Cooking and warming food should be as easy as possible for most people. Hence, the necessity of the microwave oven in their daily lives. Make sure the label on the container specifies that the paper plate is microwave safe before using it in the microwave.
As long as the paper plate has no plastic coating and you don’t have the packaging, you should be fine using it in the microwave without it. However, this article contains some valuable information for you to ensure that your paper plates do not catch fire when microwaved.
Table of Contents
How a microwave works
The microwave heats food quickly and is a simple appliance to operate. But how does it function, and why can’t isn’t it compatible with all kinds of plates? To answer this, you need to know how a microwave works.
The brief radio waves (microwaves) generated by the microwave oven bounce off the oven’s reflective interior surface. This heat is generated by the water molecules being agitated by the waves’ magnetic component when the waves pass through the meal.
Microwaveable items
It’s fine to microwave paper products that are 100% paper and not coated with plastic, as long as they are constructed of that. Hence, microwave cooking bags, parchment paper, and wax paper, according to the NSFI, can all be used in the microwave.
Conditions for microwaveable products
Paper plates and paper towels aren’t fully devoid of plastic, even though this is generally true. These paper products can’t be microwaved. The National Sanitation Foundation International (NSFI) strongly recommends paper goods’ are microwave safe.
What to consider when microwaving paper plates.
You should consider these reminders before microwaving paper plates:
- First, ensure the food is placed on the paper plate before being placed in the oven.
- It is ideal for your microwave oven to contain a glass turntable inside, with the turntable at room temperature.
- Check the microwave by placing a paper plate and a bowl of water, then turn on the oven and let it heat up for a minute. After cooking, check the paper plate’s temperature; you cannot microwave a paper plate that is too hot to the touch.
- Make stacks of two or three paper plates for reheating greasy foods like pizza, bacon, steak, or chicken. The additional plate layers will absorb the grease. In addition, they’ll keep the food from falling when you take it out of the oven because they’re sturdy support.
- Preparing a serving plate ahead of time is a good safety precaution. For example, baked goods can be transferred to a serving dish by carefully sliding paper plates over them. Then, when the weight of the meal causes the paper plates to bend, it won’t cause the food to fall out of the dish.
- A brown paper bag should not be used to heat food, as it can easily catch fire.
- Do not use aluminum foil to cover the plate when cooking on a paper plate in the microwave. Sparks can fly out of this.
- Twist ties should be avoided at all costs.
- Never run a paper plate without something in it. The heat can damage the plate and the microwave magnetron. In addition, if there is nothing on the paper plate to absorb the energy, the likelihood of it catching fire is substantially higher.
How to check if a plate is microwave-safe
You can check if a plate is microwave-safe, especially if it is not clear on the packaging. However, in testing the plates, you must first understand that even microwave-safe plates should be kept in the microwave for the shortest time possible since this will increase the chances of absorbing energy and creating heat.
Here are the steps you need to take. This is a quick way to find out if something is safe to put in the microwave or not.
- Place water in a small bowl.
- Put the plate you want to test in the microwave and bowl.
- Turn the microwave on high power and set the timer for 1 minute.
- When the time is up, carefully touch the test plate. Be careful as it could be very hot.
- If the plate is very hot to the touch, it has taken in the microwaves and turned them into heat, which means it is not safe to use in a microwave.
The longer and stronger the microwave is on, the more likely it is that something will go wrong with the plate. However, even if the paper plate doesn’t get hot to the touch, it could have materials that make the food unsafe to eat.
Reasons why material is non-microwavable
Microwave-safe plastics, glassware, and ceramics can be passed through without being heated by microwaves. Meaning it’s just the food that is heated. Hence, using a microwave to heat glass or ceramic is completely safe. Microwave-safe plastics are also available, but they must be marked as such. A microwave-unsafe plate can be attributed to two distinct causes:
Microwave-absorbing materials are used in its construction.
This is hazardous because the plate will heat much like the food if it absorbs microwaves. For starters, you won’t be able to touch or pick it up since it’s so hot. However, if the heat is too high, it can begin to bend and melt, damaging the plate.
It is constructed from not-food-safe material when microwaved.
