Can You Microwave Wax Paper?

Wax paper is a useful item in the kitchen as it is a good alternative to plastic cling wrap when wrapping up food to go.

But some people are in a dilemma on whether or not the wax paper should be put in a microwave.

Here’s the deal…

The USDA has approved wax paper safe to use in a microwave 
as due to the short duration of most microwave dishes it does not stay long in the microwave to have any negative effects.

However, that also depends on the type of wax paper you use so read on to find out more…

Can Wax Paper be used in a Microwave Without It Melting?

Although wax paper is safe to use in reheating food in the microwave, it is not a heat-resistant material.

Once the temperature gets too high, the paper breaks down and smokes. For this reason, the wax paper should not be used in an oven under whichever circumstances.

Wax paper is safe on a microwave; however, it should only reheat leftover food. It is safe to warm up your sandwich at work when wrapped with wax paper.

When reheating pasta or soup dishes in the microwave, you can cover the food with wax paper.

Is Wax Paper Toxic?

The answer depends on the type of wax paper you are using, as there are different types.

Some wax paper types have wax made out of paraffin, a petroleum by-product that is odourless and white.

Such wax paper is not safe for handling food as it releases toxins when heated at high temperatures.

It deposits paraffin to your food if you use it to wrap food for heating in a microwave, leaving your food tasting like paraffin.

The other type of wax paper is made from organic wax, making it a lot safer; the wax is obtained from beeswax.

The wax is food-grade safe that poses no danger to your health if the wax gets into your food.

However, this type of wax paper is still not suitable for oven use as it will melt and burn.

So is it safe to microwave wax paper? Yes, it is, but use the right type of wax paper, where the wax is made from beeswax.

Tips for Safe Use of Wax Paper in a Microwave

You can use wax paper to steam foods, reheat leftovers, or as a disposable non-stick surface to ease cleanup.

Here are more safety tips when microwaving wax paper..

Use wax paper as a pan liner when grilling or making a mug cake in the microwave. The wax paper will reduce the mess easing cleanup.

Heat defrosted food while covering it with wax paper to promote even heating.

Wax paper does not stick to the food, and it helps in trapping heat for better results.

Ensure that the wax paper completely covers the food before cooking. If you do not want to use a microwave cover, the wax paper should cover the food completely.

This will trap steam and prevent food splatter.

FAQs

Q. Is Wax Paper Microwave Safe?

A. Wax paper is microwave-safe because it does not take long in the microwave to cause any significant damages.

Q. Is it dangerous to put wax paper in the microwave?

A. Wax paper made from petroleum by-products is dangerous to put in the microwave.

Q. Is microwaving wax paper bad?

A. It is not wrong to microwave wax paper, as long as you are using the right type of wax paper.

Q. Is microwaving wax paper toxic?

A. Microwaving wax paper made from beeswax is not toxic, but the one made from petroleum is toxic.

Q. What happens if I microwave wax paper?

A. If you microwave wax paper made from petroleum by-products, it releases toxins into your food at high temperatures.