The white paint/coating on the inside is flaking off. Is that harmful if I cover the food to keep the flakes out? It still works fine.

Time for a new one.

Is this by chance a Samsung Microwave?? I just answered a similar question with a picture right before this. In the other post, it looked like the Micro was either painted while it was already rusted or it is rusting from the inside out into the cavity where you cook food. In either case, regardless of age, I would contact the manufacturer and explain to them that this could be a factory defect. Safety issue would be possible paint/rust flakes in uncovered food. If manufacturer puts you off, contact Better Business Bureau.

1. you did put metal plate in it or spoon in it once.
2. oily spot left without cleaning.
3. you can paint the scratched are after cleaning it. not recommended

As long as the paint has cured and is not likely to "drip" or "flake" onto the food, that is normally covered anyway, I can see no problem.
There is no health risk as far as I can see.

Yes you can repaint it. Use an epoxy based paint and clean the metalwork with sand paper first.
The only health question is if you get the flaking paint in your food - yuk!

THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY METALS IN A MICROWAVE WHEN THE UNIT IS RUNNING
If the unit paint is flaking and behind that flake is metal.. You need to throw it away or talk to your appliance guy and see if there is a speacial paint to coat the metal so you can use your MW

Hi,

Scratches, flaking and bare spots are fairly common, but should be addressed as soon as they arise so the corrosion will not spread and arcing does not occur.

Unplug the power cord first.

Take some mild sanding cloth or scotchbright and clean the bare and rusted areas in the microwave. Use appliance touch up paint to re-coat the surface. You can find the touch up at most anywhere that sells appliances, it comes in a plastic bottle similar in appearance to fingernail polish, yes it does have a brush inside.

Let it dry per the instructions on the bottle or 24 hours if not specified.

Nothing special in there. As long as the paint is not flaking into the food you are ok, Be aware that bare metal could begin to arc. There is special microwave paint available but it will not match and look bad unless you redo the entire interior.
Eric

My recommendation is to Reolace the grates w/stainless steel. The paint used on bbq grills is no really a paint. It's more like a very thin powder coating. There are high temp paints available, but the pigment is questionable for food proceeses.

Yes, but if this is not fixed, it may flake off and get in your food, or allow grease or food particles to build up on the surface.

 

The loose paint should really be sanded off, at least.

 

Then when it's clean and dry, you can apply a little high-temperature appliance paint, available from department stores, home improvement centers, and appliance parts stores.