How to Microwave a CD

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Last Updated: October 11, 2023 Tested

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What do you do with obsolete CD-ROM's? You can cook them in a microwave oven.

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Take a CD or CD-R which is defunct or useless and place it in a microwave oven, standing up in the middle against a glass or paper cup. Do not use metal materials as a holder. ^{[1]
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Close the door completely shut and start cooking.

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Be prepared to stop the microwave when the CD starts smoking. These fumes are unhealthy when inhaled. A well-aired room beforehand, such as an open window near the oven, will help eliminate the smoke effectively. ^{[2]
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The heated aluminum of the CD creates a very small electrical storm complete with lightning and sparks. You can observe all this activity through the oven door, though normal precautions have to be taken.
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Even after just five seconds the disc can be conducting electrical currents. Touching a freshly-destroyed CD with bare hands could burn you. Do not inhale the air outside the oven just after a session. Let the microwave cool and air the room out by opening windows . ^{[3]
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Notice the different patterns and paths etched over the material creating tiny metallic "islands".
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Question

Can a CD be heated with a torch?

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Yes, but you'd only want to do that if your objective is to destroy the CD, create toxic fumes, and possibly start a fire.

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Why would someone want to do this?

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Someone might want to microwave a CD to destroy it so no one can steal the data on it instead of using a shredder.

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Will the metallic coat on the CD make any damage to my MW oven, if I intend to make a large production?

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Yes. Having any kind of metal in the microwave will damage it. Even if it's a small amount, it will damage the microwave over time. Please be careful as this experiment could cause an electrical fire and the fumes produced can be harmful.

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Tips

As an alternative to handing the CD into a recycling department, you could find another use for it. Any expired CD's are useful as coasters, for instance. Or you could collect several microwaved discs and craft them into a mobile. On a bright day the sun will catch and etchings on the aluminum

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Turn out the lights and draw the curtains for best visual effects. Take along the camera if you'd like to photograph or film the experiment. When using a camera in darker conditions remember to use a reliable balancing tool such as a tripod. Taking handheld photographs in any dark room will cause unwanted blurry effects from camera shake.

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For an extra thrill from photographing the lightning storm, position the camera securely on a tripod and enable a slow shutter speed.

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Warnings

Inhaling the smoke erupting from a freshly-burnt CD is dangerous and is unhealthy when inhaled. Do not breathe in the fumes, or air in the immediate area of the microwave oven after the experiment completion.

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Choose only CD's which are already wrecked, such as heavy scratching. Alternatively you can give up discs that you have bought specially for the event (i.e. blank) or music albums you have tired of. Know that microwave effects are permanent and recovering any of the information on the disc requires significant expertise combined with sophisticated hardware and software. In other words, do not just use any CD.

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Do not try this in an old microwave oven. As well as not working as best as a modern range would perform, the oven may have operational difficulties afterward. An older microwave is more susceptible to damage.

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If you are a minor, make sure to obtain parental consent. A slight overdose in the time microwaved can trigger the CD to ignite and damage the microwave. If not properly looked after this can spread throughout the house.

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Do not microwave your CD for extended periods of time. Five seconds is the recommended period for a spectacular experience, but any longer than 10 or 20 the CD may ignite. This could cause damage to your microwave and your home, if not properly attended or prepared for

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