Can You Microwave Glass?
Most glass is microwave safe, but not all. Some exceptions include glasses with a decorative foil or glaze, glasses that are chipped or cracked, and glasses that are extremely thin. There will usually be a stamp on the bottom of the glass, indicating whether or not it is microwave safe.
How To Tell if Your Glass Is Safe To Put in the Microwave
Check For The Microwave Safe Symbol
There will be a stamp on the bottom of most glassware indicating whether or not the glass is safe to use in the microwave.
Below are the most common symbols indicating that a piece of glass is microwave safe. The logos may differ between brands, but the critical part to look for is the horizontal squiggly lines.
Perform The Microwave Heat Test
Place the piece of glass in question into the microwave. Then fill a microwave-safe cup with water and set it next to the glass. If the piece is too big, the cup can also go inside the glass.
Microwave the cup and glass for one minute on full power. If the glass is hot to the touch, then it is not microwave safe; if it is cool to the touch, then you know that the glass is indeed safe for use in the microwave.
When To Avoid Using Glass In The Microwave
- Avoid using a glass that has any metal or decorative glazes
- Avoid glasses with chips or cracks as they are weakened
- Avoid microwaving extremely thin glasses
Precautions To Take When Microwaving Glass
Make sure that you pick up the bowl with a heat-protective glove. You never know how the food might have heated the glass, and different foods and liquids will heat it differently. So just because the glass wasn’t hot when you cooked lasagna doesn’t mean that it won’t be warm when you cook soup.
Never try to rapidly cool down the glass while it is hot. This rapid temperature change is called thermal shock, and it will cause most glasses to stress fracture. Allow the glass to cool down naturally.
