Before trying these spectacular stunts, check your domestic insurance, put new batteries in your smoke detector, write the number of the fire department on the back of your hand and ask Santa for a new Microwave for Christmas...

Dispose of AOL CD's:

10 seconds on high power leads to a dramatic display of lightning across the surface of the junk CD. On extraction, as well as a brief scent of burning plastic (or is that brimstone as you drive the AOL devil out of the disk?), there is a satisfying "crazy paving" appearance to the metallic layer.

Note: Do not try this with your data archive or your favourite DVD's

Dancing Grapes:

Cut one grape in half, but don't quite complete the process, so it hinges on the last fragment of skin. White seedless grapes are best! Open the cut grape and lay face down (faces down?) on a plate. Microwave for 20-30 seconds on high power. The grape will dance spectacularly across the plate.

Caramel Donuts:

Take one normal ring donut. Microwave on high for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. The outside of the donut will remain golden-brown and apetising. The inside will be converted to charcoal.

For a variant on this theme, a single sausage can be turned to charcoal in two minutes.

Flaming Cartons:

Find an old-fachined yoghurt carton with a real metallic foil lid. remove all but a scrap of the lid and place pot and contents in microwave at high power for 90 seconds.

Sparks will arc onto the metallic scrap, igniting the plastic carton.

At this point, read number written on back of hand...