---
title: "Do not microwave — what it means"
description: "Do not heat this container in a microwave. What the symbol looks like, what happens if you ignore it, and where its meaning differs by country."
url: https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-do-not-microwave/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Do not microwave

**Do not microwave: Do not heat this container in a microwave.**

## What it looks like

*[Symbol drawn on the page: Do not microwave]*

The microwave or wavy-lines symbol with a cross through it.

## What it means

Melamine is the usual reason on tableware: it absorbs microwave energy directly, gets hot enough to craze and can release melamine and formaldehyde into food. Metal trim, foil linings and crystal with lead content are the others, and single-use PET trays soften and collapse. Note that a container carrying no microwave symbol at all is not the same as one carrying this — absence of a claim is common on cheap packaging and simply means untested.

> Defined by EU Regulation 10/2011 / FDA food contact notification. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.

## Other cookware and containers symbols

| Symbol | Means |
| --- | --- |
| Microwave safe | The maker states the material is suitable for heating food in a microwave. |
| Dishwasher safe | The item survives a normal dishwasher cycle. Some versions specify the top rack only. |
| Not dishwasher safe — hand wash only | Wash this by hand. |
| Oven safe | The item can go in a conventional oven, up to the stated temperature if one is given. |
| Not oven safe | Do not put this in a conventional oven. |
| Freezer safe | The container can be used in a freezer without cracking or failing. |
| Induction compatible | The pan has a ferromagnetic base and will work on an induction hob. |
| BPA free | The item contains no bisphenol A. It is a marketing claim, not a certification. |
| Do not use metal utensils | Use wood, silicone or nylon tools with this surface. |

## Common questions

### What does the do not microwave symbol mean?

Do not heat this container in a microwave.

### What does it look like?

The microwave or wavy-lines symbol with a cross through it.

## Related pages

- [Microwave safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-microwave-safe/)
- [Plastic 6 — PS (polystyrene)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-6-ps/)
- [Plastic 1 — PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-1-pet/)
- [Microwave safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-microwave-safe/)
- [Dishwasher safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-dishwasher-safe/)
- [Not dishwasher safe — hand wash only](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-not-dishwasher-safe/)
- [Oven safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-oven-safe/)
- [Not oven safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-do-not-oven/)
- [Freezer safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-freezer-safe/)
- [Induction compatible](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-induction/)
- [BPA free](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-bpa-free/)
- [Do not use metal utensils](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-no-metal-utensils/)

## Sources

- US Food and Drug Administration — FDA (https://www.fda.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]