Microwave troubleshooting guides

History The History of the Microwave Oven
Read the story

Microwave turntable not turning (Samsung, LG & Panasonic)

Microwave heats food but the turntable doesn't rotate

DIY fix

Microwave sparking or arcing inside (all brands)

Sparking, arcing, or flashing seen inside the microwave during use

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Microwave display or buttons not responding (Samsung & Panasonic)

Display is blank or buttons don't respond, but the microwave otherwise seems powered

DIY fix

Microwave turns on but doesn’t heat food (all brands)

Turntable, light and timer all work normally but food doesn't heat

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Microwave making a loud humming noise while running (all brands)

New or unusually loud humming/buzzing noise while the microwave runs

DIY fix

Combi microwave grill or convection function not browning food (Samsung & Panasonic)

Combi microwave's grill or convection function isn't browning food

DIY fix

Microwave door won’t open or the latch is stuck (all brands)

Microwave door won't open or the release latch is stuck

DIY fix

The History of the Microwave Oven

Few household appliances have a founding story as often retold as the microwave’s — and unusually for appliance history, this one is genuinely well documented and largely accurate, not marketing folklore. A melted chocolate bar In 1945, Percy Spencer, an engineer at the American defence contractor Raytheon working on radar technology, noticed that a chocolate […]

DIY fix