Top 11+ things you shouldn’t put in the microwave – but probably do

1. Leftover potatoes

It's the usual story. You're stuffed full of dinner, you can't eat another bite, yet there's still a few roast potatoes left over (which we all know are the best bit of any meal). You can just stick them in the microwave later on, right? Wrong. Potatoes can often be a source of Clostridium botulinum, the botulism bacteria, which could make you very unwell if consumed. Spores of this kind can multiply in potatoes left at room temperature and microwaving won't be enough to kill it. Plus your leftover spuds could end up becoming dried out and tough if you microwave them. It's far better instead to reheat them in the oven or, if you have one, the airfryer - and follow instructions carefully to ensure they're safe to eat (Picture: Getty Images)

2. Whole boiled eggs

How do you like your eggs in the morning? Because 'microwaved' could well be the wrong answer, depending on how you prefer yours. While it's perfectly fine to cook scrambled or fried eggs in your microwave, boiling them is another matter altogether. It's not that you can't microwave them , just that you probably shouldn't. This is because cooking a boiled egg in the microwave - either in its shell, or pre-cooked and heated up - causes steam to build up inside it, which has nowhere to go due to its structure. Meaning there's a risk it'll explode once you break the shell or cut into it. At best, this could create a lot of mess, at worst it could burn you. Instead, boil your eggs traditionally on the hob, or - if you must use the microwave for this - cut the egg into quarters before you warm it up (Picture: Getty Images)

3. Tomato sauce

Hands up everyone who's ever cooked pasta and warmed up some tomato sauce in the microwave for a quick and easy dinner? Heating sauce this way is a pretty common practice but it's likely to cause a mess. The heat and steam produced has a hard time escaping, meaning when it finally bursts through it causes the liquid to splatter all over the walls of the microwave. It's usually better to warm up sauce on the hob, stirring regularly to prevent steam build-up (Picture: Getty Images)

4. Aluminium foil

We would really hope you already know this one. Microwave currents can lead to the foil sparking, creating a very real fire risk. On a more practical level, food wrapped in foil may not reheat or cook properly anyway since the rays will reflect off the foil and possibly damage your microwave instead. Just avoid it (Picture: Getty Images)

5. Raw peppers

Who doesn't love to spice up a chilli or pep up a pasta dish with a spot of pepper? Quite a lot of us as it happens, but under no circumstances should you give raw peppers the once over in the microwave. That's because peppers contain a compound called capsicum - that's what makes them so hot and zingy - and if you heat one up in the microwave it'll release said compound into the enclosed space around it. The second you open the door the spicy hot air will be released and could fly straight into your eyes, nose, throat, lungs...well anywhere really. It's far safer to either roast, grill or saute your peppers instead (Picture: Getty Images)

6. Plastic containers

This is a strange one because there are some circumstances under which it's OK to stick a plastic container in the microwave. But if you want to heat up those leftovers or a takeaway that arrived in plastic boxes, then you need to exercise extreme caution. According to research published in the medical journal Edocrinology, bisphenol A - a chemical often found in plastic - is 'related to a wide range of human noncommunicable diseases based on evidence from human studies'. And if plastic containing bisphenol is heated in the microwave, there's a risk that small amounts of it could pass into your food. There are however plastic containers that are microwave safe so always check to see if yours is before zapping. If in doubt though, always remove the food from the container and put it on a microwaveable plate to warm it up (Picture: Getty Images)

7. Whole grapes

There aren't many circumstances under which you'd want to heat up grapes in the microwave but you might find yourself sticking them in there as part of another dish. We're here to tell you that you shouldn't. The fruit can become super-heated when exposed to microwave level temperatures, creating a plasma-like substance. Which is not only pulpy and unpleasant but could cause them explode in the microwave, while you're stirring your food or even when you try to eat them. If you want to heat up a dish involving grapes, use the oven instead (Picture: Getty Images)

8. Metal bowls and utensils

Just as sticking foil in your microwave is a very bad idea, you should also avoid putting anything metal in there as it will reflect the microwaves, potentially causing arcing and sparking and creating a fire hazard. The only exception is certain metal containers which have been designed for microwave use and are marked safe. Overall though it's a no-no, and it also applies to things you may not consider like dishes with metallic designs or a stainless steel travel mug. Remember to take your fork off the plate before you blast it (Picture: Getty Images)

9. Frozen meat

Fancy a steak for dinner? If you're using the microwave to cook a frozen cut of beef from scratch then you probably should consider another method. Microwaves tend to cook food unevenly, and cooking frozen meat in yours could result in some parts remaining improperly cooked, allowing bacteria to thrive which could give you an unwanted case of food poisoning. Other parts may become overcooked and taste rubbery, while the overall flavour of the meat itself may change. And of course you can't sear or brown meat in a microwave - which will only contribute to a less than tasty meal. You can use your microwave to defrost meat or poultry - if yours has a defrost setting - but follow the instructions in your manual carefully and cook the meat thoroughly as soon as it's defrosted to avoid harmful bacteria growth (Picture: Getty Images)

10. Paper bags or cardboard

Like plastic containers, anything which comes to you in a paper bag - such as a takeaway for example - should be approached with extreme caution. For one thing they could ignite and catch fire. For another, 2020 research from the National Library Of Medicine in the US suggests some paper products contain a harmful chemical called PFAs, which could release toxins into the food if heated. Some paper products can be microwaved, however, including paper towels - which are often used to cover food - and some paper plates, but always check they are microwave safe before use as some may be coated in a thin layer of plastic which should not be zapped (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

11. Nothing

While pre-heating an empty oven is common, don't turn your microwave on with nothing inside. The beams inside will bounce back to the magnetron, causing it to overheat and potentially causing the whole thing to burst into flames. So it goes without saying - always check you've put something in there first before you press start (Picture: Getty Images)