5 Things you should never put in a microwave

It can be an easy mistake to make, but putting tin foil in the microwave is extremely dangerous. When tin foil is heated it becomes a conductor of electric charges which heats over rapidly. As the metal builds heat it leads to sparks and eventually a fire which may destroy your appliance.

Paper bags and cardboard are just terrible in microwaves. They are not designed to withstand the heat and will catch fire easier than tin foil. They can also contain glues, waxes and other materials that can make it a safety hazard.

Whilst some plastic containers are safe to use in the microwave, there are a couple you should avoid. Single-use plastics like Styrofoam, cling film, or even takeout containers should not be placed in the microwave. When these materials are heated up, they will either melt or ruin your food. Instead place these contents onto a microwaveable plate.

Microwaving a whole egg is more dangerous than you would think. When unpeeled eggs reach a high temperature, they expand. Steam then builds and the egg will explode. Not only will this likely lead to injury, but you will also face a big mess to clean as well. Scrambled eggs is absolutely fine though and a safe alternative.

Whenever a microwave is fired up with nothing inside, it can seriously harm your device. As the radiation builds in the empty microwave because it has no food to absorb the microwaves, this is sent back to the magnetron. This damages the device and could start a fire if left unattended for long enough.