12 things you must never put in the microwave oven

There are some materials and some foods that you should never put in the microwave oven because they could explode. Here are the 12 things that could cause dangerous damage at home.

In the kitchen, microwave oven often saves our lives. With this convenient electrical appliance, in fact, you can defrost the food in a few minutes, heat the food in a few seconds and cook several foods with ease. But there are some things that should never be put in the microwave oven. In fact, some foods and containers could explode, causing serious damage or contamination. To avoid flames and intoxication, here are the things not to be included in this very useful electrical appliance that, in a few seconds, could turn into something really dangerous.

Food and containers not to be absolutely put in the microwave oven

Did you know, for example, that some types of fruit should never be put in the microwave oven? For example, the grapes could explode, and the same goes for raw eggs, for chilli peppers and for the sauce in a pot without a lid. In the microwave oven it is absolutely necessary to avoid also inserting materials such as aluminum foil, polystyrene or plastic containers. Paper containers that are usually used for take-away food must also be kept away from the microwave oven. But here are the 12 things that should never be placed in the microwave oven to prevent the house from exploding and to avoid health hazards.

1. Eggs and peeled foods

If inserted inside the microwave oven, eggs explode: why does this happen? They say that this was one of the first experiments of the inventor of this very useful electrical appliance, Percy Spencer; he came to the conclusion that the eggs will never become hard-boiled inside the microwave oven: with the heat, in fact, the water inside them will evaporate and, since the steam takes up more space than the liquid, it will create a pressure from the inside which will lead to the breaking of the shell, resulting in an explosion. The same applies to other foods with peel like potatoes and apples: before putting them in the microwave oven, it is advisable to prick them or cut them, so as to let the steam out during cooking.

2. Chilli peppers and vegetables with peel

Even if it is a "hot" food and with a very resistant peel, the chilli pepper is not suitable for the microwave oven: if put inside the appliance, in fact, it will trigger a chemical reaction caused by electromagnetic waves that will make it harmful for health and even more spicy and hot. Even vegetables with skin, such as tomatoes or peppers can explode if put with peel inside the microwave oven, or otherwise they can also generate sparks that could damage the microwave oven.

3. Fruit: be careful with the grapes

Among the foods not to be put in the microwave oven, there is also fruit: in particular the grapes, which could explode. The grape forms a sort of antenna on which the waves of the oven go and, since this fruit inside is full of liquid, the microwave oven will increase the internal temperature favoring the formation of the steam, so as it happens for the eggs, provoking the explosion.

4. Tomato sauce in a pot without lid

The tomato sauce can be heated in the microwave oven, but you should always remember to cover it with a lid: better if you use porcelain dishes and glass-ceramic lids. In this way you will avoid those annoying spurts on the inner walls of the microwave oven, which could ruin it, in addition to the effort to degrease it. It is always better to cover the food to be cooked or heated with a lid, since it helps to reduce cooking or heating time.

5. Aluminum foil and aluminum containers

By now everyone knows that the tinfoil can not be inserted in the microwave oven because, in contact with the radiation produced by this electrical appliance, it causes dangerous sparks that could cause small fires. The same applies to some aluminum containers, even if often take-away meals are sold right in trays of this material that in most cases it is hard aluminum and so the food can be heated in the microwave oven, provided that they are not taller than 3 centimeters and are covered with a lid.

6. Thermos and plastic containers

Both the thermos and the travel cups, as well as the portable plastic containers, the classic Tupperware, should not be put in the microwave oven: if not resistant to heat, in fact, they could deform. Only those plastic containers created for this use can be inserted: usually there is the appropriate symbol on the bottom, or they bear the words "heat resistant". Even the yogurt packages should not be placed in the microwave oven: they may melt, releasing the chemicals that compose them into the food.

7. Ceramic plates with metal finishes

Before inserting the dishes into the microwave oven, just check that they are ceramic only, avoid instead those decorated with details in gold, silver or copper, which could cause dangerous sparks that can ruin the plate and the oven but that, above all, can be harmful to health, ending up on the food we are heating up.

8. Polystyrene containers

Also polystyrene containers are not suitable for electromagnetic waves of microwave oven, even if it is a material used for food storage and sometimes even for take-away foods. For this reason, when you buy foods that are in this type of container, remember to move them on a plate, before heating them in the microwave oven to avoid damage to the electrical appliance and not to compromise the integrity of the food.

9. Paper containers for food

Another material that is widely used for take-away food is paper, which is usually the material of which typical take-away containers for fast food and Chinese restaurants are made. These containers are not suitable for the microwave oven: cardboard could in fact develop flames as well as releasing harmful substances that could contaminate food. The same applies to plastic bags that may melt and burn. Again, transfer the food to a glass or ceramic container before heating it.

10. Metal tableware

Crockery such as pots or serving dishes made of metal or oxidized steel, are not suitable for the microwave oven. We are talking about pots and pans in steel or stainless steel, but also cast iron, aluminum, copper, all materials not suitable for this appliance because they reflect the waves not allowing the food inside to heat up.

11. Unglazed clay pots

Other types of material to pay attention to are terracotta, but also clay and unglazed ceramics: all containers that it is better not to put in the microwave oven, especially if there are cracks, even if it is not recommended for use in any case. Since the base is not enamelled, these materials absorb moisture, and they can get too hot and crack.

12. Empty microwave oven

Another precaution to keep: turn on the microwave oven only when there is something inside. If it is empty and you operate it,  the microwaves disperse inside it and could damage it. Usually, however, this action can not be carried out thanks to the security checks that the microwave oven (especially the latest models) is already equipped with. To avoid any damage, however, avoid turning it on if there are no food to be cooked or to be heated inside