VIDEO: Plastic in the microwave

Look for "suitable for the microwave"

• There are dishes made of plastic especially for the microwave that are safe to use there. This is a special plastic that can withstand large temperature differences and high temperatures.
• Often these dishes, regardless of whether they are bowls, plates, mugs or bottles, are also suitable for freezing food and drinks. You can put them directly in the microwave with frozen food and defrost and cook them there.
• In addition, however, there are plastic goods that are also suitable for the microwave. However, this highly desirable property is not shown there. There is a reason for this: With these dishes, it is not possible to cook food and drinks at high temperatures for a long time, as they will warp.
• However, nothing stands in the way of brief heating. Packaging made of plastic, such as plastic bowls or ice cream containers, is particularly suitable for a short stay in the microwave, but longer cooking is not possible.
• The only thing left here is to try out the suitability for the microwave. Metals or parts with
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  metal must not be in the microwave. And unfortunately, expensive does not always mean suitable for the microwave.


Microwave safe - you can use these dishes

The inscription "suitable for microwaves" is often emblazoned on crockery. But which one ...

Plastic lids - often a problem

Even with microwaveable dishes, lids can cause problems, for two reasons.

• On the one hand, when heating and cooking in the microwave, you must make sure that the plastic dishes are not completely closed, for example by a tightly fitting lid. When the lid is heated, the expansion of air, water vapor and the hot food create a high pressure under the lid, which is created either by opening or closing the lid. Tearing off the lid discharges (including the contents as in the illustration) or the hot food "comes towards you" when you remove the lid. You should avoid both by loosely placing the lid or other cover on. In addition, food should be stirred to distribute the heat more evenly before it is finished cooking.
• The other reason is that many plastic lids, including those that are microwave safe, warp when heated and then no longer fit properly on the bowls that come with them.

Unfortunately, the only thing that helps here is trying it out again. A lot of glassware, especially made of thick pressed glass, is also suitable for that microwave.