Metal in Microwave: Heating Up Water and Spoons?

[Yoni]

When you put a metal (conducting) spoon inside a microwave, it takes a few seconds, and then you get sparks, that might damage the microwave.
I heard (and cowardly hadn't tested) that putting a spoon inside a cup of water would allow a long 5 minute heating, no sparks and no damage.
The riddle is: Would the water heat up? Would the spoon? And if so, which part of the spoon would heat up the dipped part or the exposed handle of the spoon?

Once I'd firmly know the physics behind this, I can finally heat up a cup of tea without taking the spoon out, which would save me a lot of time... :)

 

[kuruman]

You can find a simplified explanation about putting spoons (maybe) and forks (no-no) in a microwave here. BTW, how much time do you spend putting a spoon in and taking it out of a cup? Have you thought of using a plastic spoon?