Can Bamboo Go in the Microwave?

Can Bamboo Go in the Microwave?

Planning on reheating dinner? Choose something other than bamboo to put in the microwave. Don’t ruin your plates, bowls, cups, or utensils by exposing them to extreme heat.

Bamboo can’t go in the microwave because the heat can ruin the plate, bowl, cup, or dinnerware. Microwaving bamboo dinnerware can make it fragile, darken it, or ruin the glue holding it together.

Bamboo contains moisture. Most plates, bowls, and utensils are often made from crushed glued together stips. The moisture from the bamboo will start to evaporate in your microwave causing the bamboo to warp and crack. Sometimes the glued strips will fall apart.

Most bamboo kitchen gear isn’t cheap so avoid diminishing its quality by using it the wrong way. Bamboo plates and bowls can last years without any special care, so why ruin them in 30 seconds by using them in a microwave.

Can Bamboo Plates or Bowls Go in the Microwave?

It’s so easy to pop something in the microwave without thinking about what the food is sitting on. If you’re reheating something or perhaps thinking of cooking a quick meal in the microwave, you probably shouldn’t do it on a bamboo plate or bowl.

Plates or bowls made out of bamboo shouldn’t be used in a microwave. The heat from the microwave will dry out, crack, darken, or even burn your bamboo plate or bowl. Since bamboo is so similar to wood, microwaving it can set it on fire.

In simple terms, using a bamboo plate or bowl in a microwave can cause it to:

• Warp
• Crack
• Lose Flexibility
• Become Darker
• Become Fragile
• Fall Apart
• Catch on Fire

Using a different container to microwave your food will preserve your bamboo plates, bowls, cups, or kitchenware. Heat up your food and then transfer it to your bamboo dinnerware to keep your bamboo in good condition for years.

Are Bamboo Dishes Microwave Safe?

Other than the obvious threat of catching on fire, bamboo dishes shouldn’t be used in a microwave for a number of reasons. If you’re thinking it can’t hurt your dinnerware, think again.

Bamboo dishes aren’t safe for use in a microwave. Bamboo plates, bowls, cups, and utensils will lose their flexibility and dry out in a microwave causing them to become fragile and darker in appearance.

That goes for both bamboo dinnerware and actual bamboo plants. In simple terms, wooden products shouldn’t go in the microwave.

What Will Happen if You Put Bamboo in a Microwave?

Maybe it’s your only option and you really want to know what will happen to your bamboo if you use it in a microwave.

If you put bamboo in a microwave it will dry out and lose its glossiness. Since bamboo is similar to wood, microwaving it for a long time can cause it to catch on fire. Before it burns, the bamboo will change color, begin to crack, and in most cases become very fragile.

If it’s a quick one-time occasion, then you should be able to get away with microwaving your food on a bamboo plate or in a bowl for less than half a minute. Anything longer than that will cause permanent damage to your dinnerware.

Summary

I hope that got the message across. Try to avoid using bamboo in the microwave altogether. Instead, use microwave-friendly materials such as:

• Glass
• Clay
• Oven Cooking Bags
• Plastic (Microwave Safe Kind)

Even if the kitchen set you bought says it’s microwave friendly, you should avoid putting it in the microwave for all the reasons spelled out above. Over time your plates, bowls, cups, or kitchen utensils will become fragile and disappointing.

Bamboo is beautiful, strong, and eco-friendly. It can last years with little to no maintenance or care. So, it would be a shame to impair it by using it in a microwave unknowingly.

Related Questions

Can Bamboo Go in the Oven?

Bamboo plates and bowls shouldn’t be used in an oven. Moisture from the bamboo will evaporate and cause your plate or bowl to warp, become fragile, or even catch on fire. Avoid using your bamboo dinnerware in the oven.

Can Bamboo Go in the Dishwasher?

Bamboo should be washed by hand. Bamboo plates, bowls, and cups are not dishwasher-friendly. They will absorb some of the water and lose some of its durability.

Can You Wash Bamboo With Dish Soap?

Bamboo dinnerware is safe to wash with dish soap in your sink. Don’t scratch the surface of your plates or bowls with a scrubby. Instead, use a cloth to avoid damaging your bamboo.