The container you use is critical when cooking or reheating food in the microwave. Using a microwave to reheat meals on paper plates or other paper items is generally safe, but safety precautions should always be used. Several materials react differently when microwaved—they either have a residue or emit a certain chemical. When this happens, the food becomes unsafe to eat.
Use plain white paper plates for the finest and safest results. Paper plates that aren’t white, ornamented, or printed will enhance your fire risk. The added colors and prints may contain chemicals that leach into the food when heated. Hence, if you use containers that aren’t microwave-safe, your food may get warped, melted, or even set on fire.
What you should not put in the microwave
The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S said that paper plates, paper towels, and parchment papers are safe for microwave use. However, there is one condition: they must be white and devoid of any prints.
A microwave oven should only be used to heat white, non-recycled, and print-free paper plates. Dishes made of recycled paper and metallic materials, such as those with decorative designs or foam insulation, should never be microwaved. In addition, the following is not safe for microwave use.
Printed paper plates
Because the ink may melt and its chemicals could end up in the food being heated.
Foam-insulated paper goods
They cannot be heated in a microwave since the foam will melt and contaminate your meal.
Decorated paper plates
Or those with metal or traces of it are not safe to put in a microwave oven.
Recycled paper
You have no idea what kind of paper the recycled paper is created from. But, then, there are the items you don’t want to end up in your food. Newspapers, brown bags, and papers printed in various colors might all be used as this product’s raw material.
Reasons why your paper plate catches fire in the microwave
In theory, radio waves sent out by a running microwave oven can’t be absorbed by things that don’t have water. In other words, if the paper plate is dry, it won’t be able to soak up the energy the oven gives off.
Paper also doesn’t let electricity flow through it. That should be enough to show you that it won’t start a fire in a running microwave. So, there is no way it could start a fire in a running microwave oven. Here are some reasons why your paper plate catches fire:
Your microwave has been working nonstop for hours
Microwaves are made to work in short bursts, not for long hours at a time. So if you run it nonstop for an hour, its electronics might get too hot and short out. The oven could even blow up.
There is a metallic object on top of the paper plate
Putting a spoon or fork on the paper plate could cause a fire. It gets too hot when steel is “cooked” in an oven. Its heat will move to the paper, which will catch fire. The oven will also catch fire. So, don’t do it!
Your paper plate has decorations.
The same thing happens with plates made of pretty paper. The silver decorations will get hot if you place a paper plate with silver ornaments on the sides into a microwave oven. If the paper plate stays in the oven long enough, it could catch fire.
There is a silver foil on your paper plate.
Someone has tried putting a piece of silver foil on top of a paper towel and putting that and the towel in a microwave. He turned on the machine, and 20 seconds later, sparks came from the silver foil and caught the paper towel on fire.
The material microwaved contains an object that can conduct electricity
Only simple white paper plates can be used in a microwave oven. They can’t be microwaved if they have decorative designs, metal traces, inks, or other hazardous and conductive materials. Anything else that can conduct electricity, such as a conductive metal, puts the paper plate at risk of catching fire.
It is heated more than the recommended time.
Worn paper plates can also catch fire when heated over an extended period. Papers like these absorb microwave energy because they contain free and bound water. However, because of the flame point on thin paper plates, they will burn on the edges if you heat them for an excessive amount of time. Hence, the material may catch fire if heated for longer than suggested.
There is plastic wrapping on the paper plate.
Plastic wrap can be a health hazard when used to cover paper-plated meals. When you overcook food in the microwave, the plastic wrap may melt, releasing harmful and deadly substances into the meal.
Note: The paper plate should not feel hot to the touch, except where it’s touching the hot food. If you take the right steps, the paper plate won’t catch fire in the microwave while it’s on. If you are only reheating food, there is no chance that the paper plate will catch fire.
Safety precautions when microwaving paper
Microwaving paper plates for a brief period at a medium power level should ensure that the paper plate or foils over the meal have no prints or metal trimmings. Microwave capability, wattage, and food type play a role in rewarming. When heating food in a microwave on a paper plate, keep these things in mind:
Stick to well-known brands
Dixie is one of those brands. The company says its paper products can be used in the microwave without problems. A long time ago, it was making paper products.
