DON’T START A FIRE IN YOUR KITCHEN: Here are 10 Things You Should Never Heat in the Microwave

A microwave will heat up your food in a few seconds, help to defrost frozen food, thicken your watery pap gone wrong and even cook your noodles. It seems it can heat up almost anything but hey sir, hey ma! It can’t handle everything! It can go haywire and may explode in flames if you are not careful.

Here are 10 things that will make your microwave go crazy should you ever try putting them in the microwave.

  Metal utensils, Cookware, or Containers

Metal cutlery, metal plates or plates with metal on the rim, even travel mugs are examples of metal. Apart from the fact that it will be too hot when it comes out, metal is a fire starter (any metal put in the microwave will cause “Wahala”).

  Paper and Plastic bag

Paper bags release toxins and may burst into flames if too hot in the microwave. Keep paper bags, Chinese take away packs, plastic bags (nylon bags) and newspaper out of the microwave.

  Yoghurt/Margarine Containers

They are intended for one-time use, re-use for other things but don’t use these containers to microwave food. The plastic can melt and release chemical into your food.

   Plastic containers

Just like above, not all plastics are safe to use in the microwave. Use only those marked microwave safe or BPA free. 

Eggs with shell

Do not use the microwave to boil eggs, and be careful when using to warm already boiled eggs. You will not only receive a big splash on your face when you open the door of the microwave, but also going to have a big mess to clean up. All the sudden heat will cause boiled egg to collapse and you have nothing left to eat except the one on your face.

  Aluminium foil

Maybe it was used to wrap your Suya, Sandwiches, or Shawarma; Put food in a ceramic plate before you microwave. Foil is metal, so don’t wait till you hear that pop sound that will go up in flames.

  Hot pepper; Ata rodo (Scotch bonnet), Habanero pepper, Chilli pepper

The juice in the pepper will sting your eyes and can end up in flames if it bursts.

   

Fruits

Not all fruits can withstand heat, allow frozen fruits to thaw on its own. The extreme heat in the microwave will cause the juice in the fruit to shrink and may burst and then can catch fire (end up in flames).

   Styrofoam

Just coming from Sweet sensation, KFC or Tastee?  Put that Jollof rice and peppered chicken on a ceramic plate to microwave it. Styrofoam is a kind of plastic and has the same effect as plastic.

  NOTHING

Heating up nothing can damage your microwave.

Have you ever had a microwave disaster? Share your story.

You may also like:

Household tip: The Blender 

KEEPCALM! No Power supply? No fuel? Here are Five simple Household tips you can doto help the situation.