---
title: "Can you…? Straight answers to everyday questions"
description: "Can you microwave styrofoam, freeze cheese, wash memory foam, recycle pizza boxes? Straight verdicts with what actually happens, and what to do instead."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-you/
site: "At One Place"
---

# 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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-aluminum-foil/) — No — No — foil reflects microwaves and the edges arc, which can start a fire.
- [Can you microwave plastic containers?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-plastic-containers/) — It depends — Only ones labeled microwave-safe — cold-storage tubs are not among them.
- [Can you microwave eggs?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-eggs/) — It depends — Beaten or pricked eggs, yes. A whole egg in its shell will explode.
- [Can you microwave Tupperware?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-tupperware/) — It depends — Yes, if that specific piece carries the microwave-safe symbol on its base.
- [Can you microwave paper plates?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave/)

## What you can and cannot freeze

- [Can you freeze cheese?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-milk/) — Yes — Yes — leave headspace for expansion and shake it hard after thawing.
- [Can you freeze eggs?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-eggs/) — It depends — Not in the shell. Beat them first, or freeze whites on their own.
- [Can you freeze bread?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-bread/) — Yes — Yes — freezing is the best way to store bread, far better than the fridge.
- [Can you freeze bananas?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-cooked-rice/) — Yes — Yes, and freezing quickly is the safest way to keep leftover rice.
- [Can you freeze raw chicken twice?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-breast-milk/) — Yes — Yes — freeze it flat in bags, and use within six months for best quality.
- [Can you freeze avocado?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-avocado/) — It depends — Yes, but only as a purée — frozen slices go grey and watery.
- [Can you freeze soup?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-soup/) — It depends — Yes for most soups; cream, milk and potato-based ones separate or go grainy.
- [All 29 "freeze" questions](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze/)

## What you can and cannot machine wash

- [Can you wash pillows?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/wash-sneakers/) — It depends — Canvas and synthetic trainers survive a cold gentle cycle. Leather and suede do not.
- [Can you wash memory foam?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/wash-weighted-blanket/) — It depends — Usually yes, but check the weight — most domestic machines top out around 7 kg dry.
- [Can you wash silk?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/wash-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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/iron-linen/) — Yes — Yes, on high heat with plenty of steam, while the fabric is still damp.
- [Can you iron velvet?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/recycle-batteries/) — It depends — Yes, but only at a collection point. Batteries in a kerbside bin start fires.
- [Can you recycle styrofoam?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/recycle-styrofoam/) — No — Effectively no. Almost no kerbside service takes it, and food-soiled foam never qualifies.
- [Can you recycle coffee cups?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/recycle-coffee-cups/) — It depends — Not in ordinary paper recycling — the plastic lining needs a specialist facility.
- [Can you recycle receipts?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/dishwasher-cast-iron/) — No — No. Dishwasher detergent strips the seasoning and the pan rusts within hours.
- [Can you put knives in the dishwasher?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/dishwasher-knives/) — 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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/dishwasher-non-stick/) — 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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/dishwasher-insulated-bottles/) — 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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/dishwasher-wooden-spoons/) — 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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/compost-citrus/) — It depends — Yes in an ordinary compost heap, in moderation. Not in a wormery.
- [Can you compost meat?](https://atoneplace.net/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?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/boil-water-twice/) — Yes — Yes. Reboiling is harmless — the claims about concentrated toxins do not survive arithmetic.

## Common questions

### How are these answers decided?

Food-safety answers follow the body that publishes the rule — USDA FSIS for food handling, FDA for food-contact materials, EPA for waste. Practical questions with no governing authority are compiled guidance and say so on the page.

### Why do some answers say "it depends"?

Because they genuinely do. Whether you can microwave a container depends on what it is made of, and flattening that into a yes or no would make the page shorter and wrong.