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 | Microwav Comments | ||
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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 |
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| close to the oven wall or if too |
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| much foil is used. |
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Browning plate | ✓ | Do not preheat for more than eight | |
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| minutes. |
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China and | ✓ | Porcelain, pottery, glazed | |
earthenware |
| earthenware and bone china are | |
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| usually suitable, unless decorated |
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| with a metal trim. |
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Disposable polyester | ✓ | Some frozen foods are packaged | |
cardboard dishes |
| in these dishes. | |
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✓ |
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• | Polystyrene | Can be used to warm food. | |
| cups containers |
| Overheating may cause the |
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| ✗ | polystyrene to melt. |
• | Paper bags or | May catch fire. | |
| newspaper | ✗ |
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• | Recycled paper | May cause arcing. | |
| or metal trims |
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Glassware | ✓ |
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• | Can be used, unless decorated | ||
| ware | ✓ | with a metal trim. |
• | Fine glassware | Can be used to warm foods or | |
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| liquids. Delicate glass may break |
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| ✓ | or crack if heated suddenly. |
• | Glass jars | Must remove the lid. Suitable for | |
warming only.
Metal |
| ✗ |
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• | Dishes | May cause arcing or fire. | |
• | Freezer bag | ✗ |
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| twist ties |
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Paper |
| ✓ |
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• | Plates, cups, | For short cooking times and | |
| napkins and |
| warming. Also to absorb excess |
| Kitchen paper | ✗ | moisture. |
• | 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. Do not use |
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| ✓ | Melamine plastic. |
• | Cling film | Can be used to retain moisture. | |
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| Should not touch the food. Take |
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| care when removing the film as |
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| ✓ ✗ | hot steam will escape. |
• | Freezer bags | Only if boilable or | |
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| Should not be airtight. Prick with a |
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| fork, if necessary. |
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Wax or | ✓ | Can be used to retain moisture | |
paper |
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| and prevent spattering. |
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✓:Recommended ✓✗:Use Caution ✗:Unsafe
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