Can A Spoon Go In The Microwave?

You have heard about the danger of putting certain things in the microwave and wonder if a spoon is safe. Maybe you are wondering what might happen if you forget about the spoon in your dish as you place it in the microwave. We have researched the potential dangers and risks involved with this mistake. Keep reading to learn more.

It is not safe to put a metal or plastic spoon in the microwave. Anything metal is a fire hazard when placed in the microwave. Metal spoons usually do not cause fires when placed in the microwave, but there is always a potential risk associated with any metal in the microwave. Plastic spoons may leach chemicals in your food or warp when exposed to high temperatures. 

Now that you know it is not safe to put metal or plastic utensils in the microwave, you probably have more questions. Keep reading as this post goes into more detail on this topic as well as discuss more items that are potentially unsafe in the microwave.

Can A Spoon Go In The Microwave?

A spoon should not go in the microwave. Spoons are typically made of metal or plastic. Certain metal objects are fire hazards in the microwave, and it is often difficult to determine whether your silverware will be a potential fire hazard in the microwave. For this reason, it is never considered safe to put metal into your microwave.

Reusable spoons are made of plastic, which should not be placed into a high-heat environment with your food. The plastic utensil probably will not melt if only put in the microwave for a short time but will warp if exposed to high temperatures for longer periods of time. High heat does cause the leaching of plastic and aluminum foil, which can add unsafe chemicals to your food.

Why Put A Spoon In The Microwave?

There is no good reason to put your spoon in the microwave. It will become very hot, and you may not be able to touch the spoon after you remove your dish from the microwave. It is a fire hazard that may cause some big problems for your microwave or kitchen. Depending on the material of the spoon, chemicals or metals may leach into your food and make it unsafe for consumption.

Some people may think that microwaving a spoon would be a way to sterilize the utensil to make it safe for use. This is not a safe method of sterilization. You should stick with typical methods of dishwashing to make sure your kitchen utensils are safe to use. Double-check your bowl to make certain utensils are removed before placing them into your microwave.

What Happens If You Accidentally Put A Spoon In The Microwave?

Most metal utensils are thick enough to not start a fire during the period you are running your microwave. Metal objects that are thin or have sharp edges are the primary safety concern.

Smooth, thick pieces of metal are less likely to gather the electrical charge that would potentially start a fire. This does not mean that it is a good idea to put a spoon in the microwave. You should be diligent to avoid doing so because different utensils and microwaves may have different results.

What About A Fork In The Microwave?

A fork is more dangerous than a spoon because it contains thin prongs that will heat more quickly. Spoons contain thick metal throughout, which takes a longer time to heat. The danger associated with metal in the microwave is when a small part of the metal can heat quickly and start a fire. Forks are more dangerous than other utensils when they are placed in the microwave.

Is Aluminum Foil Microwave-Safe?

Aluminum foil is very thin and can be a fire hazard if placed in the microwave. Foil often crinkles, which creates sharper edges that will heat more quickly than other parts of the foil. When this happens, a fire is more likely to start. It is never a good idea to use aluminum foil in the microwave.

Is It Safe To Eat Food That Has Been Microwaved With Aluminum Foil?

This is a highly debated issue for one main reason. The research shows that aluminum foil leach into your food when you heat the aluminum with your food. You can read more from that study here. The study's authors determined that the amount of leaching in the food is not enough to cause great concern for a single meal. However, your exposure may increase to unhealthy levels if you frequently use aluminum foil when microwaving or baking.

Aluminum foil is not the best choice for covering your food in the microwave or the stove. It is still a good idea to have a microwave-safe lid to make sure your food heats evenly. It also helps to keep the moisture in the food, so it doesn't dry out. There are silicon microwave-friendly lids that contain holes to allow steam to exit the container safely.

Click here to buy heat-resistant silicon microwave covers on Amazon. 

Can You Leave A Metal Spoon In Food?

Leaving a metal spoon in food in the microwave may cause a fire if heated for long enough. Most of the time, you will not use the microwave long enough for the spoon to start a fire. This does not mean that it is a good idea to leave your spoon in the food. When you place food in the fridge, leaving a metal spoon in food might cause the metal to leach into the food.

You can purchase microwave-safe dinnerware and utensils that are not made of metal. Some possible materials that are considered microwave safe are glass, ceramic, and wheat straw. You won't find any utensils made of glass or ceramic, but check out this microwave-safe dinner set made of wheat straw.

Click here to buy this wheat straw microwave-safe dinner set on Amazon.

What Things Are Unsafe For The Microwave?

Anything that is plastic or metal that is not labeled as microwave-safe should not be put in the microwave. This includes butter or yogurt containers that you may be reusing in your kitchen. These plastic containers are meant for one-time use. Any plastic that is not labeled microwave-safe is dangerous because it may leach chemicals into your food or warp from the high temperatures.

Dinner plates may be made with melamine, which is not advisable to be placed in the microwave. These dishes are more likely to crack or leach chemicals into your food when you expose them to the microwave. For more information, check out this article. Can Melamine Go In The Microwave?

Is Plastic Safe For The Microwave?

There are many microwave-safe containers that are made of plastic. You should always avoid one-time-use containers, such as reused butter tubs. The FDA does not have a regulation for what is microwave-safe. They provide some tips and steps to stay safe while using the microwave. The FDA recommends using glass, ceramic, or microwave-safe plastic containers.

Ziploc bags are made of plastic and are generally considered microwave safe. There are some caveats to this because the plastic will melt if the temperatures reach 195 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This means that you should not ever use Ziploc bags for cooking, but they may be used to gently heat something in the microwave for a short period of time.

For a comprehensive post about putting Ziploc bags into the microwave, check out this post. Can You Microwave Ziploc Bags?

In Closing

Metal and plastic spoons should not be placed in the microwave. Any metal in the microwave is considered a potential fire hazard and should always be avoided. Smaller, thinner metal will heat up more quickly and be more of a fire hazard than thicker pieces of metal. Plastic utensils may warp due to high temperatures and may also leach chemicals into your food. Avoid placing metal or non-microwave-friendly plastic into the microwave.

For more information about microwaves and safe cooking, check out these articles:

Can You Put a Casserole Dish in the Oven or Microwave?

If A Bowl Is Microwave Safe, Is It Also Oven Safe?