--- title: "What you can and cannot microwave" description: "26 straight answers about what you can microwave, each with what actually happens and what to do instead when the answer is no." url: https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave/ site: "At One Place" --- # What you can and cannot microwave 26 questions about what you can microwave — 4 yes, 9 no, and 13 that genuinely depend on the specifics. | Question | Answer | Short version | | --- | --- | --- | | styrofoam | It depends | Only if the container is labeled microwave-safe, and most takeout foam is not. | | aluminum foil | No | No — foil reflects microwaves and the edges arc, which can start a fire. | | plastic containers | It depends | Only ones labeled microwave-safe — cold-storage tubs are not among them. | | eggs | It depends | Beaten or pricked eggs, yes. A whole egg in its shell will explode. | | tupperware | It depends | Yes, if that specific piece carries the microwave-safe symbol on its base. | | paper plates | It depends | Plain white paper plates are fine; anything with metallic trim or a foam layer is not. | | metal | No | No — metal reflects microwaves, arcs at edges, and can damage the oven or start a fire. | | breast milk | No | No — microwaves create hot spots that scald a baby even when the bottle feels cool. | | takeout containers | It depends | Only if the container is marked microwave-safe — most are not, and metal-handled ones never are. | | cardboard | It depends | Plain dry cardboard is usually fine briefly; anything with glue, staples, wax or foil is not. | | glass | It depends | Yes for ordinary heatproof glass; no for leaded crystal, and never straight from the freezer. | | water | It depends | Yes, but very clean water can superheat and erupt when you move the cup. | | ceramic | It depends | Yes for plain glazed ceramic; no if it has metallic trim or is unglazed and porous. | | plastic wrap | It depends | Only wrap labeled microwave-safe, and it must not touch the food. | | frozen food | Yes | Yes — but cook it straight away, because microwave defrosting warms the edges. | | mason jars | No | No — canning jars are soda-lime glass, not heatproof, and the metal lid arcs. | | grapes | No | Physically yes, and it makes plasma — which is exactly why you should not. | | plastic bags | It depends | Only bags sold as microwave or steam bags — sandwich and freezer bags are not rated for it. | | stainless steel | No | No — it blocks the microwaves entirely and the rim will arc. | | parchment paper | Yes | Yes — parchment is silicone-coated and microwave-safe. Wax paper is not, and neither is foil-backed paper. | | paper towels | Yes | Yes — plain white paper towel is microwave-safe as a cover, but keep runs short. | | mcdonald's containers | No | No — the cartons, wrappers and cups are not made for reheating, and some have foil layers. | | paper coffee cups | No | No — the plastic lining and the glued seam are not made for reheating. | | cans | No | No — a metal can shields the food, arcs, and a sealed one can burst. | | milk | Yes | Yes — heat it in short bursts and stir, or it boils over and catches at the edges. | | raw chicken | It depends | Yes, if you cover it, rotate it, and check 74 °C (165 °F) in the thickest part. | ## Read the full answer - [Can you microwave styrofoam?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-styrofoam/) — 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 — 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/) — Only ones labeled microwave-safe — cold-storage tubs are not among them. - [Can you microwave eggs?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-eggs/) — Beaten or pricked eggs, yes. A whole egg in its shell will explode. - [Can you microwave Tupperware?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-tupperware/) — 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/) — 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 — 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 — 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/) — 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/) — Plain dry cardboard is usually fine briefly; anything with glue, staples, wax or foil is not. - [Can you microwave glass?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-glass/) — Yes for ordinary heatproof glass; no for leaded crystal, and never straight from the freezer. - [Can you microwave water?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-water/) — Yes, but very clean water can superheat and erupt when you move the cup. - [Can you microwave ceramic?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-ceramic/) — Yes for plain glazed ceramic; no if it has metallic trim or is unglazed and porous. - [Can you microwave plastic wrap?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-plastic-wrap/) — Only wrap labeled microwave-safe, and it must not touch the food. - [Can you microwave frozen food?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-frozen-food/) — Yes — but cook it straight away, because microwave defrosting warms the edges. - [Can you microwave mason jars?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-mason-jars/) — No — canning jars are soda-lime glass, not heatproof, and the metal lid arcs. - [Can you microwave grapes?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-grapes/) — Physically yes, and it makes plasma — which is exactly why you should not. - [Can you microwave plastic bags?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-plastic-bags/) — Only bags sold as microwave or steam bags — sandwich and freezer bags are not rated for it. - [Can you microwave stainless steel?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-stainless-steel/) — No — it blocks the microwaves entirely and the rim will arc. - [Can you microwave parchment paper?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-parchment-paper/) — Yes — parchment is silicone-coated and microwave-safe. Wax paper is not, and neither is foil-backed paper. - [Can you microwave paper towels?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-paper-towels/) — Yes — plain white paper towel is microwave-safe as a cover, but keep runs short. - [Can you microwave McDonald's containers?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-mcdonalds-containers/) — No — the cartons, wrappers and cups are not made for reheating, and some have foil layers. - [Can you microwave a paper coffee cup?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-paper-coffee-cups/) — No — the plastic lining and the glued seam are not made for reheating. - [Can you microwave a can?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-cans/) — No — a metal can shields the food, arcs, and a sealed one can burst. - [Can you microwave milk?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-milk/) — Yes — heat it in short bursts and stir, or it boils over and catches at the edges. - [Can you microwave raw chicken?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-raw-chicken/) — Yes, if you cover it, rotate it, and check 74 °C (165 °F) in the thickest part.