Leave the bag in. Never heat water in a microwave without something in the container or it can super heat and blow up and burn you when you move the cup. If you do heat water alone add a wood chopstick or 3 toothpicks so bubbles can form and avoid super heated water.

The longer the tea steeps, the more bitter it gets. Some people like it that way. Some people can't tell the difference. I'd say do an experiment. Try doing it both ways and see if you have a preference.

Tea bags often have a staple in them holding the strong to the bag. Microwaves and metal don't generally play all that well together.

I've never heard that, arse_hat - I heat cups of coffee in the microwave all the time. I must admit that I checked and, yup, it's a real thing. Huh.

Of course, you could always heat the water in a different container and then pour it into the cup, over the tea bag.

I heat the water, then steep the tea.

We had a post here a few years back from someone who had super heated water blow open the door of their microwave. Fortunately the bunny was not burned.

I don't usually have another container to heat the water in and then pour over my tea. And I've heard of super-heated water, but I've never done anything to prevent it except pray.

I guess I'm mostly worried about heating the tea in the microwave: does it harm the tea leaves at all?

I think the Brits need to organise a shipment of electric kettles to North America as soon as we can - you poor people! This situation literally NEVER happens here.

I do microwave coffee sometimes (if I've been distracted and my coffee's gone cold), but not for long enough to boil it.

We have electric kettles! And they're awesome.

You clearly don't have enough, if this problem is arising at all! One in each household and a decent ratio of kettles to people in each workplace is a MINIMUM.

Absolutely, alto. When I've stayed with American friends I've bought them an electric kettle as a gift and they've been "huh, what do I use this for?" but within days they love it and wonder how on earth they ever managed without it.

I mean, how do you make an Aeropress coffee without a kettle? Seriously, America, this is one area where the UK kicks your arse.

What is the probability of water superheating and how does it compare with being taken hostage by terrorists?

You're not in any danger of superheating with something like coffee. The problem only happens when you have water that's so pure that there are no nucleation sites in it (basically particles of any sort) so the water bubbles have nothing to glom onto and thus the water doesn't actually boil even though the temperature is beyond the boiling point. But then you take it out of the microwave and you stir it with a spoon or something or add something to it and boom the bubbles have something to glom onto and the water will boil suddenly which is obviously a problem if you have your face anywhere near the cup. But the problem is easily solved by putting something non-metallic in the cup when you boil water, even assuming that the water you're using is so pure that's there actual danger of superheating.

rhapsodie - I also recommend that you buy an electric kettle (they aren't expensive and don't take up much room). Your tastebuds will be happy you made the switch (I find drinks made with nuked water to taste a little off) and no worries about superheated water or staples.