Like any other appliance, the microwave also gets wear and tear in the long run. You can ignore these things until you see the paint inside of your microwave starts peeling because you cannot use the microwave in that condition.
When you get a new microwave, it is painted from outside and inside by the manufacturer. But after a few years, your microwave may show up its paint peeling from inside and/or outside. The paint peeling inside of the microwave is dangerous and you have to find its solution.
Why is My Microwave Paint Peeling from Inside?
Your microwave paint is peeling from inside because of accumulation of moisture inside the microwave. When you cook food in your microwave, it leaves some food spills or splatters inside. These things will buildup moisture inside the microwave if you don’t clean it the same day.
It is possible that you clean your microwave regularly still its paint starts peeling someday. It can happen when your kitchen has high humidity. The humidity affects all electronic gadgets and appliances of your kitchen and house. You can install an exhaust fan to reduce humidity level in your kitchen.

A scratch on any inner wall of a microwave can cause the paint to start peeling after some days. If you use a metal container that often hits the inner wall(s) of your microwave then it can cause one or more scratches. These scratches can lead to paint inside of your microwave peeling in upcoming days.
Another reason for paint peeling from inside of your microwave is time. Like any other paint, the paint applied on your microwave oven also has a lifespan. So, it can start peeling when its lifespan is about to end.
Can I Cook Food When Paint Inside of My Microwave is Peeling?
No, you cannot cook food when paint inside of your microwave is peeling. The paint can fall on your food or beverage and mix with it to contaminate the food. As a result, you will have serious health problems if you eat such food.
In order to avoid the risk of food poisoning and serious health consequences, I strongly recommend not to cook food in your microwave when its paint is peeling from inside. It is better to fix the paint peeling issue first and then use the microwave.
If you use a metal container, it may come in direct contact with the metal body of your microwave. If the metal container touches the spot where paint is already peeled, it may catch fire that can burn the food, damage the microwave and can be more dangerous than you think.
What to Do When Paint Inside of a Microwave Starts Peeling
When you see the paint inside of a microwave is peeling, you should take it seriously. I strongly recommend not to ignore it as it can contaminate your food and cause serious health issues.
You can repaint your microwave from inside and outside as needed. You should check the interior and exterior of your microwave for paint peeling issue. If its paint is peeling from inside only then you need to repaint the inside of your microwave and not the outside.
Actually, repainting is the ultimate solution for the paint inside of a microwave is peeling. You should find out a microwave-safe paint in your desired color and paint the interior of your microwave to get rid of paint peeling problem.
Important Note: You Must remove the peeling paint from inside of your microwave before you start repainting it. You should also remove grease, dust, debris and food particles from the microwave. Kindly remove the turntable before painting it and put it back when the paint is dried.
What Type of Paint Can I Use to Repaint My Microwave Interior?
You can use only microwave-safe paint to repaint your microwave interior. When you see the paint inside of your microwave peeling, you should stop using the microwave and start looking for a microwave-safe paint.
There is no restriction on the type of paint as long as it is labeled microwave-safe by the manufacturer. So, you can choose your desired color paint and use it for repainting the inner walls of your microwave oven.
How Can I Prevent Paint Inside of My Microwave from Peeling?
You can prevent paint inside of your microwave from peeling in future by keeping it clean and dry.
Whenever you use the microwave for cooking food, wipe it down with a soft cloth to clean all spills, splatters and tiny food particles. It will help to keep your microwave clean & dry from inside and reduce the chances of accumulation of moisture.

In case your kitchen has high humidity in air, it can affect all appliances including the microwave. The humidity can cause your microwave paint peeling from outside and inside. You should install an exhaust fan that can send the humidity of your kitchen outside the house.
If you use metal containers in the microwave, they can cause sparks or arcing which can lead to fire hazard. The metal container can cause scratches if you accidentally rub it to inner walls of the microwave.
In short, you can prevent paint inside of your microwave from peeling by following my recommended safety tips below.
- Clean your microwave interior after every cooking process.
- Keep your microwave dry from inside and outside to prevent moisture accumulation
- Install an exhaust fan in your kitchen to reduce humidity level.
- Never use a metal container in your microwave as it can cause scratches on inner walls.
Why are Microwave Inner Walls Painted?
The microwave inner walls are painted with a purpose to save them from rust. Most microwave ovens are made of metal and metal is prone to get rust sooner or later. The manufacturers paint all microwaves from inside and outside to save them from rust in future.
Another reason for painting inner walls of a microwave is to prevent arcing or sparks. The microwave generates electromagnetic waves to heat up and cook food. These waves can cause arcing if the inner walls are not painted and/or there is a metal container inside.
So, these are the two main reasons for which all microwave come with their inner walls painted.
FAQs about Paint Inside of a Microwave Peeling
It is important to know facts about paint inside of a microwave peeling before you take an action. Here I provide some important questions related to paint peeling off from inner walls of the microwave, so read all questions and answers carefully.
Q.1 Is it safe to use a microwave with peeling paint inside?
No, it is not safe to use a microwave with peeling paint inside as the paint can mix with your food and cause serious health issues.
Q.2 How do you fix peeling paint in the microwave?
You need to repaint the microwave with a microwave-safe paint to fix peeling paint in the microwave.
Q.3 Can peeling paint inside of a microwave be toxic?
Yes, peeling paint inside of a microwave can be toxic if the paint mixes with the food or beverage inside the microwave.
Q.4 Can you re-coat the inside of a microwave?
Yes, you can re-coat the inside of a microwave with a microwave-safe paint to resolve paint peeling off issue.
Final Thoughts: Repaint Your Microwave for Safe Cooking
When the paint inside of your microwave starts peeling, it’s time to repaint your microwave. You should get a microwave-safe paint and use it repaint your microwave interior. It will make your microwave like-new and also increase its lifespan.
You should remove the old paint that is peeling from various spots. If there is any rust inside of your microwave, you should sand it off properly. Thereafter your microwave oven is ready to get painted again.
After repainting inside of your microwave, you should clean it everyday. Regular cleaning reduces the chances of accumulation of moisture which can cause the paint to peel again.
In this way, you can make your microwave safe to use again for cooking and reheating food.