Answer to Question #162263 in Physics for Quanta

Question

An empty plastic or glass dish being removed from a microwave oven can be cool to the touch, even when food on an adjoining dish is hot. How is this phenomenon possible?

Answer 1

The frequency of microwaves are really high and are absorbed by the water molecules in the food. The dish's water content is low, so it won't absorb the waves and won't heat up as much.