to bring the water to a boil (unlike the OP, who was microwaving the water with the tea bag already in it), there is no difference whatsoever between the resulting boiling water and that brought to a boil using gas, electricity, wood, or should you happen to have one, a giant magnifying glass and sunlight. Moving molecules are moving molecules! ;-)

  • i've microwaved tea bags, chinese food containers (with the metal handle) and other things with what i say is a SMALL amount of metal with absolutely no problems.

    i spoke to an EE friend of mine who said that the shape of the metal has something to do with it, like curved surfaces reflect the microwaves in a diffuse pattern, or something, he's wicked smaht.

  • Ew, microwaved water for tea? That's a sin...

  • I've done Alton Brown's popcorn trick a number of times myself with no ill effect to the microwave. Alton's book says that the staples are too short to be affected by the wavelength of the microwave.

  • Agree with Helenjane. 2 exposed staples is fine. According to Alton Brown and me. Microwave popcorn is now easy to make without using the pre-fab stuff.

    Not 3 staples though. Alton says that is a no-no.

  • exactly what i was thinking mldubose..... i guess they dont know how to steep tea?

  • It's a certain kind of metal. Microwaves only freak out when you put particular types of metal in them.

    And why are people microwaving tea bags? Do they not boil their water first and then pour it over the tea?

  • Yeah, what's up with the metal rack?

  • Some microwaves (mine included) come with a metal rack. Why is that OK, but a staple is not?

  • what's the popcorn trick?

  • We microwave popcorn in a paper bag stapled twice (as recommended by Alton Brown). We've been making it for years with no microwave damage. Should we stop?

  • very helpful! thanks!