Old Microwave Oven - Any Risks?

worldtraveller

We're still regularly using an old Panasonic microwave oven (NN-5450 800W) which is now around 30 years old, but which still works absolutely fine.

Does anyone know if there any health risks from such an old microwave oven, as we've no other possible reason to change it yet?

Ectophile

So long as the door closes properly, there should be no radiation leaking out to worry about. If the door is bent or loose, then it may not be safe.



Other than that, I can't think of anything about a microwave that would become unsafe with age.

Aylesbury_Duck

As above. If the door still closes squarely to the unit it will be fine. Electromagnetic radiation will find its way out if the door or casing were bent or broken but the same is true of all microwaves, old or newer.

As an interesting aside, if it’s an old model without a turntable, you can do a nice experiment to calculate the speed of light with a chocolate bar. It’s possible with a turntable model, too, you just need to find a way to stop the bar being turned!