Can you put paper towels in the microwave?

You can use the microwave to prepare and heat almost any food. But the downside is that sometimes things splatter all over the place, leaving you with a complete mess on your hands. The easiest way to avoid this is to use a paper towel to cover your food.

But can you put paper towels in the microwave?  Yes, it is perfectly safe to microwave paper towels for up to half an hour. However, you should not use recycled paper towels. Also, avoid putting folded or wrinkled paper towels to reduce the risks of a possible fire. 

There is a possibility that a paper towel could catch fire inside the microwave. That’s why you should know what kind of paper towels to use, how long to keep them in the microwave, and how to do it safely.

Should You Microwave Paper Towels?

Yes, it is possible to safely microwave paper towels. Using a paper towel in the microwave can make cooking food easier in more ways than one.

Some advantages of using paper towels in the microwave are

1. Prevent splatters and drips so your microwave stays clean
2. Help food heat evenly
3. Keep food soft by retaining moisture and heat
4. A paper towel can also act as a vent that keeps your food from overheating.

However, you must be careful when using paper towels in the microwave.

How do you safely microwave food with paper towels?

Paper towels can be used for many things while they are heated. They are cheap and easy to get. Using paper towels in the microwave is easy and low risk. However, if you don’t know how to use them safely, there is always some risk.

Here’s how you can use paper towels in the microwave in different arrangements:

Method 1: Put a paper towel on top of the food

If you want to prevent food from splashing everywhere, you can try this method.

Keeping a paper towel on top of the food while it heats also helps to retain heat and moisture so that the food heats properly. If you’d like, you can also dampen the paper towel before this step to help retain more moisture.

This is ideal for cooking foods like baked potatoes.

Method 2: Place a paper towel on the plate

Heating foods such as soups or savory dishes can cause them to splatter inside the microwave. To prevent this, you can take a plate and cover it with a paper towel.

You can then put the plate on top of the bowl so that the paper towel provides space for the heat to vent but not get on your food.

Method 3: Wrap the food in the paper towel

For this method, you will first need to moisten the paper towel. Then simply place the food inside the paper towel and wrap it up.

Wrapping food in a damp paper towel helps retain moisture and keeps food soft. This method is ideal for reheating foods like tortillas.

You don’t need to use a paper towel on utensils or anywhere else in the microwave if you wrap them around your food.

Method 4: Use the paper towel as a vent

A paper towel held over the food while it heats acts as a vent. It helps the heat pass through and ensures you don’t overheat.

In fact, this also helps to heat the food more evenly. You can use it as an alternative to plastic wrap. It’s an easy way to make your food taste even more delicious and prevent undercooking.

Tips for Microwaving Paper Towels Safely

Now that you know the ways to use a paper towel in the microwave, there are a few tricks you should follow to make sure you do it safely.

Ignoring any of them could lead to overheating and ignition. Here’s what you need to know about using paper towels in the microwave safely:

1. Always make sure paper towels are microwave safe.

Check the packaging to see if the paper towels you want to use are microwave safe. Although paper towels are generally safe to heat, if you can’t find that indication, you may need to reconsider.

2. Try to avoid recycled paper towels

Recycled paper towels may contain traces of substances that catch fire easily.

A microwave catching fire can be extremely dangerous, so you can never be too sure. It is better not to risk using recycled paper towels inside the microwave.

Tip 3: The printed side should face away from the food

If you use paper towels with printed designs, there is a chance that the ink will leave a trace on the food. It is best to keep the printed side of the paper towel out of contact with the food during heating.

Tip 4: Dampen the paper towel

This tip not only reduces the risk of paper towels becoming too dry, but also helps retain moisture. Using a damp paper towel when reheating foods like rice, pasta, and potatoes can make them soft and like new.

Tip 5: Do not heat paper towels by themselves in the microwave

Since paper towels have a low water content, they can dry out and catch fire quickly. You should also make sure not to heat the paper towels with easily flammable items.

Tip 6: Make sure not to use crumpled paper towels

Make sure the paper towel is not wrinkled, as it can increase the chance of a fire by retaining excessive heat. You should place it like a sheet or wrap it around food in thin layers.

How many paper towels can you use in the microwave at one time?

It is best to use only one or two paper towels in the microwave at a time.

Many paper towels can easily trap heat and reach high temperatures. Using multiple paper towels multiplies the amount of heat and increases the risk of fire.

So keep in mind that using multiple paper towels to create layers is not a good idea. Similarly, you should not fold paper towels to create multiple layers while microwaving them.

So, for example, if you plan to keep paper towels between foods, like tortillas, you can put a single one between two damp paper towels in the microwave at a time.

However, for a stack of tortillas or any other food item, it is best to cover the stack with a single damp paper towel rather than multiple paper towels. This approach ensures safety and efficacy.

How long can paper towels be used in the microwave?

Each food requires a different heating time. It is imperative to know how long you can use the paper towels.

Well, paper towels can last in the microwave for at least half an hour without risk of fire. However, we recommend that you microwave food for as short a time as possible for safety.

Can Bounty paper towels be used in the microwave?

Bounty is a reputable brand when it comes to paper towels. Paper towels are made from a quality material that can be microwaved.

However, please note that Bounty paper towels are only suitable for reheating for a short period of time. Also, as mentioned in the tips, keep the non-printed side of the towel toward the food. This is how you make sure there is no transfer of ink to your food.

Related questions:

What can’t you put in the microwave?

Now that you know that paper towels are microwave safe, let’s look at some things that aren’t:

• Plastic bags
• Plastic bottles
• Foil
• metal items
• Polystyrene foam

Are the paper bags microwave safe?

Although paper towels are microwave safe, that doesn’t mean paper bags are microwave safe. In fact, paper bags, especially brown ones, are considered unsafe to microwave.

The main reason is that paper bags cannot withstand extreme heat and are vulnerable to catching fire.

Another reason is that they contain chemicals that give off toxic gases when heated. These toxic gases can get into your food and cause health problems.

Final thoughts

If you’ve never thought about using paper towels in the microwave, now you have plenty of reasons. You can make cooking less messy, reduce cleanup time, and make your food softer and better tasting, all by using a paper towel.

Now that you know all the methods and tricks for using a paper towel in the microwave, you can make your cooking experience easier and your food more delicious.