Can You Put Wood In The Microwave? (Find Out Now!)

Alex Praytor
by Alex Praytor

Wood dishes are durable and practically indestructible. If you drop a wooden dish it is very unlikely to break. Also, wooden dishes are natural which means you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals leaching into your food. However, can you cook or reheat your food in a wooden dish?

No, wooden dishes, cutting boards, utensils, or any other wooden items cannot be put in the microwave. Wood contains some moisture, and microwaves work quickly on liquids. Your wood dish can superheat in a super-short amount of time. This can damage your dish, and if the wood is left too long in the microwave, it may even start a fire.

Related Guide: Can You Put Wood In The Oven?

We’ll give you a breakdown of different kinds of wood dishes and how you can safely use them.

What Happens if I Put Wood In the Microwave?

If you put a wooden dish in the microwave, on the outside, it may look like all is well. However, looks can be deceiving. While ovens heat from the outside in microwaves heat from the inside out. This means that your wood piece will start cooking on the inside, first.

If you are watching it from the glass window it can look stable, while it is burning on the inside. If you cut your wood bowl open you may even find a charred center. By putting a wooden dish in the microwave, you could not only ruin your dish, but you risk starting a kitchen fire.

What about a wicker basket?

If you search the net, you will see conflicting opinions on whether or not wooden wicker baskets can be put in the microwave. On the one hand, they allow for better airflow than solid wood bowls. However, they are still wooden. The thin wood can quickly become unstable in the microwave, which is why at Upgraded Home, we say that wicker baskets should not be put in the microwave. This means that bamboo steamers and other wood-type baskets are also out.

There are some plastic versions of wicker baskets, however. Some of these plastic baskets are microwave safe. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out whether or not your basket can go in the microwave.

Is Wood Food-Safe?

Wood is a material that is naturally antibacterial which makes it a good option for cutting boards and other uses. However, it is also a porous material, which means you will not want to leave water or food directly on wood for a long period of time. You should only put food in dishes that have a “food-safe” label. These bowls are sealed and seasoned with food-safe materials. If a wooden piece is labeled “for decoration only,” it may mean that its stain or seal contains harmful chemicals.

Here are some different types of wood dishes and their uses:

Woven Snack/Salad Bowls

Woven wooden salad bowls can be perfect for a salad or snacks such as nuts, chips, or popcorn. They should be able to withstand salad dressings. However, you won’t want to leave the dressing sitting in your wooden bowl for long as it could damage the finish.

The best practice is to wash and dry the bowls immediately after eating. Salad bowls may not be resistant to liquid soups or hot foods. Make sure to read the description and use them appropriately.

Wooden dishes and coffee mugs

Wooden dishes and coffee mugs have a natural resin coating to protect your wood from liquids. You can often serve hot foods or beverages in these (but you cannot use them to reheat food). A perk about using wood dishes is that they insulate well, so your plates, bowls, and mugs will not be hot to the touch.

Cutting boards

Wooden cutting boards can be as safe, or safer, to use than plastic cutting boards because wood is naturally anti-microbial. Hardwoods such as teak will be more resistant than softer woods when it comes to keeping bacteria away. The FDA recommends using separate cutting boards for meat and for veggies to avoid cross-contamination.

Molded bamboo dishes

Molded bamboo dishes have the look and feel of plastic, but are made out of natural materials. These materials usually include bamboo fibers, bamboo sawdust, and rice starch, among others. Molded bamboo dishes are biodegradable, natural, and food-safe, but are not microwave or oven-safe. You may see burn spots appear on the dishes or they may become brittle and crack if you expose them to heat.

Wooden Chargers

Wooden chargers protect your table cloth from spills and crumbs. These plates are not always food-safe since generally, they will not come directly in contact with food.

How to Clean Wooden Dishes

Wooden dishes (with very few exceptions) are not microwave-safe or dishwasher-safe. This means you will need to clean your wooden dishes by hand. You will want to wash your dishes sooner rather than later to protect your dishes from stains, and from warping under any liquids (such as soup or dressings, or sauces) that may remain on the dishes.

Use a mild detergent that will not be too rough on the wood finish. It is fine to submerge the dish in water while you clean it inside and outside. Just don’t soak wood dishes as this can warp them. Dry immediately with a towel after washing.


Related Questions

Can I microwave a Styrofoam to-go container?

No, it is not advisable to put Styrofoam in the microwave. If you leave Styrofoam too long in a microwave, it can melt or even burn. Even if your container does not look affected by heat, the heat can cause harmful toxins to leach into your food. However, some to-go containers, such as Olive Garden to-go boxes and Chinese oyster pails, can go in a microwave.


How long will wood dishes last?

Wood can last a very long time, even 100s of years if cared for properly. Wooden pieces do not crack or deteriorate easily. You will want to keep them away from heat and make sure not to leave them in damp areas or exposed to liquid for too long.


Are wooden skewers safe to put in the microwave?

Most consider wooden skewers safe for the microwave. Usually, food reheated with skewers will not stay in the microwave long enough to cause a problem. Also, the food on the skewer insulates the wood, which will make it less likely to burn.

Alex Praytor
Alex Praytor

Alex Praytor is a native Texan who got her degree in English Literature and decided to travel the globe. She finds the architecture and design of homes across cultures fascinating. In her spare time, she visits coffee shops with her family and creates projects for their own home. Alex enjoys sharing tips on how to keep repairs up to date while turning a house into a home.

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