What Makes a Microwave Dish Safe?

Testing

• The U.S. government has regulations for materials that touch food. The Food and Drug Administration tests microwave-grade plastics to be sure you can safely microwave food in them, according to a Harvard Medical School article. The testing ensures that only plastics that will neither leak unsafe amounts of chemicals nor melt get the microwave-safe label.

Plastics

• You cannot heat food safely in every type of plastic dish or container, as some will melt or react to fats and allow dangerous chemicals into the food, according to the Cooking for Engineers website. Safe types are designed to be long-lasting and hard to take high heat and not react to oil or fats, the site notes.

Glass

• Many glass containers safely heat food in a microwave and will not react with the food, Cooking for Engineers says. Those that do not have a microwave-safe label may shatter at high heat. Commercially available heat-resistant glass is especially suited to microwave cooking.

Warnings

• Watch out for single-use microwave dishes, which will leach or melt if used again, Harvard experts warn. Also avoid food containers not designed for the microwave, such as plastic margarine dishes or storage bags. Do not allow plastic wraps to touch your food during heating to avoid melting, the medical school notes.