How To Tell If Dishes Are Microwave Safe – Easy Explanation!

Putting bowls and plates inside the oven is obviously not a new thing.

However, those have to be microwave safe. Do you really know how to tell if dishes are microwave safe? If not, then you must. This tiny box like equipment can cause severe damage like a spark if not using the right dishes.

In the year 1971, the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has issued the production of microwaves with safe usage.

If using the wrong dish inside the microwave, it’ll probably let you sit at the table with no food and bowls as well as give you a microwave that now will need a repair.

So, this guide will show all the details on how you can figure the thing out. Hope It Helps!

Microwave Safe Dishes & Materials

Once you enter the cooking world, you’ll discoverer a lot of dishes made of different elements. And, all kitchen appliances are not appropriate to use inside the microwave. There are some boundaries based on the material.

To figure out if the dishes are microwave safe materials, just try these 2 techniques which work like magic:

• Just keep the kitchen appliances inside the oven for 60 seconds at 212°F or 100°C temperature. If it gets too hot, then do not use them in the oven. Only if it is safe to use.
• Look into the microwave safe symbol on the label (basically on the rear side). The sign will let you know if it’s safe to use or not.

Rather than being in a risky zone, I would suggest having unbreakable microwave safe dishes like Sweese 156.001 dinner plate 6 set that is wide enough to place steak or similar-like foods. Let’s just move to the real talk!

Porcelain Dish

Is porcelain microwave safe? It is indeed a safe option for microwaves. Yet, the case would be different if it got any metallic edges or designs. As it is being used to heat the inside portion (food), porcelain has a better heat resistance to stand even at 100 °F (38 °C) or more.

In fact, it has a 1650 °C melting point, meaning the plate won’t melt easily. You can verily use it for heating up the dishes.

Glass Dish

Yup. Microwave glass cup would be safe to put inside. However, it needs to be thick enough to be called fully ‘microwave-safe’. A double-wall glass cup can resist heat for up to 120 °C. Which is great for oven purposes.

Plus, it has melting point from around 1400 °C to 1600 °C. As long as the glass doesn’t get too hot, you can use it inside the microwave.

Stoneware Dish

If you are asking ‘is stoneware microwave safe’, the answer would be yes. It is super safe. Not only that it can bear a lot of heat but also resist freezing too. This has 450°F (232°C) heat protection to carry a warm meal. And, its melting point would be 1000 °C to 1200 °C.

Ceramic Dish

Just like porcelain, this is fine to put inside the microwave. But, if it contains metal designs, then the ceramic can cause damage. With a 660 °C heat resistance capability, this won’t be a risky item to use in the oven. Besides, it contains a 2000 °C melting point.

Plastic Dish

The microwave safe plastic is still risky to put in due to the thickness. While a weak or mid-level one won’t be able to resist a lot of heat, the thicker one might do good. If the plastic is microwave-safe, it will have a special label from FDA.

In the 2011 survey, it is stated that more than 400 plastic containers are made to put in food which leads to chemical leakage and harm inside the microwave.

Compared to others, plastic has the weakest melting point which is around 160 °C to 210 °C. And also, it can resist heat not more than 300 °F (149 °C).

Let’s Know How to Check if a Dish Is Microwave Safe!

A lot of people still have confusion to determine the microwave-safe plates or bowls due to no label attachment on the appliance. And to get rid of this situation, here’s what you should do:

• Upside down the dishware so that the backside is shown clearly. Check if it has a label or not. If not, then move to the next step.
• Open the microwave and place the dish after filling water. Be sure to place 1 cup of water in a glass too.
• Then, adjust the heating system to a high temperature. Most modern microwaves contain level or menu-type buttons. Some even have pictures too.
• Adjust the time for 1 minute and wait for it to beep.
• Then, take out the glass and dishware. If it feels like rather a non-touchable warm, then it is suggested not to use it inside the oven. Otherwise, you can use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What things cannot be put in the microwave?

There is a lot of stuff that is prohibited to put inside the microwave like bags, paper, or anything not-related to food. These things will cause fire due to the toxic and harmful resins released in a hot and closed environment.

Is it dangerous to run an empty microwave?

Yup, for sure! The empty microwave will eventually cause damage if running with no food inside due to the radiation and power. Food usually takes out the heat inside the microwave and when there’s no food, it’ll reflect and cause distraction.

How long can you run an empty microwave?

You can run the empty microwave for not more than 1 to 5 minutes. However, if the limit exceeds, then there’ll be an accident. So, do not try this at home.

Overall Thoughts

That would be enough for you to now know how to tell if dishes are microwave safe. To prep the food safely in the oven, it is vital for a user to know the limits and safety standards.

So next time you use the microwave, be sure to think of the steps and try them to avoid mishaps. Hope you find this guide informative and have learned something precious.

I’ll be back with new concepts in our next guide. See You Soon!

Autem Decker

This is Autem Decker. Main Author of ‘TheHomeDigs‘. You may not find her on the list of top 10 contemporary Canadian interior designers, but everyone who knows her says she was born to be an interior designer.

She makes her plan in her head and draws them in her years-old diary with a note in the corner. The way she plays with color and shape amazes us.

Connect Her On – Twitter