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Learn about what materials can go in the microwave, and what can't
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Non-microwavable materials can melt, crack, or be otherwise damaged in the microwave, and they can also leak dangerous chemicals into your food, cause fires, or damage the microwave itself. That’s why we’re here to show you a quick test to see if your dish is microwave-safe. We also have expert tips from professional house cleaner Raymond Chiu about what’s safe to put in a microwave and what’s not.
Quick Dish Safety Test
- Fill a glass with at least 1 c (240 mL) of water.
- Microwave the glass and the dish you want to test together on high for 1 minute.
- Touch the dish lightly. If it’s hot, but the water isn’t, the dish is not microwave-safe.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Testing a Dish to See If It's Microwave-Safe
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Fill a glass with 1 c (240 mL) of water. To test if a dish is microwave-safe, you can put it in the microwave with a cup of water to perform a simple test. Find a glass or cup that is microwave safe, and fill it about three-quarters of the way with water (or at least 1 c (240 mL). [1] X Research source
- It’s important to use a cup that you know to be safe for the microwave, otherwise the test may not work. Glass is the best option.
- To be certain, find a cup that has the microwave-safe stamp on the bottom, which looks like 2-3 wavy lines.
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Microwave the dish with the glass of water for 1 minute. Place both the glass of water and the dish in question side by side in the microwave. Microwave the two items together on high power for 1 minute. [2] X Research source
- If the dish is too large to sit side-by-side with the cup, place the cup on top of (or inside) the dish.
- To increase the power on your microwave to high, look for a button that says Power, Menu, or Settings.
- If the dish begins to flash, spark, or make noise, immediately stop the microwave, then wait 1 minute before removing it with oven mitts.
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Touch the dish gently to see if it’s hot. After a minute in the microwave, use oven mitts or a potholder to remove the cup of water. Then, lightly place your hand on the dish in question to feel how warm it is: [3] X Trustworthy Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA Food safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to source
- The dish is unsafe for the microwave if the dish is warm and the water is cold. A warm dish means it absorbs heat.
- The dish is safe for the microwave if the dish is cool and the water is warm. A cool dish means it doesn’t absorb heat.
- Note that the dish may feel warm in the center if you had the cup of water in or on the dish.
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Label the dish with a permanent marker. In order to keep track of which dishes are microwave-safe and which aren't, use a permanent marker to label the bottom of the dish with the results of your test. Two or 3 wavy lines is the standard symbol for microwave-safe. [4] X Research source
- You can use any labeling method you like for your dishes. For instance, you can mark microwave-safe dishes with a happy face, the letter M, or the standard wavy lines.
- Don’t forget to label dishes that aren't safe for the microwave as well. You can use an unhappy face, an M with a line through it, or some other indication.
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Section 4 of 4:
Using a Microwave Safely
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1Spread out your food. Microwaves aren’t great at heating food evenly, which is why they need a turntable to spin your food. Still, sometimes they can overheat a certain portion, causing it to explode. To prevent this, spread out your food in your microwave-safe dish, so that it cooks evenly. [18] X Research source
- Also, stir the food halfway through the cook time to distribute the heat evenly.
- Make sure the food is in a single layer, if possible.
- In addition, debone meat, and add a spoonful of water to dry dishes.
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2Cover it loosely with a lid or paper towel. Microwave cooking makes steam, which helps heat and sterilize the food. It’s best to trap that steam so that your food cooks efficiently, but don’t trap it so much that it expands and explodes. Cover the dish with a loose lid, paper towel, or plastic wrap while it heats. [19] X Trustworthy Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA Food safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to source
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3Let it sit for a minute before you take it out. Food continues to cook even after the microwave stops heating it. During this time, it’s still hot, and could burn you, so let it rest in the microwave for an extra minute or 2 before you retrieve it. [20] X Research source
- Use oven mitts or a paper towel to protect your skin as you take your food out.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat materials are not microwave safe?Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.Metal, styrofoam, ceramic, and chinaware with metal trim should never be microwaved. Some plastic materials can be microwaved, but many of them cannot. It's important to read the label on the bowl before putting it in the microwave if you are unsure.
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QuestionAre printed glass bowls safe in microwave?Community AnswerMost glassware is safe to use in the microwave. The exception is glass with metallic paint or glaze or metal rims. If you're not sure about the type of paint or glaze, avoid microwaving that dish. If you don't suspect metallic paint or glaze, you can test perform the microwave test with a glass of water and see if the bowl heats up.
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QuestionCan I use my old arcoroc dishes from the 1970's in the microwave?Community AnswerNo, because they can get ruined in the microwave.
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References
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/use_only_microwave_safe_containers_when_cooking_and_reheating_foods
- ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/microwave-safety
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens#13
- ↑ https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/health-and-safety/is-it-safe-to-microwave-plastic-answering-common-safety-questions-about-plastics-food-packaging/
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-ovens#Tips_on_Safe_Microwave_Oven_Operation
- ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/microwave-safety
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens#11
- ↑ https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/health-and-safety/is-it-safe-to-microwave-plastic-answering-common-safety-questions-about-plastics-food-packaging/
- ↑ https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/health-and-safety/cooking-with-silicones/
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens#11
- ↑ https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/product-safety/microwaves/
- ↑ https://ceh.org/yourhealth/lead-in-dishes/
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens#11
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens#11
- ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/microwave-safety
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/cooking-microwave-ovens
- ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/microwave-safety
About This Article
Article Summary
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To test if a dish is microwave-safe, look for a symbol with wavy horizontal lines on the bottom, which indicates the material is heat-safe. If you don't see the stamp but you know your dish is made of ceramic, glass, or china, it can probably be used safely in a microwave. If you want to double-check, put the dish and a cup of water inside the microwave and zap them together on HIGH for 1 minute. If the dish is warm and the water is cold, the dish isn't microwave-safe. To learn about materials that should never be microwaved, read on!
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