Can you put glass in the microwave? This question has a maybe yes or maybe no kind of answer to it. Until recently I was under the impression that glass could go in the microwave. It wasn’t until a conversation was brought up that made me do a little bit of research to find out if it was okay to put glass in the microwave.
Glass is a pretty unique material. Did you know that it was made of a heating up sand until it melts at a temperature of 3090 degrees fahrenheit until it turns into a liquid? This inexpensive to make material has come in handy in households all over the world.
Can You Put Glass In The Microwave?
Some types of glass are microwave safe and they will have a symbol on them to let you know that. Certified microwave safe dishes will have a logo on them, generally on the bottom or back.
If the dish doesn’t have a logo and you are only going to put it in the microwave for a short amount of time, then it is most likely okay to do so. You see, glass doesn’t melt and spread bits of chemicals onto your food like plastics does when microwaved.
If the glass feels fragile or cheap then try to avoid putting it in the microwave because it is more likely to shatter.
Can You Microwave Crystal?
Both crystal and glass are very similar. Can you microwave crystal as well?This is something you should not do, especially with older crystal dishes. Even though crystal is transparent just like glass, it has lead in it. This makes your crystal dishes unsafe to be microwaved.
Can You Microwave Glass Cups?
So we know that we should never put our gorgeous crystal cups in the microwave, but what about the glass ones? Can you microwave glass cups? Not all glass is designed to go in the microwave. If the wrong kind goes in then it risks shattering. Can you imagine a glass shattering full of hot liquid?
That doesn’t sound like fun at all. This is why you should always check for a microwave safe label before putting your glass in the microwave. If it doesn’t have a label indicating that it can go in the microwave it’s best not to put it in there because there could be tiny air bubbles in the glass cup. These bubbles expand when heated and will shatter if they expand too much.
Can You Tell If A Glass Is Microwave Safe?
If there isn’t a label and it doesn’t look like there are any air bubbles in your glassware can you tell if a glass is microwave safe? Yes, there is a way that you can do this. If you want to safely test out whether your glass is microwave safe or not then follow these steps:
- Set your microwave’s power to the highest setting.
- Pick out a glass that you already know is microwave safe and fill it with water. Place that glass into the glass dish that you want to test out.
- Put it in the microwave for one minute.
When you take it out you will be able to tell if the dish was microwave safe or not. Here’s how! If the glass dish is warm or hot when you take it out of the microwave then it is not a microwave safe dish. If your dish stays cool but the cup inside of it is heated up then your dish is microwave safe and if the area that is surrounding the cup is slightly warm that is okay as long as the rest of the dish is cool.
Be Careful With Those Rims
A lot of glass cups are lined with a metal or lead rim. Never take the risk of putting those in the microwave, that is just asking for trouble. Metal in microwaves is extremely dangerous because it sparks.
Handle All Glass With Care
Always be safe when using glass in the microwave. Never microwave any glass dish that is frozen. Always give it a chance to thaw because even the microwave safe dishes can shatter when going from frozen to high heats quickly.
Never place a glass with a crack in it in the microwave. The glasses are already more fragile which makes them more likely to shatter once heated. If you want to avoid shattering also make sure you don’t take a glass dish out of the microwave and place it directly onto something that is cold.
Can You Put Glass In The Microwave? Final Thoughts
Yes, as long as you follow the proper safety precautions you can put your glass dishes in the microwave. Just remember to never heat your glass dish for too long in the microwave. If you want to avoid the disasters glass shattering can bring then always look for the microwave safe symbol before heating up that glass dish. Glass is a much more suitable option for reheating your leftovers than a plastic dish. It doesn’t have any harmful chemicals and it won’t melt onto your food. Play it safe and always choose a microwave safe glass dish.
Can you microwave eggnog and sweet potatoes? Read to find out!
