Using a microwave is super easy when you know what to do and what not to do with it. To keep your microwave safe and work like new for years, you must use it in its ideal way.
Many people use glass bowls in the microwave, while some still ask, “Can you microwave glass?” I have all the answers for this complicated question, so stay with me.
The microwave is made of metal with a glass door and a glass turntable inside. But these built-in glass of every microwave is heat-resistant. Using a glass bowl or container is not a part of the microwave. Therefore it is important to check if you can put glass in the microwave or not.
Now, I am going to share my whole experience about glass bowls and the consequences of putting glass in the microwave to help you understand it better.
Can You Microwave Glass?
Yes, you can microwave glass to cook raw food and reheat leftovers. The glass dishes, glass bowls and glass containers are suitable to put in the microwave. Most people prefer to use either glass or plastic or Tupperware containers in the microwave because all of them can handle high temperature inside the microwave.
You can microwave glass because the glass is heat-resistant. It does not absorb heat and allows heat waves to pass through it to cook the food evenly.
Moreover, the glass does not melt or mix with food when you microwave it for an extended period. So, you can microwave glass to prepare your favorite food safely and quickly.
Can You Microwave Cold Glass?
Yes, you can microwave cold glass as long as it is slightly cold. In case the glass was in the refrigerator for a long time or was in the freezer then you must not microwave it immediately. If the glass is cold, keep it on the kitchen counter for a few minutes before putting in the microwave oven.
When you get the glass bowl out of freezer, it is very cold. The glass returns to room temperature if you keep it on the kitchen counter for a while. Once, the glass is at room temperature, you should wipe it with a soft-dry cloth and put it in the microwave to cook or reheat your desired food.
Can You Microwave Glass with Lid?
No, you cannot microwave glass with lid as it is not safe. When you cover a glass bowl/container with lid, it restricts the air and heat movement from the food in the bowl. As a result, the constant heat waves create pressure inside the glass bowl which may result in cracking or explosion.
If you want to cover your food in the glass bowl/container, you can use saran wrap to do that. I recommend you to punch some small holes in saran wrap using a fork to allow venting of excess heat during the cooking process inside the microwave.
Can Glass Melt in the Microwave?
No, glass cannot melt in the microwave even if you keep it inside the microwave at full power for longer. The glass melts when the surrounding temperature is beyond 900°F but the microwave never generates that much heat to reach its interior temperature that high.
When putting glass in the microwave, you may be scared of glass getting melted and mixed with your food. But it is not possible for your microwave to melt the glass even if you microwave glass for an hour. For your own safety, kindly use a microwave-safe glass to cook/reheat your food.
Can Glass Explode in the Microwave?
No, the glass cannot explode in the microwave except it’s too cold to microwave. The cold glass is not safe to put in the microwave because a sudden change in temperature can crack, break or even explode the glass in the microwave.
You should always use a glass plate/bowl that is labeled as microwave-safe to avoid problems. If you use a glass plate/bowl that is not microwave-safe, it can crack or break during the cooking process.
The chances of explosion of glass inside the microwave are rare. It can happen when you put cold glass in the microwave or close the glass with an airtight lid or put the glass bowl/container filled with water to boil it in the microwave.
Are All Glass Containers Microwave-Safe?
No, all glass containers are not microwave-safe, so you cannot put any random glass in the microwave. The glass never melts in the microwave and it does not change the food taste but it can crack or break when it is not designed to be used in the microwave.
The microwave-safe glass can handle high temperature and therefore it doesn’t crack or break even if the microwave runs at full power. Not all glass containers are heat-resistant. You should check for the “microwave-safe” symbol to know if the glass container is safe to microwave before using it.
What Types of Glass are Microwave-Safe?
