Can you put a paper towel in the microwave?
In today’s kitchen, everyone has a microwave. It’s one of the most convenient ways to heat food up quickly without needing a stove or even an oven.
But if you don’t cover up your food, the microwave can get incredibly dirty. Spaghetti sauce, gravy, baked beans, soup….you name it. You don’t want any of that caked on the walls of your microwave.
So you might ask yourself: can you put a paper towel in the microwave?
Yes, but be careful. If heated for more than several minutes at a time, paper towels can catch on fire. Most paper towels are microwave safe. To reduce the risk of fire, heat your food in two-minute intervals. Avoid folding the paper towel or stacking several paper towels because this can be a fire hazard.
Be careful when taking your food out of the microwave. The towels may absorb liquid from your food and they can get incredibly hot. The bowl may also be hot. Use a couple of paper towels or a hot pad to take the bowl out of the microwave.
If you set paper towels underneath your food in the microwave, make sure they’re on a microwave-safe plate. You probably have this already. It makes cleaning a breeze.
Back in the 1900s, some paper towels had a microwave-safe label on them. Others did not because they contained trace amounts of metal from the manufacturing equipment. Paper towels with trace amounts of metal are more likely to catch fire in the microwave. But today, the vast majority are made without metal and are just fine to use in the microwave.
Covering food with a paper towel is a great way to keep your microwave clean. If your microwave needs a deep clean, check out this article. Also, take a look at our step-by-step guide on how to clean your microwave filters.
Why did my paper towel catch fire in the microwave?
Paper towels can catch fire in the microwave for a few reasons.
- You have 4+ paper towels stacked in the microwave.
- You folded the paper towel.
- It was in the microwave on high for about five minutes or more.
- The paper towel contains a trace amount of metal (this is quite rare).
What does microwaving with a wet paper towel do?
Microwaving with a wet paper towel will help your food heat up evenly. It absorbs heat in the microwave more effectively than a dry paper towel.
Are Bounty paper towels microwave safe?
Yes, Bounty paper towels are microwave safe, according to Bounty’s website. They add that with printed towels, face the ink side up so the ink does not easily get into your food.
How long can you put a paper towel in the microwave?
Don’t microwave a paper towel any longer than five minutes. If you use multiple paper towels or fold your paper towels, use extra caution.
What material cannot be put in the microwave?
Some of the most common materials to not put in the microwave include styrofoam, aluminum foil, paper bags, plastic containers, metal utensils, and plastic utensils that are not microwave-safe. Generally, use caution when microwaving containers that don’t state they are microwave safe.
Can you put a paper towel in the oven?
No, do not put a paper towel in an oven. Paper towels will catch fire quickly when exposed to the intense heat of your oven.
Can you put a paper towel in an air fryer?
No, do not put a paper towel in an air fryer. It restricts the flow of air and your food may not cook evenly. Pieces of the paper towel may end up in the heating element which can start a fire.
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