The Mistakes You Make Every Time You Use the Microwave

Despite being built for piping hot drinks, paper coffee cups can’t withstand the heat of the microwave. The extreme temperatures can cause the glue to loosen and the cup to leak.

If heated long enough, the cups can even light on fire, according to a popular manufacturer. Turns out, that warning on the bottom of your Starbucks cup is serious.

Instead, transfer your drink into a microwave-safe ceramic or glass mug. Even better? Use a reusable insulated mug every time you buy coffee or fill up at the office. No zapping required.

Related: 8 Ways You’re Ruining the Health Perks Of Your Coffee 

It may seem like a great use of time to busy yourself with other things while you microwave, but leaving food unattended, especially popcorn, can lead to overheated food and even fires according to the National Institutes of Health.

You don’t have to press your face against the window, but stay close enough to open the door quickly if necessary.

Keep an eye on your food and never be the office person who burned the popcorn again.

Related: The 5 Worst Grilling Mistakes

Putting plastic in the microwave is contentious. There are reports warning about leaching chemicals and statements from the FDA that some plastics are “microwave safe.”

However, a recent study found that almost all commercially available plastic containers leach detectable amounts of hormone-disrupting chemicals like BPA and BPA substitutes when exposed to microwaving, boiling water, and sunlight.

In some cases, products marked BPA-free released more hormone disrupting chemicals than their counterparts made with BPA. (Here are the 4 Most Dangerous Types Of Plastic.) 

Whether you use plastic containers marked microwave-safe is up to you, but no matter what, don’t microwave containers that are not explicitly marked. 

Plastic storage containers like yogurt cups, take-out containers, and margarine tubs can melt, warp, and potentially leach harmful chemicals. Any container that originally held cold or frozen food is unsafe to microwave unless it explicitly says otherwise.

What about plastic wrap? While the USDA recommends that plastic wrap marked microwave-safe should not touch food when microwaving, it may be best to just avoid it all together. You won’t have to worry about potential leaching and you will reduce harmful plastic waste. 

Related: Is There BPA In Your Food? This Simple Tool Can Tell You

While most compostable containers are microwave safe, not so fast with recycled paper products like plates and napkins.

Many recycled products, including waxed paper, may contain small metal flecks that can cause sparks or flames when microwaved.

Always check the package before putting single-use products in the microwave to ensure they are safe.

Related: 9 Microwave Hacks That Make Your Food Taste Amazing

The microwave warms food unevenly—water molecules heat up quickly, but they only penetrate an inch and a half at most.

This means that your food is often scalding on the outside and cold or frozen in the middle. It also means that foods with high water content, such as vegetables, heat faster than other foods like meat.

Related: The Best Way to Reheat Every Kind Of Leftover

Not only is this a terrible dining experience, but it can also be dangerous. Cold spots allow harmful bacteria to survive.

Stirring and/or rotating partway through microwaving ensures that your food is equally heated and safe to eat.

It will also cut down on how long you have to microwave your food to get it heated all the way through. (And make sure you Never Microwave These 8 Things.) 

When your stomach is growling, staring at your food for a couple minutes without taking a bite sounds like pure torture.

But standing time is an important part of properly cooking or reheating with a microwave. Microwaves make water, sugar, and fat molecules vibrate a whopping 2.5 million times per second.

All that vibration is what creates heat. The molecules keep moving and producing heat even after the microwave stops.

Related: 8 Mistakes You’re Making Every Time You Wash Dishes

Standing time lets these molecules slowly come to a halt and finish the cooking process. Dense foods like meat rely on standing time after microwaving to cook all the way through and reach the proper temperature.

Respect the good vibrations. Be sure to always read the directions and heed the standing or resting time to ensure proper cooking. The USDA recommends using a thermometer to make sure that meat is safely cooked before eating. 

It’s easy to hit the express minute button and be done with it, but microwaves have different power levels for a reason. Not all foods cook properly at high power.

While tender foods with a high water content like vegetables cook best at full power, dense foods like meats and cheese can get tough or unevenly cooked, according to the USDA.

Related: The Best Cooking Hacks For Men

Instead, cook or defrost dense foods, especially large cuts of meat, on medium power (around 50 percent of total output) for a longer amount of time. This makes it possible to defrost or cook the center of the food without overcooking the outside. 

Related: 5 Vegetables That Are Healthier Cooked Than Raw

Sorry, but your sleeves don’t count. Hot containers, their contents, and the steam can all cause painful burns according to the National Institutes of Health.

Children are especially at risk—a recent study found that nearly 11,000 children between the ages of 1-4 years were treated in the emergency department for microwave-related burns between 2002 and 2012.

Always use an oven mitt to retrieve your food and carefully set it down. 

Related: The Only 5 Tools a Man Needs In His Kitchen

Even if you aren’t cooking a full roast in the microwave, it’s important to make sure your food is thoroughly heated to a safe temperature.

While this is especially crucial for cooking raw fish, eggs, and meat, it’s also true for all foods that you’re reheating. The World Health Organization recommends heating all foods to at least 158°F.

Related: The 3 Secrets Of High-Heat Cooking

Lukewarm or cold bite? Not hot enough. If you can immediately take a comfortable bite after microwaving, it needs to go back in.

Foam trays and plastic wraps should not be microwaved, even if you’re just defrosting. 

Food packaging is often not microwave safe or stable at high temperatures. These materials can warp, melt, or leach harmful chemicals like BPA into food according to the USDA. 

Plastic storage bags, brown paper bags, and aluminum foil are also unsafe. Always check the package to see if it’s microwave safe before popping it in. 

Related: 9 Foods You Should Never Keep In Your Refrigerator

While rare, it’s possible to superheat water and cause it to erupt or violently boil over when moved or stirred. 

This happens when water or another liquid is heated higher than its 212°F boiling point. The liquid will initially have a smooth surface and then erupt or boil over when the cup is moved or something like a spoon or instant coffee is added to the water.

Cooking in short intervals, stirring partway through, using a cup with sloped walls, and leaving a microwavable spoon or stirrer in the cup can all help prevent superheating.

Related: 6 Kitchen Mistakes You’ve Been Making Your Whole Life

Just because you shouldn’t use plastic wrap to cover your dish doesn’t mean you should leave it uncovered.

Control the splatter: Pop a plate or a reusable napkin over your food to prevent a mess. A plate or upside down bowl will help trap the heat, raise the temperature, and speed uniform cooking.

Just make sure that your cover can still vent some steam. You can also use microwave-safe napkins or paper plates to prevent splatter if you don’t have reusable options on hand.

(Made a mess? Here’s The Best Way to Clean Your Microwave.) 

The article 12 Mistakes You're Making Every Time You Use Your Microwave originally ran on RodalesOrganicLife.com.