Home Living8 foods you should avoid cooking in a microwaveDon’t put these foods in your microwave!When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home Living8 foods you should avoid cooking in a microwaveDon’t put these foods in your microwave!When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Don’t put these foods in your microwave!
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Amazon)
(Image credit: Amazon)
Thebest microwavesare a kitchen staple in many households. They make cooking and reheating foods far easier and quicker than other methods, saving you time and producing versatile tasty meals. But from potential food explosions and nasty bacterial growth to unappetising flavours and textures, there are some foods that you should definitely avoid cooking in a microwave.
Before we get into the full list which isonlygoing to concentrate on food, it’s worth noting that there are other food-related items that should never be placed in a microwave. For example, aluminium foil, takeaway containers, Styrofoam, paper bags and metal cookware are all materials that shouldn’t go in a microwave, as they could catch on fire, release chemical toxins and burn you when you go to take it out. So, please keep this in mind when you go to microwave something.
Now that’s been established, here are 8 foods you shouldn’t cook in a microwave. For more food advice, take a look at foods you should never cook in anair fryer, on abarbecue, in anInstant Pot, in anon-stick panand in aslow cooker.
1. Fish
(Image credit: Ca Creative / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Ca Creative / Unsplash)
Kicking off this list is fish and seafood. We’ve all been there when someone’s brought leftover fish to the office and stunk out the shared kitchen with overpowering fishy smells. But, it’s not just the smell that should put you off putting fish in a microwave. As fish and seafood are quite delicate, they don’t fare well in a microwave as the heat dries them out and makes them tough and rubbery. Of course, there are recipes out there that recommend cooking fish in a microwave but if you’re reheating flaky fish, you run the risk of affecting the texture and flavour.
2. Chicken
(Image credit: JK Sloan / Unsplash)
(Image credit: JK Sloan / Unsplash)
Cooking raw chicken or reheating cooked chicken in a microwave is best to be avoided. Can it be done? Technically yes, but it’s not the most safe or conducive way to cook chicken properly. Putting raw chicken in a microwave can cook it unevenly, leaving cold spots in places and allowing bacteria to grow there. As chicken needs to reach a specific internal temperature to kill bacteria, not doing this can result in some parts of the chicken being cooked whereas other parts won’t be, which is dangerous to eat and can cause food poisoning, particularly Salmonella. According toMedical News Today, many cases of Salmonella have been linked to cooking chicken in a microwave, so you’re better off using thebest ovenor other traditional cooking methods. While you can reheat cooked chicken in a microwave, leaving it in for too long can cause it to dry out, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on it.
3. Frozen & processed meat
(Image credit: Phiraphon Srithakae / Pexels)
(Image credit: Phiraphon Srithakae / Pexels)
Many microwaves have defrost settings so yes, you can technically put frozen meat in the microwave. Butone downside to cooking frozen meat in the microwaveis that it doesn’t always cook unevenly, meaning you have some parts boiling hot, other parts lukewarm and a few cold spots. As the cooking hasn’t got rid of all bacteria from the food, this can cause food poisoning. Processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and deli meats shouldn’t go in your microwave either, as reheating them can lead to the production of cholesterol oxidation products or COPs. According toMashed, COPs can be more harmful to arterial cells than pure cholesterol and are more directly connected to heart disease.
4. Hard boiled eggs
(Image credit: Morgane Perraud / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Morgane Perraud / Unsplash)
Many people love to make scrambled eggs in a microwave, but hard boiled eggs should be avoided at all costs. The heat from the microwave creates steam inside the egg’s shell and the pressure will likely cause the egg to explode. But the worst thing about this is that the explosion tends to happen afterwards, either on your plate or sometimes in your mouth. Not only is this messy but it can burn you, even if the egg is peeled.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
5. Bread
(Image credit: Alexander Schimmeck / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Alexander Schimmeck / Unsplash)
For warm bread or rolls, you shouldn’t use the microwave for the job. The heat from the microwave affects the starch and trapped water molecules in the bread which melts and softens the bread. If you eat this straightaway, you’ll notice that the bread is very soggy which isn’t particularly tasty. As the bread starts to cool down, the molecules recrystallise which results in hard and chewy bread rolls… again, not very tasty.
