If you've noticed that the plate, bowl, or mug holding the food in your microwave is getting hot faster than the food itself, there could be a couple of possible explanations:
Uneven heating: Over time, microwaves can develop hot spots or uneven heating patterns due to wear and tear or aging components. This can result in certain areas of the microwave cavity getting hotter than others. If the dish is placed in one of these hot spots, it may absorb more energy and heat up faster than the food.
Dish material: Different types of dishes absorb and retain heat differently. If you've recently started using different dishes or if the dishes you're using now have different material properties than the ones you used before, it could explain why they are getting hotter faster. For example, dishes made of materials with poor heat conduction properties, like certain types of ceramic or glass, may heat up faster than the food inside.
To troubleshoot the issue, you can try the following steps:
Rotate the dish: If you consistently place the dish in the same position within the microwave, try rotating it or using a different spot in the microwave cavity to see if it makes a difference. This can help determine if the uneven heating is due to a specific area in the microwave.
Use different dishes: Try using different types of dishes or materials to see if there is any variation in heating patterns. You can experiment with microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or microwave-safe plastic dishes to observe if the issue persists across different materials.
Test with different foods: Try heating different types of foods in the microwave and observe if the issue occurs consistently across all food items or if it's specific to certain dishes or food compositions.
If you find that the issue persists and you're concerned about the performance of your microwave, it might be worth considering getting it inspected or serviced by a professional. They can assess the microwave's components and determine if any repairs or adjustments are needed.