Boil Water in the Microwave

Boiling water on the top of the stove seems to take forever. It takes time for the burner to get hot, then takes even more time for the water in the pot to boil. Watching it does not make it boil any faster, but putting a cup of water into the microwave makes it cook in 2 minutes. A larger cup may require another minute, but never longer than that!

Steps

 * 1) Boil water in a microwave in a cup, for a quick cup of hot chocolate, soup or instant coffee.
 * 2) Use only  microwave safe   cups. Fill the cup 3/4 with water, close the door, and press the timer for 2 minutes and allow to boil.
 * 3) Wait until the timer goes off,  open the door to the microwave, but allow the  water to stop boiling completely, before you remove the cup.
 * 4) Keep the water away from your face and body until you're sure it's safe and be careful adding spoons, powders, teabags, or anything else that "disturbs" boiling water, or it might explode.
 * 5) Never stand over the top of the cup or container, especially if you are unsure of the temperature of the liquid.

Tips

 * Let the cup stand before removing it from the oven.
 * Always use pot holder to remove a microwave pot if you are boiling water in it. Wait until the boiling has stopped, grab the ends of the pot, with pot holders, and carefully, keeping the pot away from your body, place the pot onto the stove. If you are using the water to cook spaghetti, add the spaghetti, and once again carefully place the pot back into the microwave, cover and cook till done.

Warnings

 * Be aware that anything cooked in a microwave continues to cook for a few minutes, after the timer stops. When using a cup to boil water for coffee, do not remove the cup until the boiling stops completely.
 * Never add anything to the boiling water either, until it comes to a complete stop.
 * Do not put a sealed container of water in the microwave. The expanding water vapor can cause the container to burst open.
 * In a microwave water can 'super heat' or raise its temperature above boiling. Super heated water will boil spontaneously and often violently when agitated. *Note: Super heated water won't show any bubbles on its surface while inside the microwave. This most likely will happen with distilled water. It is very unlikely to happen if the water is impure or mixed with anything else. It is also unlikely to happen if you boil the water in a container that has tiny scratches or small imperfections. It is possible to make water explode after microwaving, but only with a newly made, perfectly smooth, glass container, and highly purified water (distilled or laboratory ultrapure water). Do not try to do this, as it is extremely dangerous.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Boil Water
 * How to Poach an Egg Using a Microwave
 * How to Cook Rice in a Microwave
 * How to Bake a Potato Using a Microwave
 * How to Test if a Dish Is Microwave Safe