I was looking for a dorm room-friendly microwaveable bowl — to reheat food, make ramen, and so on.
Came across a whole bunch of steel-lined bowls which I was surprised about, and learned that they are made from something called 304 steel.
Continued down the rabbit hole and found steel mixing bowls that can be microwaved.
Anyone used something like this?
(I’ve ordered and tried them at home so as not to set the dorm room on fire — no incident, and blew my mind a little!)
Since it needs to be dorm room-friendly and I’ve (personally) had some questionable roommates, I might go for something like gladware.
Cheap, can go in the microwave, fairly simple to clean and easy to replace (should it grow legs and disappear).
I microwave metals all the time. Even a spoon in a cup or bowl. The last 2 microwaves I’ve gotten had stainless separator grates to divide the cooking space into top/bottom (not that I ever used them - they end up on my grill for elevating meats to smoke).
Pretty sure (*) the only thing a modern microwave will zap is metal with spikey edges, like crumpled foil.
I just tested a fork, tines sticking up out of a measuring cup - nothing.
Edit -
(*) I’m going to caveat this. Maybe inexpensive/small (dorm room style) microwaves, even if new, would still have the problem?
I still remember my good old days when I created lighting and thunder in my microwave. It is like the beginning of life on Earth.
I was stationed with a soldier who used to put a spoon in the break room microwave, shut off the overhead lights, and let it rip just to see the light show.
He eventually burned out the magnetron. They garnished his wages to buy the replacement. He didn’t play with that one.
I stopped eating baby carrots after microwaving them (for cooking, but I forget why) - nothing in a carrot should spark like that!!
Wait, what? Please Mara, add more detail - baby carrots spark? I’ve never tried nuking them, but this sounds fun and weird at the same time.
This was a while ago (late 90s) but… yeah. Grocery store brand, probably Kroger… probably due to whatever preservatives were on them. Give it a try, if you dare!
EDIT: it might be carrots themselves, not preservatives.
So sayeth the scientists.
More fun and weird is what happens when you microwave Peeps, or just regular marshmallows.
Avoiding reheating in plastic given the many advisories around it.
The steel grates are likely of similar steel to what I linked.
And no, I’m not going to be telling a college kid that I’m “pretty sure” any metal is fine to stick in the dorm room microwave, lol.
FWIW, many of the prepared foods at ShopRite come in metal trays that are both microwavable and oven-proof.
Perfect timing! I needed an excuse.
My “microwave pot” is plastic, and looking raggedy besides. On Amazon., which I have been avoiding lately.
$24.00 for the three “used-like new” in “Midnight”. Looking forward to trying them out and reporting back
And yes, I went through HO.
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My guy uses white.china with a silver metal rim. Nukes them all rhe time and nary a spark
Yes, you can microwave GladWare food storage containers, but you should lift one corner of the lid before doing so. GladWare containers are BPA-free and can also be used in the freezer and dishwasher.
Can I use Glad® bags, containers and other products in the microwave?
Glad Cling Wrap: Yes. Allow 1 inch of space between ClingWrap and food. Turn back one corner of ClingWrap to vent. Use of any plastic product with food high in fat and sugar may cause melting. Always use caution when removing wrap from heated foods.
Glad Food Bags: Yes. When microwaving, open the zipper about an inch to vent and place bag on a plate.
Glad Freezer Bags: Yes. When microwaving, open the zipper about an inch to vent and place bag on a plate.
GladWare Containers: Yes. Lift one corner of the lid prior to microwaving.
Glad OvenWare: Yes. Lift one corner of the lid prior to microwaving.
Glad FreezerWare: Yes. Lift one corner of the lid prior to microwaving.
Source: https://www.glad.com/faq/
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When I was a teen, I worked at Roy Rogers and used to bring the sandwiches left over at the end of my shift to my boyfriend at the time. Double R Burgers were wrapped in what looked like plain paper, but had foil inside. One night he unthinkingly tossed them in the microwave still in their wrappers, and we had a little fireworks show in the kitchen!
Yep. I own these now.
Personal choice.
BPA is not the only chemical in play.
Does the 4.5 quart fit in your microwave?