Some types of glass are safe to microwave, while others are not. So, it is important to know what types of glass are microwave-safe and what are not before you put any glass bowl in your microwave. Here I provide complete information about microwave-safe and unsafe glass types as under:
Types of Glass that are Microwave-Safe:
- Pyrex Glass
- Any Glass with “Microwave-Safe” Symbol on It
- The Glass that can Survive the Microwave-Safe Test
Types of Glass that are Not Microwave-Safe:
- Ceramic Glass
- Colored Glass
- Glass with Metallic Edges
- Glass with Foil Trims
- Any Glass without “Microwave-Safe” Symbol
- The Glass that Fails in the Microwave-Safe Test
So, you should use the glass bowl or container that is safe to put in the microwave and avoid the glass types that aren’t safe.
How Do I Know If My Glass Bowl is Microwave-Safe?
You can check the bottom of your glass bowl to know if it is microwave-safe or not. In every glass bowl, plate, container or tray, there is a microwave-safe symbol at its bottom or on either side.
Here I provide some common “microwave-safe” symbols that are printed on most microwave-safe glass containers.
You should check the bottom of your glass bowl to find the “microwave-safe” symbol. If you can find any of the above shown symbols, it means that your glass bowl is safe to microwave otherwise don’t use it.
How to Check a Glass with the Microwave-Safe Test
All microwave-safe glass containers come with the symbol but some still don’t have it. It is possible that the manufacturer has not printed the “microwave-safe” symbol because the concerned glass is not safe for putting in the microwave.
Some old glass containers don’t have any symbol but they are suitable for using in the microwave. If you have any glass container/bowl without “microwave-safe” symbol then you can check it by running a microwave-safe test for that specific container.
The microwave-safe test is useful to check if a glass container is safe to microwave or not. Here I provide the steps to run the microwave-safe test for a glass container as follows.
- Get a microwave-safe mug and fill it half or 2/3 with water.
- Place the water filled mug in the glass container and put it in the microwave.
- Run the microwave at full power for one minute and stop.
- Open the microwave door and get the glass container out to check it.
- If the glass container is warm then it is not microwave-safe because it has absorbed heat.
- If the glass container is cool (i.e. normal) then it is microwave-safe, you can use it for cooking/reheating your food in the microwave.
In this way, you can check if your glass container is safe to use in the microwave or not. If the microwave-safe test result is negative, you should avoid using that glass or it will break inside the microwave. It can also cause unwanted accidents or damage to your microwave.
FAQs about Putting Glass in the Microwave
Here I provide some common questions about safety precautions and risks of putting glass in the microwave. You should read all questions and answers carefully to understand how to microwave glass without cracking or breaking it.
Q.1 Is glass safe in the microwave?
Yes, the glass is safe in the microwave as long as it is heat-resistant and/or labeled as “microwave-safe” by the manufacturer.
Q.2 Why does glass break in the microwave?
The glass breaks in the microwave because it’s a kind of glass that cannot handle high temperature inside the microwave.
Q.3 Can you microwave glass mason jars?
Yes you can microwave mason jars if they have the “microwave-safe” symbol on them. All mason jars, manufactured in recent years, have microwave-safe symbol but the old mason jars may not have it. So, you must check the microwave-safe symbol to know if your mason jar is microwave-safe or not.
Q.4 Can you microwave water in a glass?
No, you cannot microwave water in glass as heating up water in the microwave for longer can cause an explosion that can break the glass and also damage the microwave.
Q.5 Can you microwave glass bottles?
No, you cannot microwave glass bottles as they are not microwave-safe. If you have any glass bottles with microwave-safe symbol then you can put them in the microwave but don’t close the lid/cap of the bottles. The safest way is to avoid using glass bottles in the microwave.
Wrapping Up: Always Use a Microwave-Safe Glass
At the end, I recommend you to always use a microwave-safe glass to cook or reheat food in the microwave. In case you don’t have a glass bowl or container with the “microwave-safe” label, you can get one from any nearby store.
Microwaving food in a microwave-safe glass bowl will keep you and your microwave safe for many years. If you are confused about your glass container, you can run the microwave-safe test on it. It will bring clarity about whether you should microwave your glass container or avoid it.
When using a microwave-safe glass container, make sure it is not too cold for the microwave. If you have got it out of freezer, keep it on the kitchen counter for sometime and then put it in the microwave. It is the safest way to microwave glass without any accident.
