Are Wooden Bowls and Skewers Safe In The Microwave
There are plenty of wooden dishes and utensils in the average kitchen, so you’re bound to get into a situation where you’re wondering if it’s safe to microwave them.
You may want to reheat your skewered kebab from last night in the microwave or reheat some food in your favorite wooden bowl. But is it safe to do so?
Read on to find the answer to the question, can you microwave wooden bowls and skewers?
Can You Microwave Wooden Bowls?
Generally speaking, wood is definitely not safe to microwave. There are some exceptions to this, but wooden bowls aren’t one of them.
Microwaving a wooden bowl for any more than 10 to 15 seconds is dangerous, and can be damaging to the bowl, your food, and the microwave itself.
That said, give any wooden dishes or bowls in your kitchen a wide berth from your microwave.
Why Is Wood Not Microwave-Safe?
There are several reasons why you shouldn’t microwave wood, including:
Water Content in Wood
Microwaves heat things up by rapidly heating their water content. The water content in wooden objects, such as bowls, makes them rise in temperature dramatically in a very short period of time, making them incredibly hot and hazardous to touch.
This sudden temperature rise can lead to your bowl cracking into pieces. Even if your bowl doesn’t crack right then and there, it’s still damaged.
When the water content that was activated by the heat dries out as the wood’s temperature drops, wood can become brittle or warped.
There’s also the risk of your bowl catching fire, this risk is more significant the thinner your bowl is.
Melting Glue in Wood
Another issue that can arise stems from the fact that not all wooden objects are crafted from one piece of wood; they’re often made of several pieces that are glued together to create the desired shape, whether it be a bowl or a utensil.
If that’s the case for your wooden bowl, heating it in a microwave can cause the glue holding it together to melt.
Besides the obvious effect that your bowl will fall apart, harmful chemicals from the melting glue may seep into your food.
Are Wooden Skewers Microwave-Safe?
Wooden skewers are a rare exception when it comes to the safety of microwaving wooden objects.
They’re safe to heat in a microwave without worrying about damaging the appliance or harmful chemicals seeping into your food.
Don’t forget to put your skewered kebabs on a microwave-safe plate, though!
Although the risk of wooden skewers catching fire in a microwave is virtually non-existent, you should still not keep them in there for an extended period of time.
To stay on the safe side, don’t keep skewers in the microwave for any more than 2 to 3 minutes.
In addition, you may have heard that skewers should be soaked in water before applying heat to them. This only applies when grilling, not microwaving.