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MICROWAVE-SAFE UTENSILS
17
Never use metal or metal trimmed utensils in Paper
your microwave oven Paper plates and containers are convenient and
Microwaves cannot penetrate metal. They will safe to use in your microwave oven, provided that
bounce off any metal object in the oven and the cooking time is short and foods to be cooked
cause arcing, an alarming phenomenon that are low in fat and moisture. Paper towels are also
resembles lightning. very useful for wrapping foods and for lining
Most heat resistant non metallic cooking utensils baking trays in which greasy foods such as bacon
are safe for use in your microwave oven. are cooked. In general, avoid colored paper
However, some may contain materials that products as the colour may run. Some recycled
render them unsuitable as microwave cookware. paper products may contain impurities which
If you have any doubts about a particular utensil, could cause arcing or fires when used in the
there’s a simple way to find out if it can be used microwave oven.
in your microwave oven. Plastic cooking bags
Place the utensil in question next to a glass bowl Provided they are made specially for cooking,
filled with water in the microwave oven. cooking bags are microwave safe. However, be
Microwave at power HIGH for 1 minute. If the sure to make a slit in the bag so that steam can
water heats up but the utensil remains cool to the escape. Never use ordinary plastic bags for
touch, the utensil is microwave-safe. However, if cooking in your microwave oven, as they will melt
the water does not change temperature but the and rupture.
utensil becomes warm, microwaves are being Plastic microwave cookware
absorbed by the utensil and it is not safe for use A variety of shapes and sizes of microwave
in the microwave oven. You probably have many cookware are available. For the most part, you
items on hand in your kitchen right now that can can probably use items you already have on
be used as cooking equipment in your microwave hand rather than investing in new kitchen
oven. Just read through the following checklist. equipment.
Dinner plates Pottery, stoneware and ceramic
Many kinds of dinner-ware are microwave-safe. If Containers made of these materials are usually
in doubt consult the manufacturer’s literature or fine for use in your microwave oven, but they
perform the microwave test. should be tested to be sure.
Glassware
Glassware that is heat-resistant is microwave-
CAUTION
safe. This would include all brands of oven
tempered glass cookware. However, do not use
Some items with high lead or iron content are
delicate glassware, such as tumblers or wine
not suitable for cooking utensils.
glasses, as these might shatter as the food
Do not use any China, pottery, or stoneware
warms.
utensils or items that are finished with reflective
Plastic storage containers
paint. Using these can cause arcing and damage
These can be used to hold foods that are to be
the utensil.
quickly reheated. However, they should not be
used to hold foods that will need considerable
time in the oven as hot foods will eventually warp
or melt plastic containers and cause them to
pressurize and possibly explode.
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