Q: The question might be quite silly but is it possible to microwave paper boxes, bags and coffee cups? Is paper on the list of things which are prohibited to put in the microwave oven? I saw a video on YouTube where a guy microwaves paper and nothing happens. I wonder if it’s not cut and assembled.
Can You Microwave Paper?
Paper is obviously one of the things that can cause real problems when putting in the microwave oven.
Paper bags, cups, containers, and boxes can’t go in the microwave oven for one simple reason – they may catch fire.
Present day technology enables the production of loads of paper things that we use in our everyday life. Paper napkins, towels, cups, food containers, waxed paper for baking, popcorn special paper bags, even paper plates, and towels.
Can all of them go in the microwave oven or is strictly prohibited to put any paper things in the microwave oven?
What Kinds of Paper Are Microwave-Safe?
Some of the papers can really be used in the microwave oven. So what are the three microwave-safe types of paper?
- Waxed paper
- White paper towels
- Parchment paper
Avoid microwaving your morning newspaper, toilet paper (why would you need that?), or other regular paper bags that you might bring your food in from a supermarket.
The containers like coffee cups, yogurt trays, margarine wraps, milk packets, or ice-cream covers are not microwave-safe. They were never predestined to be put in the microwave oven for whatever reason it might be.
All of the above-mentioned paper things are produced to be used one time, so make sure that you throw them out after using.
How Do I Know That My Paper is Microwave-Safe?
If you were lucky to buy or order some food in a paper box or packet, and you feel an urgent need to microwave it before eating, alright: twist it and take a closer look at the signs.
Obviously, if a container or a bottle, or a paper box is microwave-safe, they will have a specific icon telling you that the microwave oven is not a dangerous place for this kind of things.
- A little cup and fork design mean that the paper is safe for food
- A snowflake means that you can put this paper in a freezer
- Waves or up and down lines mean that this paper is safe to use in the microwave oven
Why is Parchment Paper Good for Microwave Ovens?
Now we are going to tell you a few lifehacks of how to use parchment paper with your microwave oven.
Parchment paper is a lifesaver when making cookies which always stick to the mold. Parchment paper will never let it happen.
Even the thinnest cookies will be perfectly separated from the mold if you use parchment paper while cooking.
Also, your microwave oven will tell you thanks if you cover your dishes with parchment paper instead of a paper towel. Although paper towels do not catch fire in the microwave oven, they are not good for fighting splatter.
And the parchment paper is right there to save you from the additional work on cleaning the mess after microwaving.
Have you ever wondered how to keep your piece of pizza crispy after microwaving?
You might not even imagine that it’s that easy. Take a piece of parchment paper, and place your pizza on it, or wrap it.
What Happens If I Microwave a Regular Copy Paper?
We still recommend that you do not experiment with your microwave oven and stay safe and sound.
Yet if you want to know what others did to their office microwave oven and a sheet of copy paper during lunch, here’s the answer.
Microwaving a sheet of white copy paper during 30 to 60 seconds at the highest power resulted in a little warm sheet of office paper. No fire was caught.
To sum up, microwave parchment paper and white paper towels, and avoid microwaving copy paper or other paper containers if you are not 100% sure that they are microwave-safe.