Choose materials that are microwaveable-safe
Plain paper bags, paper towels, wax paper, paper napkins, parchment paper, and wax paper are safe to use in the microwave.
Avoid newspapers, brown paper bags, and recycled paper
Newspapers, brown paper bags, and recycled paper are not allowed. Brown paper bags could start a fire because they are easy to light on fire. Some newspaper inks may also have chemicals that can get into food. Moreover, recycled paper may contain dangerous chemicals and other things that, when mixed with food, can change how food tastes.
Use paper plates only for reheating.
A paper plate should only be used for reheating food, not cooking, because it cannot withstand long periods at high temperatures. In addition, the structural integrity of the plate can be compromised if it becomes too wet with food and difficult to grip.
Avoid overheating the dish.
Keep an eye on the plate and stir the meal every 30 seconds to ensure it doesn’t burn. Avoid cooking the dish to a point where it releases too much moisture and discolors the plate.
Stack the paper plates
If you are reheating oily food or partially cooking vegetables or potatoes, stack the plates high to give them more support. Depending on what’s on the plate and how good the paper is, you may need 2 or more plates. Thin paper plates must be stacked more so food doesn’t fall off.
Cover food to stop it from splattering
When you microwave food with a lot of moisture, it will splatter, so cover it with a paper towel. If it doesn’t say “microwave safe” on the package or plate, don’t use plastic to heat food. However, do have a small hole so steam can escape and prevent an explosion.
Avoid materials that may start a fire.
Avoid things that can start a fire, like foil, silverware, and other metallic strips that can get hot and start a fire on the paper plate.
Frequently asked questions
Are paper plates that were microwaved hazardous?
For a microwave to work, electromagnetic radiation of a specific wavelength must be generated. This causes the water molecules in the material to vibrate, which in turn generates the heating reaction through friction.
Reheating meals should be limited to 1-2 minutes, or the food will soak into the plate and ruin the presentation. At some point, this can cause structural damage to your paper plates and make holding them flat a real challenge.
As a result, the paper may be warped by water molecules that get trapped inside. There is no proof that a non-decorative, plain paper plate will reasonably release any hazardous compounds when heated.
Can paper plate components affect food?
Some paper products may include chemicals that may leak into your meals. This is especially true if these chemicals are in your disposable plates or dishes. Microwaving them can cause these toxins to leak into your meals.
For this precise reason, many people advise against microwaving Styrofoam products. However, it’s a good idea to check for these in any microwave-friendly products to be safe.
Look for disposable plates labeled “BPA-free,” Chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) or a similar substance are found in some plates. You should keep an eye out for this. Should BPA and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) be in your plates, you should avoid microwaving them.
What symbol indicates that a material is microwave-safe?
Look for #5 on the container to see if it’s microwave-safe. #5 can be found on containers. Also, the words “microwave-safe” are commonly found on these items, although the symbol of a microwave can also denote their safety.
Can you heat all food types on a paper plate in the microwave?
Before putting food in the microwave, you should always think about how it will react with the paper plate. Even though the paper plate will work fine in the microwave, it does not work well if you have greasy or wet food.
This has more to do with how the liquid reacts with the paper plate. When many foods are heated in the microwave, they give off grease and water. The paper plate will soak up all that hot water and grease, making it fall apart. You could make a huge mess, and you could even get burned in the process.
How long can paper plates stay in the microwave?
It shouldn’t take more than two minutes to warm up food on paper plates. Set the microwave to the reheat setting, stack paper plates if necessary, cover with a paper towel, and heat for two minutes.
This will keep the food from drying and heat it more evenly by trapping the steam inside. To ensure the food is safe, keep an eye on it while it’s reheating, and stop every 30 seconds to stir it for better heating.
Conclusion
Paper plates can be microwaved if they are composed of 100% paper. You can even microwave towels and napkins. However, microwaving paper plates with thin plastic coatings is not recommended. A fire or hazardous gases could result from the addition of plastic.
Moreover, brown paper bags should not be used in the microwave because they can catch fire or generate poisonous fumes if they are overheated.
