Can you microwave wax paper? The short answer is YES, you can. There are a lot of authority sites on the internet, which would tell you so.
The official site of the United States Department of Agriculture mentions that wax paper, parchment paper, and cooking bags are safe to be microwaved.
The official site of Reynolds features product descriptions of its wax papers and sandwich bags. They clearly say that though wax papers are not oven-safe, both wax and parchment papers can be used in the microwave.
Why microwave wax papers at all? What are the benefits?
There are two tangible benefits of using wax papers in a microwave.
1. They can be used to cover the food which is put in the microwave safely. This prevents splatter and any other messes.
2. The wax paper retains heat much more. This helps in heating the food faster without actually steaming it. Hence, it is often used to cover some meats like hamburgers, chicken, and roasts.
If wax paper can be microwaved, how do you safely do it?
Now, in case you would like to use it, you can follow some straightforward steps. Firstly, use wax paper of a good company like Reynolds. They would lead to better results.
Secondly, cut the wax paper into squares of appropriate sizes. These should not be too large to lead to unnecessary waste of wax paper.
However, they must be big enough to get the food or container covered.
Lastly, put the wax paper over the container being microwaved. If you are not using a container, make sure that the wax paper covers the food adequately.
How long can you heat wax paper?
In everyday usage, wax paper will never get to the point of combustion. Hence, you can heat it for quite a substantial amount of time without worrying about anything at all.
In fact, this property makes the wax paper much more useful than plastic wraps, which tend to burn out easily.
Precautions to be taken while using wax paper in the microwave
There are some pertinent issues with the use of wax paper. So, it is crucial to keep them in mind before you start using them frequently.
Firstly, if you are using a convection microwave, the chances are that the convection fan would blow the wax paper away. Hence, it is advisable to cut the wax papers to larger sizes and tuck them under the food or the container.
Secondly, be sure to check for any metal flecks on the wax paper. This is especially true if you are using the same paper several times. They might ignite and have terrible consequences.
Thirdly, make sure not to use too much wax paper. If you have purchased a ready to eat meal, there is a probability that some wax paper is already present in the product. So, keep in mind to check that before proceeding to use more wax paper.
Conclusion:
Be rest assured that it is safe to microwave wax paper. Just make sure to use a suitable company paper. Also, please follow the appropriate steps while doing so. Lastly, make sure you take the precautions mentioned above for a smoother cooking experience!
Sources:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/appliances-and-thermometers/cooking-safely-in-the-microwave/cooking-safely-in-the-microwave-oven
http://www.reynoldskitchens.com/wax-paper-sandwich-bags/
https://www.quora.com/Can-waxpaper-be-used-to-heat-up-meals-in-the-microwave-oven
http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=18855
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_paper
