Yes, it is potentially dangerous and harmful to run a microwave oven with nothing in it. When a microwave oven operates without any food or liquid inside, it can lead to several safety issues:
Fire Hazard: The microwave oven generates microwave radiation to heat the food or liquid placed inside it. When there's nothing to absorb this energy, it may get reflected back to the magnetron (the microwave-generating component), causing it to overheat. This can lead to damage to the microwave and, in extreme cases, even cause a fire.
Magnetron Damage: The magnetron is designed to be operational only when there is something inside the microwave to absorb the microwaves. Running the microwave with nothing inside may result in the magnetron overheating or failing, which can be expensive to repair or replace.
Damage to Microwave Cavity: The microwave oven's interior is designed to reflect and distribute the microwaves effectively when food is present. Without anything inside, the microwaves may bounce around chaotically, potentially causing damage to the oven's cavity or interior components.
Electrical Issues: If the magnetron or other critical components are damaged due to running the microwave with nothing inside, it could cause electrical problems or malfunctions that may be hazardous to users.
To ensure the safe and proper functioning of your microwave oven, always place food or a microwave-safe container with liquid inside when operating it. This allows the microwave to work as intended, efficiently heating the food while avoiding potential hazards associated with running it empty.