The microwave oven has long and firmly entered the everyday life of man. The speed and ease of use of the device is very impressive to users. Of course, there are debates about the usefulness and harm of this kitchen appliance and food heated or cooked in it, but this is not about that.
About non-microwaveable cookware
Which utensils are dangerous for the microwave?
The technical characteristics of the microwave oven provide for certain prohibitions on the use of certain types of dishes. Not every container can be placed inside the device without dangerous consequences. Let's take a closer look at how it will be more correct to use this kitchen appliance, and what is unsafe for human life to put in it.
You should remember the most important dogma of using the appliance, namely, a 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 case you are less lucky, there may be explosions in the kitchen or an electric shock.
Do not use dishes with silver and gold plating in the microwave.
The fact is that when waves come into contact with dishes of this type, a breakdown of the magnetron can occur. And the waves, reflected from the inner walls of the stove, are able, bypassing the protective coatings, to penetrate outside.
Therefore, if you want to use a kitchen appliance for a long time and safely, make sure that forks and spoons do not end up inside a working device.
Thin glassware will not work either. Such dishes may not withstand the temperature of the waves and simply burst, spoiling your mood and eating.
It is strictly forbidden to use crystal in the microwave oven. Although, to be honest, probably few people will come up with such an inappropriate thought. The ban on the use of crystal is explained by the fact that it contains silver and lead - these, as you know, are also metals.
Handmade ceramic dishes will definitely burst when used in this household appliance. Therefore, the option with expensive microwave ceramics is also not suitable.
Disposable plastic is also a forbidden type of dishes for such a device. When heated, it will melt, and possibly even be able to catch fire. In this case, very dangerous carcinogens will get into your food.
What will we warm in?
Now that we have learned what metal utensils and crystal are inIn this case, it is unsafe to use, let's try not to get lost in all the variety of dishes and understand something else. Namely: which dishes are suitable for a microwave oven.
- Heat-resistant glass is the best option for microwave cooking. Vitreous ceramics can also be used. The heating waves penetrate evenly through such dishes, and the food heats up well. If the microwave glassware is transparent, you can see the entire cooking process. You can easily see if the dish is cooked at the bottom of the container. Microwaveable glassware looks pretty decent, and some freshly cooked meals can be served right on the table "hot hot" in the same container.
- Ceramic, porcelain and earthenware plates also work well when used in a microwave oven. In dishes made of such materials, you can easily: boil milk, heat dinner and even make coffee! Such containers must not be closed with a lid, without high sides and all kinds of silver and gold rims.
- Microwaveable plastic dishes are one of the popular options. It’s so convenient sometimes to warm up your lunch by taking it straight out of the refrigerator, without pouring or shifting. All sorts: containers, bags and films should be marked with a special marked sign that says that this container can be used in the microwave. A set of dishes for a microwave oven must have such a marking, itmeans that this type of material can easily withstand heating by the rays of an oven of 140 degrees.
Precautions when using plastic
Despite the fact that plastic dishes designed for microwave ovens can easily endure large temperature changes 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 fatty, when heated, it can begin 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 are reheating food in a plastic bag or cooking in a sleeve, be sure to leave a hole for the steam to escape to avoid tearing the film.
Paper container for heating food
Trays and utensils made of paper and cardboard are widely used for packaging food, and, accordingly, for warming it up. Pies, sausages, sandwiches, feel great when warmed up in a bag of parchment and paper. But before placing a disposable carton in the microwave, make sure 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 fluctuations: it is not advisable to use a container that was inrefrigerator.
- Do not use damaged containers. Cracked and chipped dishes can burst when heated in the microwave.
- Also, do not use plastic utensils deformed during previous operation. Place such dishes in the trash can.
What the lid is for
If you want to keep your microwave oven pristine, clean, never forget to use a dish lid. Yes, it takes a certain amount of 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 a plate of food, you save the internal walls of the device from splashes that fly during heating. This makes it easier to clean the oven. Housewives who use caps much less often wipe the inside of the microwave from greasy splashes. Agree, it is much more convenient to wash the lid with detergent than to bother with cleaning the entire device.
More lid pros
- Heated food is heated evenly.
- Can be used for almost any cookware.
- Protects your food from drying out while reheating.
- Durable, practical and easy to use.
In order not to harm yourself, not to be scalded by hot steam, the lid must be opened "away from you", the steam will go to the back wall of the microwave appliance.
Shape of dishesfor microwave oven
When choosing dishes for a microwave oven, you should also consider its shape and size. The speed of heating the dinner and uniformity will depend on your correct choice. In a round and low plate, food will heat up very quickly and evenly warm up. When using square and rectangular microwave cookware, you may be in for a surprise in the form of cold spots. Also, do not heat food in containers with high sides. Uneven heating is provided to you. Therefore, leave containers with high sides for baking in them, since in the microwave it can rise many times higher than in the oven.
What do many women prefer to cook and heat food in: reviews
- The lid for covering food in a microwave oven is a more convenient solution than even a lid that can be provided with a plastic container.
- Many use only glass containers, explaining this as the most environmentally friendly properties of glass. Also, lovers of glass products are glad that food can be cooked and served in one container. By the way, such housewives also get glass lids for the microwave oven. This type of lid has multiple holes to prevent damage to the product.
- Some people find it easier to use bowls and all sorts 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, heating it up. And the empty tray has already been returned home for further use.
- Mistresses,Those who tried the special foil for the microwave oven were mostly very satisfied. Foil is a plastic film that has many pores through which steam escapes during cooking and heating. Such a special foil is used when cooking meat, fish. You can cover a dish with food with it, that is, use it instead of your favorite microwave lid.
