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.

 

 

 

Browning plate

✓

Do not preheat for more than eight

 

 

 

minutes.

 

 

 

China and earthenware

✓

Porcelain, pottery, glazed earthenware

 

 

 

and bone china are usually suitable,

 

 

 

unless decorated 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. Overheating

 

containers

✗

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 ware

Can be used, unless decorated with a

 

 

✓

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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