6. Chillies & hot peppers
(Image credit: Pixabay / Pexels)
(Image credit: Pixabay / Pexels)
Regardless of how much you love spice, microwaving chillies and hot peppers is a big no-no. The main reason is because these foods contain capsaicin, an active compound that determines spice level. When heated, capsaicin will be released and fill your microwave with chilli fumes, so when you open the door, the gas can fill your home and hurt your eyes, nose and throat. Eating the chillies or peppers after reheating will also make them much hotter and they could potentially explode, depending on how much heat they’ve been exposed to.
7. Leafy Greens
(Image credit: Petr Magera / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Petr Magera / Unsplash)
Raw and leafy greens like kale and spinach might seem harmless, but they’re actually a big safety hazard. When put in a microwave, these greens can release sparks which could catch fire. This is because leafy greens contain high amounts of iron, magnesium and selenium, minerals found in pieces of metal. Cooked greens should be fine in the microwave but if you don’t want your microwave to catch light, raw leafy greens should be avoided.
8. Grapes
(Image credit: Suzy Hazelwood / Pexels)
(Image credit: Suzy Hazelwood / Pexels)
Similar to leafy greens, grapes can also ignite in a microwave. Due to the heat and pressure of the microwave, grapes tend to explode, as the sugar in them turns into plasma, which is then expelled around the microwave. This plasma can catch fire inside or outside the microwave which can burn you when you’re taking them out or eating them.
Today’s best Microwaves dealsLow Stock$30.61View$89.99$69View$164.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Microwaves dealsLow Stock$30.61View$89.99$69View$164.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Microwaves deals
Low Stock$30.61View$89.99$69View$164.99View
Low Stock$30.61View
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
$30.61View
$30.61View
$30.61
$30.61
$89.99$69View
$89.99$69View
$89.99$69View
$89.99$69
$69
$164.99View
$164.99View
$164.99View
$164.99
$164.99
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Samsung Galaxy S25: every leak, rumour and spec we’ve heard before the launch eventThis is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This case turns your iPhone or Android phone into an e-reader, but there’s a catchActually, there are a couple…
Actually, there are a couple…
I’m a kitchen expert – these are the 7 kitchen trends I expect to see in 2025From shrinking air fryers to AI cameras, here are the kitchen trends I want to see next year
From shrinking air fryers to AI cameras, here are the kitchen trends I want to see next year
Samsung announces new AI home screens for its smart fridges and laundry appliancesSamsung previews its CES launches, including new AI Home screens
Samsung previews its CES launches, including new AI Home screens
Nutribullet Flip review: a powerful, portable blender for smoothies on the goCan this portable, insulated blender live up to its promises of powerful smoothie blitzing on the go?
Can this portable, insulated blender live up to its promises of powerful smoothie blitzing on the go?
T3’s ultimate Christmas dinner gadget guide: for sides, mains and beyondWe take a look at the best dinner gadgets to make Christmas lunch easier and hassle free
We take a look at the best dinner gadgets to make Christmas lunch easier and hassle free
Ninja takes on Instant Pot with its own slow cooker – it’s perfect for one-pot mealsNinja’s Foodi 8-Mode PossibleCooker is finally available to buy
Ninja’s Foodi 8-Mode PossibleCooker is finally available to buy
Brevoy Portable Espresso Maker review: a top battery-powered device for making espressos on the goIngenious espresso-making contraption for top-flight espressos in the great outdoors
Ingenious espresso-making contraption for top-flight espressos in the great outdoors
De’Longhi La Specialista Opera review: is this the best domestic espresso machine ever?Brilliantly easy espresso and cold brew maker for discerning coffee connoisseurs
Brilliantly easy espresso and cold brew maker for discerning coffee connoisseurs
9 Great British Bake Off appliances you need in your kitchenBecome Star Baker in your own kitchen with these Great British Bake Off appliances
Become Star Baker in your own kitchen with these Great British Bake Off appliances
