i recently learned you’re not supposed to run a microwave with nothing in it/it can fry itself broken.
but i want to heat up a plate to help keep the pancakes i put on it warm like they do in diners. putting just a plate in my microwave causes it to start freaking out 'cause i guess there’s not enough stuff in there to absorb the energy(? this is what google tells me).
are the diners just putting the plates on a burner on low? that feels wrong.
If you want to use the microwave for this, pop in a plate with some water, then heat it up for 1-2 minutes, take it out with something that doesn’t absorb water (or the hot water will wick through the material to your hand and burn you) dump the water in the sink and quickly wipe with a dish towel to dry before using.
Other methods include warming it in an oven set very low, or heating it in hot water from a sink.
In a restaurant, they may just grab a plate that has just come out of the dishwasher since industrial dishwashers are really fucking hot.
I guess part of me knew this was the real reason the plates were hot and not because the diner warmed them up for me.
Diners put food on a special counter called a “pass” that has heat lamps above it. This keeps the food warm, and the plates warm. Keeps the counter warm, too. A lot of them store plates above the pass, an area that’s also pretty warm all the time.
Some have heated shelves or dispenser thingies too
You can also just use a soaked towel or paper towel instead of a puddle of water. Easier cleanup and heats faster.