Aluminum foil

I am not sure about the covering. If their is a little hole i mean a little whole it will catch on fire I have done that personally. Cooking some food trying but I didn't try doing it again.

You are right. Where I wor someone got a cheesburger from one of the nearby restaurants and on returning to work decided to heat it up alittle more. She did not open the bag to see how it was wrapped and just place the samdwich in bag in the microwave. BANG and a BIG FLASH.

Hmmm, you know, I've wondered about this myself a few times. My first instinct would be no, because it might make it arc inside the oven. So, I hunted up what the usda (govt.) website had to say about it. I found that they said that no food completely covered with the aluminum foil should be put into a microwave because of the fact that they food wouldn't absorb the microwaves. (The aluminum foil blocks it) It also says on their page that when a food is completely wrapped in the foil that it can cause damage to the oven. Surprisingly though, it said that small pieces could be used as a shield to prevent overcooking an item, for instance drumsticks, etc. It did say that those pre-packaged foods that come in the foil containers would only heat from the top. Interesting read, it answered a lot of questions I've personally had about it. You might want to go to their page yourself, or show her. Me? I'd stick to my guns on it, especially since every microwave oven is different. Here's the link to the usda page about it:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety/index.asp#12

you are more right

if metal can arc, it will, so folded or crinkled foil is bad - and in a paper bag, well, that's just itching to start a fire - if you have a spoon or fork in something then it doesn't have anything to arc to and its pretty safe -

I actually went to a kind of class for microwaving food and the teacher said you could put foil in the "nuke" and it would harmlessly arc - if you didn't have anything that could catch fire

You are right.

If staff are required to do the nuking and residents are not supposed to touch the oven, then she should allow you to do it your way as long as you are not touching her food when you unwrap it. That is just on general principal. The scientific part is another matter.

Although it can be safe to use small amounts of foil in the microwave if it is done right, there are a few really good reasons not to.

1. The purpose of metal when used in a microwave is to sheild parts of the food so that it does NOT overcook. The foil deflects the microwaves so it is not efficient use of the technology to nuke a foil-wrapped sandwich.

2. Even a tiny bit of metal can cause an arc, which is very much like a miniature lightning bolt. The arc can cause pitting in the MW or even a fire. You might do it 10 times with no calmnity, but then BOOM. It is like playing with fire. Why take a chance?

3. Even if there were no risk whatsoever, and I believe there is, the fact remains that as staff you would be responsible if equipment was damaged or somebody got hurt. It would be your finger not hers that got burned if a bit of crinkled foil retained a hot spot and singed your skin when you reached in to take it out. So the matter should be up to you, not to her. That is why she is the resident and you are the staff...duhhh.

So stick to your guns, as long as management doesn't have some other dippy idea.

I think it is dangerous to put the aluminum foil inside the microwave oven. Because no mental can be put inside the microwave oven. And aluminum foil is a kind of metal thing. You are right. You have not done something wrong. It can cause the microwave oven out of order. Furthermore, I am afraid whether it can lead to a dangerous case such as bombing. I dare not to have a try.

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