Alternatives to Plastic & Glass for Microwave Containers

Ceramic, Clay and Earthenware

• Many manufacturers make containers and dish sets out of ceramic, clay or earthenware, and most of these dishes can safely be heated in the microwave. Most of the time, the dishes themselves have a stamp on the bottom that states whether they are microwave safe, though not all dishes do. If you still have the paperwork that came with a dish set, consult it before microwaving. If not, use the general rule that earthenware is microwave safe. Like glass, earthenware does get extremely hot when microwaved though, so use caution when removing heated items from the unit.

Wax Paper

• Wax paper, and the similar parchment paper, may be used to hold foods in the microwave. While wax or parchment paper generally works best as a covering over ceramic or glass dishes to prevent splatters, in some instances wax paper may be sufficient alone. If you need to cook a short time, such as reheating a pastry, put down a piece of wax or parchment paper on the turntable and place the pastry on top. Be careful using wax paper with items that may cause moisture, which may cause the paper to rip and stick to the food item.

Paper Towels

• Like wax paper and parchment paper, paper towels are generally used in conjunction with microwave-safe containers, such as ceramic plates, but they may also be used alone on the glass turntable of the microwave. If you would like to cook bacon in the microwave, you can line the turntable with paper towels, place the strips of bacon directly down on the paper towels, and cover the bacon with a second layer of paper towels. When using paper towels in microwave cooking, you generally must change out the paper towels several times throughout cooking to prevent sticking.

Containers to Avoid

• Though many plastic and other synthetic materials are billed as microwave-safe, including plastic storage bags and Styrofoam plates, these items generally begin melting once they reach high temperatures and may release chemicals into food; these should be used as seldom as possible. Also avoid using pans and other metal dishes, as well as aluminum foil and any items with metal exterior trim or metal interior components, which may spark fires inside the microwave.