Microwave Oven Safety

To some, the topic of microwave oven safety may sound silly. But in reality, people all over world burn food, burn themselves, and cause kitchen accidents due to improper use of the microwave oven. The tips I will share with you below may seem rather simple, but I can assure you they will help prevent many kitchen accidents if you just apply basic safety precautions.

The first safety tip is to ensure that you do not put anything metal in the microwave. This may include foil, twist-ties, plates, cups, and bowls. Many accidents happen with coffee cups or mugs that contain metal in the rim that many users are not even aware of the design. Another accident that is common is microwaving condiment packages when reheating fast food. When metal is in the microwave, it causes sparks resulting in a damaged microwave unit or worse, a kitchen fire.

Another microwave oven accident is using food containers that are not microwave safe. Most manufactures today will clearly advertise and mark their containers as microwave safe. If there is no mark on the container, I recommend not using it. There is however a procedure you can use to test glass bowls to see if the bowl is safe to use. Put the bowl in the microwave oven empty. Microwave the bowl for one minute. When you pull the bowl out, check to see how hot the bowl is to the touch. The bowl is not safe for use if it is really warm or hot. If the bowl is lukewarm, it is safe to reheat food items, and if the bowl is cool to the touch, it is safe to use for cooking food items.

When cooking food items in your microwave, be aware of the suggested cooking times suggested by the manufacturer. Remember that each microwave is different and cooking times will vary. So until you get use to cooking your favorite food items, keep an eye on your food to learn the cooking times. When cooking food in a microwave oven that has a carousel, ensure that nothing hinders the carousel from spinning. Some food items will not cook evenly and often burn if not rotated.

When cooking with a microwave oven, just keep an eye and ear on your food and practice the above-mentioned safety practices to ensure years of happy reheating experiences.

To read more about microwave ovens, please visit Best Microwave Oven. Also, if you are interested in learning about one of the top microwave units on the market, please read more about the Panasonic NN-H765BF.