We all have an unwavering love for our microwaves. From easy dinners to quick, not-from-scratch treats like microwave popcorn, our microwaves are truly essential. Like most appliances, the microwave has limitations and cannot heat everything. So, we’ve listed a few items you should never place in your microwave.
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Plastic and polystyrene
If you’re an avid water bottle collector like yours truly, the BPA sticker on your plastic bottle and containers is no surprise to you. BPA refers to Bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make certain water bottles and containers. If your bottles or any type of plastic container in your home contain BPA, do not place these items in your microwave, as they have the potential to melt and release the BPA onto the food items you’re heating, which can be dangerous. Check all your plastic containers to see if they are microwave-safe.
Polystyrene, which most containers are made of, also has the same risk of melting and releasing chemicals onto your food items when heated in the microwave therefore these types of material should never be warmed in the microwave.
Metal and steel
Never place any metal or steel items into your microwave. Placing cutlery or any type of item with a metal component into your microwave gives the opposite effect of heating your food contents. The metal or steel reflects any type of radiation from the microwave therefore reflecting rather than absorbing which can spark and become a fire hazard.
Cardboard
Items like paper towels or plates are considered to be microwave-safe, and thus it can be confusing as to why you should not place food in cardboard into your microwave. But the simple answer is that cardboard contains various dangerous materials that are not microwave-safe, such as glue and wax. It is therefore very important to remove your food or takeaways from the cardboard box before placing it into your microwave.
Foil
Aluminium foil, although a great way of wrapping away our delicious leftovers, should never be placed in the microwave. Foil is considered a metal and will, therefore, have the same result in your microwave as any other type of metal material – starting a fire.
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Water
If you have ever contemplated heating your water in the microwave instead of a kettle or stove, the simple answer is no. Heating water in the microwave can be hazardous because the water might not bubble as it would on the stove or in the kettle. Thus, once you remove the mug or bowl from the microwave, it could explode, causing severe injury.
Sauces
Whilst warming any type of sauce in your microwave is considered safe, the hazard comes when the sauce is not properly covered while being heated.
Sauces tend to bubble and will burst if overheated, thus causing not only an awful mess but also potentially damaging the interior of your microwave.
P.S If you are uncertain about an item and wonder if it can be placed in your microwave, always read the manual of your specific microwave.
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A version of this article was first written by Katelin Maggott for Food&Home.
