The microwave is easy to use and very practical for reheating food quickly. But it is also a device with which you must take precautions. If your leftover pizza, your pasta from the day before, or your bowl of milk comes out hot and appetizing, other foods as well as certain materials do not go in the microwave at all, and can constitute a danger for your safety or your health.
We will therefore help you sort things out, by drawing up a first list of what is reasonable to put in your microwave oven, then a second list of what should be completely avoided or avoided. But first, let’s take a quick detour to understand how this magical device works.
It is easier to know which materials and foods can be heated in the microwave when you understand its operating principle.
The microwave oven, as its name suggests, emits waves to heat and cook food. To be more precise, these are electromagnetic waves that propagate through the air. These electromagnetic waves, when they come into contact with food, cause their molecules to move, mainly their water molecules. The friction generated by the rapid movement of all water molecules at the same time releases heat. And it is this heat that will heat or cook your food.
What you can safely put in the microwave
Let’s first discuss everything you can do safely with your microwave, as well as the materials and materials of your containers, in which you can put your food to reheat it without risk:
- Anything made of glass goes perfectly in the microwave. However, solid glass, such as Pyrex, should be preferred, which does not absorb waves and does not heat up.
- You can also use porcelain or ceramic plates, bowls and other containers, as long as you are careful not to burn yourself, as they tend to heat up. Likewise, be wary of ornaments and patterns, found on certain plates for example, and which can cause sparks!
- The logo which symbolizes a microwave and the words “microwave-safe” are indicators that will allow you to quickly identify frozen and prepared meals, generally in plastic containers, which you can put in the microwave.
- No risk either with your parchment paper (baking paper), nor with your wax strips (hair removal).
- Paper plates and napkins, like paper towels, should not be a problem as long as they are not made of plastic or other material. So check before closing the microwave door and pressing the Start button.
What not to microwave
Now let’s move on to what is not at all suitable for the microwave and what should never be put in it:
- Due to fire risk, any object made of metal or containing a little metal should stay away from the microwave. No spoons, forks, or any other metal utensils.
- No aluminum foil in your microwave either. Aluminum being a poor metal, the previous advice remains valid.
- You cannot reheat cans or cans because they are made of metal. Place your food on a plate so you can reheat it safely.
- Restaurant and fast food takeaway containers cannot be microwaved.. When they heat they release toxic chemicals that can end up in your food. As with cans, place your food on a plate before putting it in the microwave.
- Grapes, yes yes we are talking about the fruit, are dangerous when exposed to waves from your microwave oven. The grapes catch fire and explode. Real little bombs!
- Pressure builds up under the shell of an egg and it can burst if heated in the microwave. Instead, use your gas stove or hob to cook and heat eggs.
- Dry and/or fibrous objects and foods (sponges, wipes, etc.) tend to catch fire. Think about this before putting them in the microwave.
Special case: plastic
Before concluding this article, it is important to talk about plastic and its special relationship with the microwave:
The general rule to follow is not to put plastic in your microwave. No yogurt pot, no butter tub, no mold or plastic tray. The reason being that depending on the composition of the plastic, certain toxic chemical elements (bisphenol A for example) can be released under the effect of waves and end up directly in the food you will consume.
The only exception to this rule is the manufacturer’s indication. That is to say the presence of the microwave logo or the words “Microwave-Safe” on the plastic object.