The microwave oven has long been firmly established in the everyday life of man. The speed and usability of the device is very impressive to users. Of course, there are disputes over the usefulness and harm of this kitchen appliance and the food heated or cooked in it, but not about that now.
About dishes not suitable for use in the microwave
What kind of cookware for a microwave is dangerous?
The technical characteristics of the microwave oven provide for certain prohibitions on the use of certain types of dishes. Not every container can be put inside the device without dangerous consequences. Let us consider more carefully how to use this kitchen appliance more correctly, and what to put into it is unsafe for human life.
You should remember the most important dogma of using the device, namely, the microwave oven and metal utensils are incompatible! Do not try to experiment in your kitchen with cooking in such utensils. This is fraught with at least damage to the device. In the event that you are less fortunate, explosions in the kitchen or electric shock are possible.
Do not use in microwave ovens and utensils in the ornament of which are interspersed with silver and gilding.
The fact is that when the waves come in contact with dishes of this type, a breakdown of the magnetron can occur. And the waves, reflected from the internal walls of the stove, are able, bypassing the protective coating, to penetrate outward.
Therefore, if you want to use the kitchen appliance for a long and safe time, carefully make sure that the forks and spoons do not appear inside the operating unit.
Thin glass dishes are not suitable. Such dishes may not withstand the temperature of the waves and simply burst, ruining your mood and eating.
It is strictly forbidden to use crystal in a microwave oven. Although, to be honest, probably few people would come up with such an inappropriate idea. The ban on the use of crystal is explained by the fact that silver and lead are in its composition - these, as you know, are also metals.
Handmade ceramic dishes, when used in this household appliance, will certainly burst. Therefore, the option with expensive ceramics for the microwave is also not suitable.
Disposable plastic is also a forbidden type of utensil for such an apparatus. When heated, it will melt, and perhaps even be able to catch fire. At the same time, very dangerous carcinogens will get into your food.
What are we going to warm?
Now that we have learned that it is unsafe to use metal utensils and crystal in this case, we will try not to get lost in all the variety of dishes and understand something else. Namely: what utensils are suitable for a microwave.
- For cooking in the microwave, the best option is heat-resistant glass. Glassy ceramics may also be used. Warming waves evenly penetrate such dishes, and the food heats up well. If the glassware for the microwave is transparent, you have the opportunity to see the cooking process completely. You can easily understand whether the dish is cooked at the bottom of the container. Glassware for a microwave made of glass looks pretty decent, and some just cooked dishes can be served directly on the table "in the heat of the heat" in the same container.
- Ceramic, porcelain and earthenware plates, when used in a microwave oven, also worked well. In a dish made of such materials, you can easily: boil milk, warm dinner and even make coffee! Such containers must necessarily not be closed by a lid, without high sides and all kinds of silver and gold rims.
- Plastic dishware for a microwave is one of the most popular options. It’s so convenient sometimes to warm up your lunch by taking it straight out of the refrigerator, without overfilling or shifting. All kinds of: containers, bags and films should be marked with a special marked sign, which says that this container can be used in microwave. A set of dishes for a microwave oven must have this marking, it means that this type of material can easily withstand heating by the rays of the oven at 140 degrees.
Precautions When Using Plastic
Despite the fact that plastic utensils intended for a microwave oven can easily tolerate large temperature differences in a short time, from minus to plus, you should know that some incidents can also happen to it.
When the food in such dishes is too greasy, then when heated, it can start to interact with the dishes. From such a reaction, the container begins to melt and deform.
This means that in a plastic container, of course, you can cook, but let the dish be without adding a lot of fat or mayonnaise sauces.
If you heat food in a plastic bag or cook in a sleeve, be sure to leave a hole for the steam to escape, in order to avoid tearing the film.
Paper containers for heating food
Paper and cardboard trays and utensils are widely used for packaging food, and, accordingly, for heating it. Pies, sausages, sandwiches, they feel great when heated in a bag of parchment and paper. But before placing a disposable carton in a microwave oven, make sure that there is no thin layer of foil inside.
Precautions for all types of cookware, regardless of material
- The container and the walls of the appliance must not touch!
- Avoid temperature jumps: it is not advisable to use a container that was in the refrigerator before heating in the microwave oven.
- Do not use damaged packaging. Dishes with cracks and chips can burst when heated in the microwave.
- Also, do not use plastic dishes deformed during the previous operation. Such utensils place in the bin.
What is the lid for?
If you want to keep your microwave oven in its original, clean form, never forget to use a dish lid. Yes, it takes some time and often in a hurry they forget to use such a useful device. This is reckless, because the cover for dishes in the microwave is the cleanliness of your appliance. By covering the plate with food, you save the internal walls of the apparatus from splashes that fly off during heating. This contributes to easier cleaning of the oven. Housewives who use lid caps are much less likely to wipe the inside of the microwave from greasy spray. Agree, it is much more convenient to wash the lid with detergent than to bother with cleaning the entire appliance.
More advantages of the cover
- The warmed food warms up evenly.
- It can be used for almost any dishes.
- Protects your food from drying out during heating.
- Durable, practical and easy to use.
In order not to harm oneself, not to be scalded with hot steam, the lid must be opened “away from you”, the steam will go to the back wall of the microwave device.
Microwave Cookware Shape
When choosing dishes for a microwave oven, it is also worth considering its shape and size. The speed of warming up the dinner and evenness will depend on your right choice. In a round and low plate, the food warms up very quickly and warms up evenly. When using square and rectangular microwave cookware, you may expect a surprise in the form of cold patches. Also, do not warm food in containers with high sides. Uneven heating is provided to you. Therefore, leave containers with high sides for baking, because in the microwave it can rise several times higher than in the oven.
What do many women prefer to cook and warm food: reviews
- A lid for covering food in a microwave oven is the most convenient solution than even a lid, which can be equipped with a plastic container.
- Many use only glass containers, explaining this with the most environmentally friendly properties of glass. Also, lovers of glass products are pleased that food can be prepared and served in one container. By the way, such housewives acquire glass covers for a microwave oven. There are several holes in this type of cover to prevent damage to the product.
- It is easier for someone to use bowls and all kinds of containers, not all people are afraid of the dangers of microwaves. It is more important for someone to bring a tray with lunch to work and have lunch there, having warmed it up. And the empty tray is already returning home for future use.
- The housewives, who tried a special foil for the microwave oven, were mostly satisfied. Foil is a plastic film that has many pores through which steam comes out during cooking and heating. This special foil is used in the preparation of meat and fish. It can cover a dish with products, that is, use instead of the beloved microwave cover.
- A set of dishes for a microwave from glass did not leave many indifferent. This set can contain up to 40 items: glasses, small saucers, plates for soup, tea cups won hearts. The dishes from this set look pretty decent and do not break, even if you apply the force. Glass sets are durable, can serve for years in your kitchen. Easy to clean in the dishwasher and by hand.