The question “Can You Microwave Wood Bowls” bugs everyone, even me.
Microwaves are versatile cooking appliances preferred for instant and smoking hot dishes.
But the confusion arises when it comes to putting the right container for safer and faster cooking.
Among the brimming choices of chinaware, and microwave-safe plastics, many prefer to cook in wooden cookware and bowls.
And why not?
Wooden cookware not only elevates your kitchen aesthetics but is also a health-friendly cooking alternative without any fear of chemical leaching.
But is wooden cookware safe for microwave cooking?
Let’s get the facts right if you are considering microwaving wooden bowls to serve healthy and steaming treats right on the table.
Can you microwave wooden containers?
Putting wooden containers in the microwave is not a safe thing to do and will tell you why.
You often use wooden cookware like wooden spatula on gas stoves but putting the same in a microwave can lead to a possible fire hazard.
This is because wooden bowls have some moisture content which evaporates as soon you put one inside a preheated cavity.
When the moisture evaporates under intense heat, it causes the bowl to crack and catch fire.
Though the signs of cracking won’t be visible in the very first use or might appear based on the quality of the wood.
But microwaving the same wooden bowl repeatedly has a higher risk of cracking up and catching fire when exposed to extreme heat.
Dangers of putting wooden containers in the microwave
Putting a wooden bowl in a microwave can be dangerous and depends on various following factors:
- The first factor is the quality of the wooden container. Not every wooden bowl is sturdy and made of premium-grade wood. Though thicker wooden bowls to an extent can bear high temperatures and might not flame up easily. But thinner ones are prone to cracking due to high heat.
- Wooden bowls when put for a longer time inside the microwave are prone to flame up easily.
- Inferior quality wooden bowls are glued together which falls apart when you put them in high flames. A result of which the bowl can burst and catch flames.
- Some wooden bowls have resins and coatings for enhanced durability. Microwaving them can lead to chemical leeching in the food when heated.
So, it’s best to avoid microwaving wooden bowls altogether.
What happens to wooden utensils and containers in the microwave?
Putting wooden utensils in a microwave isn’t a safe cooking option as the bowl if kept for a long time can get much hotter and become prone to charring.
Wood is flammable and shouldn’t be exposed to direct heat.
Wooden cookware is prone to drying out faster, causing the surface to crack and leak inside the microwave.
This can create an utter mess inside the microwave and can lead to short circuits.
As mentioned above, some wooden bowls and containers are also glued to join the parts, which can melt in extreme heat and get mixed with your food.
Moreover, as wooden bowls heat up quickly, you have to be very cautious while taking them out to avoid getting a bad burn.
Remember, wooden bowls and containers aren’t specifically microwave-safe, and exposing them for too long in extreme heat is dangerous.
Are there any microwave-safe wooden containers?
Wooden containers are definitely non-toxic than most cookware, and most prefer cooking and eating in wooden bowls.
But, if you are passionately looking for wooden cookware for microwave cooking then unfortunately for your safety no responsible company offers microwave-safe wooden bowls for possible reasons.
It’s best to heat food in microwave-safe cookware such as ceramic and glass than sparking a mishap.
Can I put a wood-cutting board in the microwave?
Putting a wood cutting/chopping board inside a microwave is a common practice to decontaminate the board from bacteria, fungus, and pathogens according to PubMed.
The entire process is easy and is done in just a few seconds.
However, microwaving the wooden chopping board for too long can spark the risk of catching fire.
Can I dry wood in the microwave?
Drying out wood in a microwave is also a common practice especially in DIY carpentry projects as naturally drying a thick piece of wood takes longer time.
Since wood has some moisture content, putting it for long inside the oven may cause the water to evaporate in the form of smoke.
The best and safest way to dry wood in the microwave is to pre-set the oven to its lowest settings or defrost mode.
Now put 3-5 layers of paper below the piece of wood to absorb the moisture and let the wood dry up properly inside out in slow heat.
Wooden utensils are used for serving hot food but not for microwaving food, why?
Wood is not a good conductor of heat.
In a microwave, this can lead to uneven heating of the food, with some parts possibly remaining cold while others get too hot.
Additionally, the wood itself may not heat uniformly, leading to hot spots that could cause burns or further damage to the utensil.
Another reason is depending on the type of wood and the treatment it has undergone (e.g., varnishes, paints, or other finishes), microwaving could potentially cause chemicals to leach into the food.
This could pose a health risk, especially if the wood is not specifically treated to be food-safe.
Long exposure to higher temperatures inside the microwave can cause the bowl to crack and catch fire.
On the other hand, serving hot food in a wooden bowl generally does not damage the bowl, especially if the bowl is well-made and properly cared for.
Wooden bowls are often used for serving hot foods because of their insulating properties and aesthetic appeal.
While wooden bowls can handle the temperature of hot food, extremely high temperatures or direct exposure to heat sources (like placing the bowl on a stove or in a microwave oven) could damage the wood.
The heat from normal serving temperatures of cooked foods is typically not an issue.
Conclusion
Though wooden bowls might appear aesthetically appealing in a kitchen or dinner table, they cannot be used for microwaving dishes.
Wood heats up quickly when left inside a microwave completely unnoticed.
So make informed decisions and always make safer choices when it comes to putting cookware inside a microwave.
Save your wooden bowl to serve your guest that reflects your refined taste and do the cooking in microwave-safe bowls or utensils such as ceramic or glassware.
Hope you now know why you should never microwave wood bowl.
