Can you…?

83 straight answers to the questions people ask mid-task. Each one leads with the verdict, then explains what actually happens and what to do instead when the answer is no.

What you can and cannot microwave

• Can you microwave styrofoam? It depends — Only if the container is labeled microwave-safe, and most takeout foam is not.
• Can you microwave aluminum foil? No — No — foil reflects microwaves and the edges arc, which can start a fire.
• Can you microwave plastic containers? It depends — Only ones labeled microwave-safe — cold-storage tubs are not among them.
• Can you microwave eggs? It depends — Beaten or pricked eggs, yes. A whole egg in its shell will explode.
• Can you microwave Tupperware? It depends — Yes, if that specific piece carries the microwave-safe symbol on its base.
• Can you microwave paper plates? It depends — Plain white paper plates are fine; anything with metallic trim or a foam layer is not.
• Can you microwave metal? No — No — metal reflects microwaves, arcs at edges, and can damage the oven or start a fire.
• Can you microwave breast milk? No — No — microwaves create hot spots that scald a baby even when the bottle feels cool.
• Can you microwave takeout containers? It depends — Only if the container is marked microwave-safe — most are not, and metal-handled ones never are.
• Can you microwave cardboard? It depends — Plain dry cardboard is usually fine briefly; anything with glue, staples, wax or foil is not.
• All 26 "microwave" questions

What you can and cannot freeze

• Can you freeze cheese? It depends — Yes, and it stays safe indefinitely — but hard cheese comes out crumbly and soft cheese comes out wet.
• Can you freeze milk? Yes — Yes — leave headspace for expansion and shake it hard after thawing.
• Can you freeze eggs? It depends — Not in the shell. Beat them first, or freeze whites on their own.
• Can you freeze bread? Yes — Yes — freezing is the best way to store bread, far better than the fridge.
• Can you freeze bananas? Yes — Yes — peel and slice them first, because the peel turns black and welds itself on.
• Can you freeze cooked rice? Yes — Yes, and freezing quickly is the safest way to keep leftover rice.
• Can you freeze raw chicken twice? It depends — Only if it thawed in the fridge and never got above 4 °C (40 °F).
• Can you freeze breast milk? Yes — Yes — freeze it flat in bags, and use within six months for best quality.
• Can you freeze avocado? It depends — Yes, but only as a purée — frozen slices go grey and watery.
• Can you freeze soup? It depends — Yes for most soups; cream, milk and potato-based ones separate or go grainy.
• All 29 "freeze" questions

What you can and cannot machine wash

• Can you wash pillows? It depends — Down and polyester pillows wash fine. Memory foam and latex must never go in the machine.
• Can you wash sneakers in the washing machine? It depends — Canvas and synthetic trainers survive a cold gentle cycle. Leather and suede do not.
• Can you wash memory foam? No — No. Memory foam disintegrates in a washing machine and cannot be dried through.
• Can you wash a weighted blanket? It depends — Usually yes, but check the weight — most domestic machines top out around 7 kg dry.
• Can you wash silk? It depends — Hand wash cold with a pH-neutral detergent. Never use biological powder or hot water.
• Can you wash wool? It depends — Yes, cold and without agitation. Heat plus movement is what felts it, not water alone.
• Can you wash stuffed animals? It depends — Most wash fine in a pillowcase on cold gentle. Anything with electronics or glued parts does not.
• Can you wash a down jacket? Yes — Yes, and you should — but it must be tumble dried with dryer balls or the down stays clumped.

What you can and cannot iron

• Can you iron polyester? It depends — Yes on the low synthetic setting, inside out, with a cloth between iron and fabric.
• Can you iron linen? Yes — Yes, on high heat with plenty of steam, while the fabric is still damp.
• Can you iron velvet? No — No. Pressing crushes the pile flat and it does not come back.

What you can and cannot recycle

• Can you recycle pizza boxes? It depends — Clean parts yes, grease-soaked parts no — tear the box and bin the oily half.
• Can you recycle plastic bags? It depends — Not in kerbside bins. They need a store drop-off point that takes soft plastic film.
• Can you recycle batteries? It depends — Yes, but only at a collection point. Batteries in a kerbside bin start fires.
• Can you recycle styrofoam? No — Effectively no. Almost no kerbside service takes it, and food-soiled foam never qualifies.
• Can you recycle coffee cups? It depends — Not in ordinary paper recycling — the plastic lining needs a specialist facility.
• Can you recycle receipts? No — No. Most receipts are thermal paper coated with BPA or BPS and must go in general waste.
• Can you recycle shredded paper? It depends — Often not loose — short fibres fall through the sorting screens. Bag it or check locally.

What can and cannot go in the dishwasher

• Can you put cast iron in the dishwasher? No — No. Dishwasher detergent strips the seasoning and the pan rusts within hours.
• Can you put knives in the dishwasher? No — No, if you care about the edge. Heat, detergent and knocking all dull and damage it.
• Can you put non-stick pans in the dishwasher? It depends — Only if the maker says so, and it still shortens the coating life considerably.
• Can you put an insulated bottle in the dishwasher? It depends — Only if it says dishwasher safe. Older vacuum flasks can lose their vacuum and stop insulating.
• Can you put wooden spoons in the dishwasher? No — No. Prolonged soaking and heat raise the grain, then crack and split the wood.

What you can and cannot reheat

• Can you reheat rice? It depends — Yes, once, if it was cooled fast and refrigerated within an hour. Otherwise throw it away.
• Can you reheat chicken? Yes — Yes, to 74 °C (165 °F) throughout. Reheating more than once is where the risk creeps in.

What you can and cannot compost

• Can you compost citrus peel? It depends — Yes in an ordinary compost heap, in moderation. Not in a wormery.
• Can you compost meat? No — Not in a home heap. It attracts vermin and rarely gets hot enough to be safe.

Boiling questions

• Can you boil water twice? Yes — Yes. Reboiling is harmless — the claims about concentrated toxins do not survive arithmetic.