Cookware guide
To cook food in the microwave oven, the microwaves must be able to penetrate the food, without being reflected or absorbed by the dish used. Care must therefore be taken when choosing the cookware. If the cookware is marked
The following table lists various types of cookware and indicates whether and how they should be used in a microwave oven.
| Cookware | Microwave- | Comments |
| Safe | ||
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| |
| Aluminium foil | ✓ ✗ | Can be used in small quantities to | |
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| protect areas against overcooking. |
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| Arcing can occur if the foil is too close |
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| to the oven wall or if too much foil is |
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| used |
| Browning plate | ✓ | Do not preheat for more than eight | |
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| minutes. |
| China and | ✓ | Porcelain, pottery, glazed earthenware | |
| earthenware |
| and bone china are usually suitable, | |
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| unless decorated with a metal trim. |
Disposable polyester | ✓ | Some frozen foods are packaged in | |
| cardboard dishes |
| these dishes. | |
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| ||
• | Polystyrene cups | ✓ | Can be used to warm food. |
| containers |
| Overheating may cause the polystyrene |
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| to melt. |
• | Paper bags or | ✗ | May catch fire. |
| newspaperr |
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• | Recycled paper or | ✗ | May cause arcing. |
| metal trims |
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| Cookware | Microwave- | Comments |
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| Safe |
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| Glassware |
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• | ✓ | Can be used, unless decorated with a |
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| metal trim. |
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• | Fine glassware | ✓ | Can be used to warm foods or liquids. | ENGLISH | |
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| Delicate glass may break or crack if | ||
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| heated suddenly. |
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• | Glass jars | ✓ | Must remove the lid. Suitable for |
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| warming only. |
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| Metal |
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• | Dishes | ✗ | May cause arcing or fire. |
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• Freezer bag twist ties | ✗ |
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| Paper |
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• | Plates, cups, napkins | ✓ | For short cooking times and warming. |
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| and Kitchen paper |
| Also to absorb excess moisture. |
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• | Recycled paper | ✗ | May cause arcing. |
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| Plastic |
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• | Containers | ✓ | Particularly if |
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| thermoplastic. Some other plastics |
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| may warp or discolour at high |
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| temperatures. |
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| Do not use Melamine plastic. |
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• | Cling film | ✓ | Can be used to retain moisture. Should |
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| not touch the food. Take care when |
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| removing the film as hot steam will |
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| escape. |
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• | Freezer bags | ✓ ✗ | Only if boilable or |
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| not be airtight. Prick with a fork, if |
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| necessary. |
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Wax or | ✓ | Can be used to retain moisture and |
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| paper |
| prevent spattering. |
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✓ | : Recommended | ✓✗ | : Use Caution ✗ | : Unsafe |
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