Safe Containers

Some plastics melt. Some glass cracks. Yet certain containers sail through fine. The key is whether the material absorbs microwave energy or lets it pass through.

• Glass and ceramics: Mostly transparent to microwaves — waves pass right through to the food
• Microwave-safe plastics: Engineered to handle the heat from food without warping
• Styrofoam: Can melt and leach chemicals at high temperatures
• Metal-trimmed dishes: The metallic rim sparks — leave these out

Match the container to the physics and your food heats while the dish stays intact.