Is it possible to heat foil in the microwave?

How does a microwave oven work?

The magnetron inside the device creates high-frequency electromagnetic waves that pass through the walls of the oven and penetrate the food. They move water molecules, causing them to spin, creating friction, which generates heat. The more water a product contains, the faster it heats up.

Is it possible to heat foil in the microwave?

Regular food foil is made from aluminum with small admixtures of other metals. This material does not absorb electromagnetic waves, but reflects them. As a result, the temperature inside the device rises and the foil quickly overheats. And if it is wrinkled and has sharp edges, it may appear sparks. If you manage to turn off the device, then nothing bad will happen. In the worst case scenario, foil can damage the microwave or even lead to fire.

Therefore, you should not reheat or microwave foods that are completely wrapped. foil, and certainly there is no need to put it in the device for the sake of curiosity and a thirst for experimentation.

But there is also good news. Some experts are still allow use foil in the microwave in exceptional cases. For example, small pieces of material can be wrapped around the bones on the legs and the edges of the wings of the bird so that these parts do not burn and maintain juiciness. In this case, the foil should be new, smooth, fit as tightly as possible to the products and cover no more than ¼ of their volume. And food should be placed at a distance of at least 3 cm from the walls of the device.

Is it possible to heat a foil package in the microwave?

Foil containers and foil paper packaging can be safely used in microwave ovens. This confirmed experimentally. About 200 servings of different dishes, placed in aluminum containers or foil bags, were heated in four different microwaves. As a result, even when operating at high power, the equipment remained safe and sound. In addition, food in foil packaging heats up more evenly than in plastic containers.

True, experts are still advise follow several rules when using foil packaging in microwave ovens.

1. The food container must be open. Therefore, if you bought a ready-made meal, remove the lid from the package before putting it in the microwave. The foil paper bag must first be opened.

2. If your microwave defaults to a metal tray, place a glass plate on it first, followed by an aluminum package on top.

3. Make sure there is at least 2 cm of free space from the edges of the package to the sides of the microwave.

4. Only one container or foil bag can be placed in the microwave. If you need to heat or cook multiple portions of food, do it one at a time.