Are you using heating pads often to keep you warm or massage a stiff part on your neck? From beads to rice, there are a variety of heating pad that relieve muscle tension and keep you warm.
Many heating pads are microwaved to input the maximum heat to offer effective remedy for pain, soothing muscles, and stiffness.
How do you microwave a heating pad? Place microwaveable heating pad on a dry microwave-safe plate. Never put the heat pad directly inside the microwave to avoid contact with any oil or residue inside the appliance.
Heating time ranges between 30 seconds to 2 minutes, or until it reaches your desired temperature. Microwave wattage, filling type and size of the heating pad will impact the overall timing.
Microwave heat pad is a quick solution to relieve pain and heal injuries without plugs, electric cords or wires. Even though it is easy and convenient solution, there is a lot to consider in order to extend the lifespan of your heating pads.
In this article, we are going to investigate microwavable heat pads. Answered below are frequently asked questions about heating pads including microwave tips for long lasting heat using a microwave.
Can heat pads catch fire?
Yes, heat pads can catch fire if they were not heated properly. Overheating the heat pads can cause burn and fires. If they are poorly designed, manufactured or used incorrectly, microwavable heat pads can cause harm.
Always read and follow manufacturer instructions and guidelines to reduce risk of injury and fire.
Pads contain wheat tend to burn easily due to reaching temperature in a fairly short period of time. On the other hand, rice fillings can also catch fire but are not considered to be very flammable.
Do you put water in the microwave with heat pad?
Yes, you can put water in the microwave with a heat pad. However, most heat pad designs don’t require the addition of water and only use heat pads that are made from non-combustible materials.
Microwavable heating pads a commonly filled with food items such as rice, beans, corns, flax and lavender hulls. So, know which type of filling is in your heating pad before putting water with it.
In case the heat pad contains grains, it’s not recommended to place water inside the microwave with the heat pad when you microwave it because it may cook the grain.
How long do you put a heat pad in the microwave?
No matter what filling your heat pads are made with, it won’t take more than 3 minutes on high in total to fully heat up in the microwave.
Temperature can vary depending on the power of the microwave and size of the heat pad. Always start with 30 second increments and check the temperature after the timer stops.
Depending on the filling of heat pads, the microwave time may also vary:
- Wheat: 1 minute
- Beans: 2 minutes
- Rice: 2 minutes
- Corn: 2 to 3 minutes
- Flaxseed: 1 minute and 30 seconds
The microwave times are in total, however break down into 30 second increments to avoid burning. After multiple uses of the grain based fillers, replace the stuffing if you notice a slight burning scent.
Tips to microwave heating pad
Microwaving heat pads is a safe and quick way to soothe your pain immediately compared to electric pads or blankets. It is therapeutic method for healing tense muscles and relieving pain.
However, heating pads can burn and catch fire without caution. To prevent this from happening to you, here are tips to microwave heating pad properly:
- Avoid microwaving heating pad covers that contain metal closures or zippers.
- Only heat the pad for 3 minutes or less as instructed.
- Use a clean and dry microwave-safe plate instead of putting by itself.
- Add a glass of water to provide enough moisture so the cover and contents of the heat pad do not burn as easily.
- Ensure the heat pad is laying flat and evenly distribute the filling.
- Gently shake the heat pad to evenly distribute the heated filling and avoid hotspots.
- Do not add oils or fragrances to the heat pad as this may increase the risk of fire.
Best way to microwave heating pad
The best way to microwave heating pad is know what type of filling is used and apply proper timing to get the optimal result.
Instead of putting the heating pad on a turntable, use microwave-safe plate. If accidentally placed heating pad on turntable with grease or oil on it, it may cause a fire or burn the pads easily.
Set the appliance to high power and microwave for 30 second increments. Flip to the other side and continue another 30 seconds, continue until desired temperature is reached but don’t allow the total heating time to exceed 3 minutes.
Generally, it is recommended to use grain or legume fillings for microwaveable heating pads. The outer shell may be a flammable material, therefore be cautious and add a cup filled ½ way with water in the microwave to prevent from drying out to cause fire.
Microwaving a Heating Pad: Conclusion
Heating pads are a helpful tool to to quickly relieve muscle pain. There is not only one heating method because the fillings range from wheat to corn, rice and glass beads.
These fillers and potentially fabric cover may be highly flammable when overly tired out. Therefore, it is best to add a glass with ½ cup of water to keep the moisture intact and prevent any burning that could lead to fire.
Transfer the heat pad to a microwave-safe plate and nuke for 1 to 3 minutes using 30 seconds intervals to reach your desired temperature.
If needed, flip the pad on the other side during each interval for equal heat distribution. Carefully remove the heating pad from microwave as the extreme heat can burn your hand.
Ensure the heating pad is not in contact with oil or fragrance because this can be source of catching fire.
When done properly, microwave is the quickest and most effective way to warm a heating pad. In just a couple minutes, the pad it hot and radiating heat to soothe where your body needs it most.