The microwave oven is firmly established in our kitchens. And it is often used for cooking or heating food. But not every cookware is suitable for microwave cooking. Let's figure out how to choose the right dishes for the microwave oven, how to choose safe dishes and which manufacturers you should pay attention to.
The principle of operation of a microwave oven is known to many: food is heated using microwave radiation.. Therefore, not every dish is suitable for a microwave oven.
When heated, a high-frequency current discharge, sparking and, as a result, the device can fail. Moreover, this can happen unexpectedly, even if previously the dishes with half-erased metal embossing were used to heat food, so be careful!
On the video - dishes for the microwave:
glass
The most preferred option for a “microwave”, because glass transmits microwave radiation better and the food in such dishes heats up evenly.
You just need to pay attention to the thickness of the walls of such dishes, because too thick ones will not let the rays through, and too thin ones will crack from heating. This applies to ordinary glassware available in the kitchen of any hostess.
If you buy dishes specifically for the microwave oven, you need to opt for low glass containers made of heat-resistant glass. They are well suited for cooking and serving ready meals to the table.
Overview of Luminark cookware:
Made of plastic
Heat-resistant plastic containers for microwave ovens are made of polypropylene and polyamide and have a special sticker confirming their heat-resistant properties. In this type of dish, it is very convenient to defrost food and reheat cooked food, as well as store it in the refrigerator.
Plastic microwave dishes
It is not suitable for roasting meat and baking, because of the possible deformation of the plastic surface.
A smart choice would be to purchase several plastic containers for the preparation and subsequent storage of ready-made meals.
ceramic
Classic ceramic plates are most often used for heating soup and cereals, but at the same time they themselves are highly susceptible to heat, and the food in it can remain cold. This is due to their thick walls, which poorly transmit microwave rays. When you take it out of the microwave, don't forget to use an oven mitt.
Beautiful ceramic dishes for the microwave
You should not specifically purchase dishes made of ceramics for a microwave oven.
porcelain
Items for kitchen table setting made of porcelain and faience look beautiful on the table, but they are not suitable for a microwave oven, just like ceramics.
Porcelain microwave dishes are often used for special occasions.
Especially dangerous can be their pattern with metal spraying in the form of borders, which can lead to the delay of electromagnetic waves during operation, cracking of dishes and breakage of the oven.
Do not use wet porcelain dishes with microcracks, this can lead to the fact that water gets inside, expands when heated, and the dishes fall apart.
Paper
Paper is used to wrap food that can then be reheated in the microwave, and as a material for disposable tableware.
Microwave paper utensils are most often used in everyday use.
It can be safely heated in the microwave, you just need to pay attention to whether such dishes contain aluminum layers, which can heat up from microwave waves and lead to a fire hazard.
How to choose
If you want to know if the utensils you have are suitable for microwave cooking, you can test them. To do this, place it empty in the microwave oven for half a minute. If as a result the dishes remain cold or warm slightly, then you can use it, otherwise it is not recommended to use it.
In the same way, you can check the glass for heating liquids in it. It is placed in the microwave for 1 minute, and if the glass has become hot, it is not suitable for the microwave. The ideal option would be when the liquid is heated, and the dishes remain cold.
On the video - the best microwave dishes:
Form
If you choose dishes specifically for the microwave, then you should opt for a heat-resistant glass container with a volume of up to two liters with a lid, which can be used as a multifunctional item - a deep pan and a “shallower” lid. The dishes should be oval in shape, since the square one, although it looks prettier, uneven heating occurs in its corners and food can burn or warm up poorly.
For a microwave oven, dishes with a narrow neck, with a pattern and decals are not suitable. It is strictly forbidden to use crystal dishes due to the possible lead content and non-uniform wall thickness.
Rating of the best manufacturing companies
Among the variety of companies that produce dishes for the microwave oven, the following can be distinguished:
- Pyrex– This borosilicate glass fire-resistant glassware is manufactured by Newell, as is "Pyroflam" made of white glass ceramic. " Vision» - dishes made of shaded glass.
- Simax- an inexpensive brand of transparent heat-resistant glass from the Czech Republic.
- Vitri- Utensils made of heat-resistant plastic for microwave.
- "Wolomin"- Polish company of high-quality dishes for microwave ovens.
- Nadir- Brazilian company, characterized by a variety of shapes and colors of dishes.
- "Tognana"- Italian containers, covered with a glaze that increases their strength.
- Luminarc- a variety of styles of glassware made of super-strong glass at an affordable price.
Care and operating rules
- Make sure the dishes are stable, did not touch the walls of the microwave.
- If you see smoke, fumes or sparks, unplug the appliance immediately.
- Do not reheat food in containers from the refrigerator and do not place dishes directly from the microwave on a cold surface to avoid temperature differences and negative consequences.
On the video - how to care for dishes:
Pay attention to the fact that the container is open, and if the food is in a bag and plastic wrap, make a few punctures to release steam.
If you have chosen the right dishes for the microwave oven and follow the rules for caring for it, then your microwave oven will last a long time and without breakdowns. The ideal option would be glass ceramic dishes, durable and easy to use.
