Cookware for microwave ovens: what goes in the oven?

Remember the school rule about “glass, tin, wood”? It’s not complicated at all, which can’t be said for glass, metal and wood cookware. Especially when it comes to microwave ovens.

Why stoves don’t like dishes with gilding?

If you have ever used a microwave, or just looked into the bowels of it, you may have noticed that the device has a metal body, and the door has a grid. And that’s with every microwave oven without exception!

The reason for this design uniformity is simple – the waves must not leave the interior of the oven, and metal is ideal for this purpose, since it does not transmit radiation.

That is why you do not use metal dishes in microwave ovens, it not only does not let the food get hot, but also poses a threat to the device itself. “If an iron bowl collides with microwaves it can cause a dangerous but spectacular sparking or even an electrical arc, which can render the microwave oven useless.

Therefore, nickel-plated, enameled, aluminum and steel pots, plates and cups cannot be used in the microwave! Put on the list of banned items also dishes lavishly decorated with a variety of decorative elements containing metal, such as gilding.

However, there are exceptions to this rule they are usually stipulated in the instructions of the device . It is allowed to use foil in almost any oven it is used to cover those parts of the food that must not be heated before, most often the protruding wings or legs of the stove. Use foil for cooking or defrosting.

Another exception is special utensils designed by the manufacturer of the stove, for example, the Aqua Cook Samsung steaming set has a metal cap that protects products from the effects of waves. Dishes of this type can be used fearlessly, it will not cause malfunction of the device.

Do not forget about the fact that microwave ovens can be combined, that is, equipped with heaters grill, ring elements . If the oven operates without turning on the microwave, you can use any cookware of the right size: small pans and griddles, cake and muffin molds, pans.

Wooden pots, preferably on a shelf

Wooden crockery is not so widely used in our homes – we love Khokhloma, straw products and often buy them for simple purposes: storing loose foods, sweets, bread, but mostly for decoration.

Cooking in it is unlikely someone will dare: sorry, but you can still think of warming something like buns on a wooden plate or board.

Some manufacturers do not recommend using wooden dishes in the microwave oven because of the danger of overheating and burning. Or use it only for a short time, for example for heating or making fast food such as hot sandwiches, in which case it is better to give preference to products with low fat and sugar content.

Wood is a living material with a heterogeneous structure which can contain moisture and, if heated, can deform or even damage pans.

Made of paper is not cookware

Manufacturers of microwave do not forbid the use of disposable forms and plates made of paper or cardboard, although for long-term cooking they are not reliable, especially if the future dish contains a lot of moisture and fat. Wax- or plastic-coated wrappers will “leak” if heated for more than a few minutes: the protective film will melt and food will be exposed.

To absorb the juice and protect against frosting, you can use paper kitchen towels, trays, as well as for the oven, can be lined with tracing paper, for baking cakes of small and medium size can take ready-made paper molds in the form of rosettes with corrugated walls.

Paper obtained from recycled paper is better not to use, because it may contain hazardous impurities or metal compounds.

What you shouldn’t put in the oven

• Thin-walled glassware: glasses, goblets, shot glasses
• Objects with jewelry containing metal compounds
• Crystal glassware
• Stainless steel or cast iron cookware
• Nickel-plated, enameled
• Aluminum
• Copper, brass
• With decorative elements of metals for example, gold or silver
• Earthenware and porcelain with metal decorations
• Products made of wood and straw
• Disposable utensils, including coated ones, are not suitable for long-term cooking
• Recycled paper
• Dyed paper, newspapers
• Silicone products with metal frames
• Products made of non-tolerant polymers

May or may not? What a question: Pour and test!

A distinctive sign that the item meets all necessary requirements including safety is the marking: “suitable for microwave”, “for microwave safe.

Disposable packaging is not provided with such labels, so it is better to check once – whether they can withstand the heat, since plastic can be fusible and from the increased temperature warp or lose their shape.

But bags, for example, for baking only without metal clips , as well as foil, can be used for dishes that must retain their juiciness. For cooking, heating and defrosting, you can use heat-resistant plates, cups, dishes and other microwave-safe plastic dishes.

Special dishes for the microwave are a variety of containers, they are also suitable for storing food, including at low temperatures, in the refrigerator. Containers are equipped with lids with special valves for steam escape.

Among this group are specialized items. For example, a steam cooker is a set that includes a main container for water, one or more grid or perforated inserts, and a cap.

You can buy a cap and separately, with its help, any plate will turn into a very convenient container for stewing, which also will better retain heat. Another example of dishes made of plastic are a variety of containers for cooking eggs. They have a similar shape – oval.

In the container break the egg, salt, do the necessary manipulations for example, stir, add mayonnaise, milk, chopped herbs, chopped vegetables or sausage , cover and send to the oven. With such a device, you can get hard-boiled eggs with varying degrees of readiness – in the bag, softened, hard-boiled , prepare omelets.

For cooking or heating on two levels, you can buy a plastic rack that will add another working “floor” to the chamber.