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 microwave-safe, you do not need to worry.

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

 

 

 

 

Aluminium foil

 

Can be used in small quantities to

 

 

 

protect areas against overcooking.

 

 

 

Arcing can occur if the foil is too close

 

 

 

to the oven wall or if too much foil is

 

 

 

used.

 

 

 

China and earthenware



Porcelain, pottery, glazed earthenware

 

 

 

and bone china are usually suitable,

 

 

 

unless deco-rated with a metal trim.

 

 

 

Disposable polyester



Some frozen foods are packaged in

cardboard dishes

 

these dishes.

 

 

 

Fast-food packaging

 

 

•

Polystyrene cups



Can be used to warm food.

 

containers

 

Overheating may cause the

 

 

 

polystyrene to melt.

•

Paper bags or



May catch fire.

 

newspaper

 

 

•

Recycled paper or



May cause arcing.

 

metal trims

 

 

 

 

 

Glassware

 

 

• Oven-to-table



Can be used, unless decorated with a

 

ware

 

metal trim.

•

Fine glassware



Can be used to warm foods or liquids.

 

 

 

Delicate glass may break or crack if

 

 

 

heated suddenly.

•

Glass jars



Must remove the lid. Suitable for

 

 

 

warming only.

 

 

 

 

Metal

 

 

 

•

Dishes



May cause arcing or fire.

•

Freezer bag twist



 

ties

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper

 



 

 

EN

•

Plates, cups,

For short cooking times and warming.

 

 

napkins and

 

Also to absorb excess moisture.

 

Kitchen paper

 

 

 

 

•

Recycled paper



May cause arcing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastic

 

 

 

 

 

•

Containers



Particularly if heat-resistant

 

 

 

thermoplastic. Some other plastics

 

 

 

may warp or discolour at high

 

 

 

temperatures. Do not use Melamine

 

 

 

plastic.

•

Cling film



Can be used to retain moisture. Should

 

 

 

not touch the food. Take care when

 

 

 

removing the film as hot steam will

 

 

 

escape.

•

Freezer bags

 

Only if boilable or oven-proof. Should

 

 

 

not be airtight. Prick with a fork, if

 

 

 

necessary.

 

 

 

 

Wax or grease-proof paper



Can be used to retain moisture and

 

 

 

prevent spattering.

: Recommended

 : Use Caution

: Unsafe

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