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MICROWAVE-SAFE UTENSILS
Never use metal or metal-trimmed utensils in your
microwave oven: Microwaves cannot penetrate
metal. They will bounce off any metal object in the
oven and cause arcing, an alarming phenomenon
that resembles lightning. Most heat-resistant non-
metallic cooking utensils are safe for use in your
microwave oven. However, some may contain
materials that render them unsuitable as microwave
cookware. If you have any doubts about a particular
utensil, there is a simple way to find out if it can be
used in your microwave oven.
Testing utensils for microwave use: Place the
utensil in question next to a glass bowl filled with
water in the microwave oven. Microwave at power
HIGH for 1 minute. If the water heats up but the
utensil remains cool to the touch, the utensil is
microwave-safe. However, if the water does not
change temperature but the utensil becomes warm,
microwaves are being absorbed by the utensil and it
is not safe for use in the microwave oven. You
probably have many items on hand in your kitchen
that can be used as cooking equipment in your
microwave oven. Just read through the following
checklist.
1. Dinner plates: Many kinds of dinner-ware are
microwave-safe. If in doubt, consult the manu-
facturer's literature or perform the microwave test,
above.
2. Glassware: Glassware that is heat-resistant is
microwave-safe. This includes all brands of oven-
tempered glass cookware. However, do not use
delicate glassware, such as tumblers or wine glasses,
as these might shatter as the food warms.
3. Paper: Paper plates and containers are
convenient and safe to use in your microwave
oven, provided the cooking time is short and
foods to be cooked are low in fat and moisture.
Paper towels are also very useful for wrapping foods
and for lining baking trays in which greasy foods,
such as bacon, are cooked. In general, avoid colored
paper products as the color may run.
4. Plastic storage containers: These can be used to
hold foods that are to be quickly reheated. However,
they should not be used to hold foods that will need
considerable time in the oven as hot foods will
eventually warp or melt plastic containers.
5. Plastic cooking bags: These are microwave-safe
provided they are specially made for cooking.
However, be sure to make a slit in the bag so that
steam can escape. Never use ordinary plastic bags
for cooking in your microwave oven, as they will melt
and rupture.
6. Plastic microwave cookware: A variety of shapes
and sizes of microwave cookware is available. For
the most part, you can probably cook with items you
already have on hand rather than investing in new
kitchen equipment.
7. Pottery, stoneware, and ceramic:
Containers made of these materials are usually fine
for use in your microwave oven, but they should be
tested to be sure.
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Cooking Utensils
To avoid risk of personal injury or property damage, do not use stoneware, alumium foil, metal utensils, or metal trimmed
utensils in the oven.
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CAUTION