How to Microwave a CD

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

Steps

  1. Image titled Microwave a CD Step 1
    1
    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]
  2. 2
    Set the microwave for high on five seconds. Close the door completely shut and start cooking.
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  3. Image titled Microwave a CD Step 3
    3
    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]
  4. 4
    Enjoy the show. 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.[3]
  5. Image titled Microwave a CD Step 5
    5
    Wait for a few seconds before retrieving the CD. 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.[4]
  6. 6
    Observe the layers of the CD. Notice the different patterns and paths etched over the material creating tiny metallic "islands".
  7. Image titled Microwave a CD Step 7
    7
    Finished.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can a CD be heated with a torch?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    Why would someone want to do this?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Someone might want to microwave a CD to destroy it so no one can steal the data on it instead of using a shredder.
  • Question
    Will the metallic coat on the CD make any damage to my MW oven, if I intend to make a large production?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    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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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
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze3whtYuzGg
  2. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/advice/8483602/Can-you-microwave-a-CD.html
  3. ↑ http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/01/11/things-to-do-in-a-microwave-3-microwave-a-cd/
  4. ↑ http://gomakesomething.com/ht/recycled/crackle-cds/

About This Article

Tested by:
wikiHow Video Team
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 253,748 times.
75 votes - 66%
Co-authors: 32
Updated: March 23, 2023
Views: 253,748
Categories: Boredom Busters
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