Microwaves have made our life very easy-going and relaxing. We no longer have to wait for several minutes to simply heat up our food because we have microwaves to our rescue. However, we cannot just put any container or plates inside the oven and heat them. It is important to use only those that are compatible with microwaves. And regarding that, we have always been warned that metals and stainless steel are bad choices. But what about thermos?
Can you put a thermos in the microwave?
Usually, it is recommended not to use thermos in a microwave because they are made of stainless steel. However, a thermos is a little different from other products and is not strictly prohibited. If they are used with the right measures, they can be microwaved safely without causing any damage to the thermos or the oven.
This means we can put thermos in a microwave, and they are less prone to damage than other stainless steel containers. If you are confused about why and what measures to take while using them, refer to the points below.
Microwaving a thermos
Since thermos is the same as stainless steel, they also reflect the radiation produced by the oven and do not absorb them. That very factor makes the electrons of the microwaves get stored in stainless steel containers, especially when they have sharp edges, resulting in excess charged particles that cause arcing released in sparks and crackles.
However, it is less likely that thermos will act in the same way if you follow proper measures. The measures are as follows.
- Thermos comes with lid openings. So, always open the lid of the thermos before putting it in the microwave. That will allow the heat waves to pass through the opening and enter the food.
- Always try to heat up the thermos a bit early with a maintained temperature. Although that will lead to very slow heating, it is safe, and the electrons will not get charged up easily.
Thus, you can safely use a thermos if you keep the lid off. However, the heating process will not be complete as quickly and evenly as it happens in a plastic or a ceramic container.
Why are thermos different and safer?
After learning the above-stated information, you must be wondering why thermos is an exception. Well, there are two specific reasons i.e.
- Even though thermos reflects microwaves like any stainless steel container, they are safer because of the thickness of the metal coating. They are thicker which means, they do not heat up readily like thin layered metals and do not cause any unwanted arc resulting in sparks and fire. Also, thermos takes a lot of time even to heat their interiors, and with its lid open, there are hardly any chances of overheating.
- Another reason why they are preferable is because of their shape and smooth surface. When a product has sharp edges and bumps, the charged particles move up to the corners, which causes arcing very easily. But thermos has a smooth surface with no sharp edges. That reduces the chances of causing any sparks or explosions.
Hence, we can say that thermos can be used in a microwave safely if their lid is kept open. However, it still seems ineffective to use a thermos because it takes up a lot of time to heat up. And above that, there is always a fear regarding the compatibility of stainless steel and microwaves. Therefore, other materials such as plastics and ceramics would be a better choice.
