Glass containers are something that every household has. They are the most common and convenient products when it concerns storing food, cooking, or even heating them. However, when it comes to microwaving, we should be a little more careful. We know all materials are not microwave-safe, especially metals. So, what about the glass container you are using to store food?
Is glass microwave safe?
Yes, most glassware is microwave safe and can be used in an oven to cook or heat food. However, that is not true for all. Make sure to look for the microwave-safe label in a glass container to ensure there are no chances of them shattering or damaging themselves. Otherwise, you can also run a quick test at your own risk to check its compatibility with a microwave.
If you are still wondering why not all glasses are the same and which glasses to use in a microwave, refer to the points discussed below.
Microwave-safe glass
When we talk about glass and microwaves, it is commonly seen that they are very compatible. We see many food channels where chefs use huge glass containers in a microwave to bake, and there is no damage reported. Well, that is only the case when the glass is specifically made to be microwave-safe.
Some glasses are manufactured in a particular way to be highly heat resistant and stable enough to not shatter or break under high temperatures. Glassware products, such as Pyrex, can be heated up to 1000 degrees Celcius, and they still won’t damage themselves. These types of glasses are made with high penetrability, stable structure, and chemical properties that make them durable and microwave-safe.
But what happens when you put a normal glass in an oven? The main reason why normal glasses are not compatible is that they have trapped air bubbles in them. During their manufacturing, air bubbles are trapped in them, which have a very high chance of expanding when set under high heat temperatures. And when that happens, after a certain point of expansion, the glass will break or shatter, which can be very dangerous and harmful.
Therefore, it is necessary to check whether a glass is microwave-safe to avoid damage.
How to check if a glass is microwave safe?
Interestingly, there are several ways of checking whether a glass is microwave-safe or not. The first way, of course, is to look for any microwave-safe logos or labels imprinted in the glass product. Usually, they are present at the bottom of the containers. If the symbol is there, then you can most assuredly use that for microwaving without any worries.
Now, if your glass container does not have a logo, you can still check its compatibility. You just need to follow one step.
Put the glassware in the microwave and heat it under low heat. After a few seconds, if the inside of the glass heats up and the outside remains cool, they are microwave-safe. And if the inside of the glass is cold and the outside surface is burning up, put them out right away and never use them in the microwave again.
Thus, we see that glass is not the worst material to use in a microwave. But prevention is always better than cure.
