Can You Microwave Wood? (What You Need to Know…)

Quick Answer: No, you shouldn’t microwave wood. At least, there’s no way to go about doing it with absolute safety, as you’re about to learn.

But let’s find out a little more about wood first…

WHAT ARE WOOD PRODUCTS MADE OF?

Wood is one of the most common materials humans use to make things.It’s used for building construction, picture frames and everything in between.

Items made of wood are often crafted from solid wood orparticle board, which is a wooden material created by pressing together bits of sawdust and wood chips with a binding agent.

Wooden dishes, platters and utensils may be made from either, but they’re commonly solid wood.No matter what they’re made of, it’s not a good idea to microwave them.

Even if they’re not particle board, there could be different types of resins and coatings on them that are unsuitable for microwave heating.Melting, chemical toxin releasing and other issues can arise with coatings that weren’t made for the microwave.

But there’s one particular reason you wouldn’t want to microwave last night’s dinner in a wooden bowl no matter what: flammability.

Microwave heating dries wood out.This makes wooden dishes more susceptible to cracking, but also to igniting.If your dishes don’t get ruined, they might start a fire in your microwave.

Some people try to take advantage of the microwave’s drying effect on wood and get the moisture content out of small campfire logs.However, even practitioners of this method will admit that it’s highly risky and can still result in flames.

At the end of the day, wood is not considered a safe product to put in the microwave. We suggest always transferring all food and beverages to microwave-safe containers.

Related Article: Can You Microwave Styrofoam? (Here’s What You Need to Know)

For more on microwave cooking, check out Best Microwave Toaster Oven Combo.

Different Types of Wood Containers and Utensils

Home goods stores and artisan shops sometimes sell food service items made of solid wood.There are also more and more disposable wooden products popping up in cafes, coffee shops and restaurants trying to go green.

Here are some of the wooden items you might see:

• Woven wooden bowls and plates
• Wooden cups
• Solid wood serving platters and plates
• Recycled or solid wood cutlery
• Disposable wooden restaurant cutlery
• Wooden cooking spoons and utensils

In general, none of these are microwavable, even though they may be designed to hold hot food or even make contact with cooking equipment.

There’s a big difference between a material coming into contact with a heated element and undergoing a heating process.This is one of the big things that separates microwavable items from non-microwavable ones.

Whether a wooden dish or utensil is purchased for home use or one-time use with your to-go meal, it’s probably not intended for the microwave.

You Might Also Like: Can You Microwave Wax Paper? (Here’s What You Need to Know)

How Do You Know If Wood Is Microwave Safe or Not?

Is there such a thing as microwave-safe wood? While our research has shown that wood is not microwave-friendly, we can tell you what to look for in case you were to find a microwavable container made with wood.

Look on the dish for any written language that indicates a microwave function first. It will probably be on the bottom or near the bottom of the product.

The next step is to check on the manufacturer’s website or get in touch with the manufacturer via phone or email. The company that makes the product should know all of its safety features so that you don’t have to embark on any (potentially dangerous) guessing games.

Labels on WOod to Be Aware Of

Any item that can be microwaved might have a “microwave safe” label on the bottom. Look on the packaging it comes in as well.

There could also be a label that shows that the item is not intended for microwave use. Either one of these labels is highly valuable and will tell you right away whether you can microwave a product or not.

Bonus Safety Tips

• Making a habit of keeping an eye on the microwave while it’s in use, even with microwave-safe products, is always a good idea.
• Always read and follow the microwave instructions of any product exactly.
• Every microwave is different.When in doubt, refer to the user manual to see if any particular items can’t be microwaved or if they require specific settings.

Further Reading: 6 Best College Mini Fridge and Microwave Combo Units for Compact Spaces such as Dorms

Joey Bruno

Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!