Microwave safe
What it looks like
A microwave oven outline with wavy lines inside it, or two or three stacked wavy lines on their own, sometimes over a dish.
What it means
The claim is about migration, not durability: the material was tested and did not release constituents into food above the regulatory limit under microwave conditions. It does not promise the container will not warp, that the lid can stay sealed, or that the plastic will survive repeated use. Fatty and sugary foods matter here because they reach well above 100 °C locally, far hotter than the water-based food most testing assumes, which is why a tub that handles soup fine can distort with curry or melted cheese. Any metal — a foil-lined lid, a metallic trim, a rivet — makes the container unsafe regardless of the symbol, and there is no such thing as a microwave-safe melamine bowl.
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 |
|---|---|
| Do not microwave | Do not heat this container 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 microwave safe symbol mean?
- The maker states the material is suitable for heating food in a microwave.
- What does it look like?
- A microwave oven outline with wavy lines inside it, or two or three stacked wavy lines on their own, sometimes over a dish.
Related pages
- Do not microwave Do not heat this container in a microwave.
- Plastic 5 — PP (polypropylene) Polypropylene — yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, takeaway containers, bottle caps, microwave dishes, kettles.
- Food safe (glass and fork) The article is intended to come into contact with food.
- Dishwasher safe The item survives a normal dishwasher cycle. Some versions specify the top rack only.
- Do not microwave Do not heat this container 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.
Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration — FDA (Public domain (US Government))