The Issue
Can you put napkins in the microwave is a question that isn’t the easiest to answer because you need to consider a couple of things.
However, the best part is I can walk you through it so you make sure you don’t burn your house down.
Is It Safe To Microwave A Napkin?
This depends on the type of napkin you use. There are many factors to consider before putting your napkin in a microwave.
What You Risk If You Don’t Pay Attention to the Napkin You Put In the Microwave
- Fire
- Electrical sparks (if the napkin has metal in it or embroidered on it. We’ll talk more about this)
- Microwave damage
- House Damage
- Harmful Chemical exposure
Why Would You Need To Put a Napkin In The Microwave In The First Place?
Cover The Food
While there are microwave covers for plates, some people find using a napkin to be more convenient.
This could be because they’re in a rush or because they’re warming something up quickly.
Using a napkin to cover your food in the microwave can help you prevent:
- Spills or any leaking from the food on the plate.
- Splattering from the food. This is especially useful when warming up sauces.
- Moisture loss. We will talk about this in a bit, but covering your food with a napkin can actually help your food taste better.
To Keep Food Moist
Some may not know this trick, but if you want to keep bread rolls, pita, or buns moist, a common trick some chefs use is a damp napkin.
If you wrap the food in the damp napkin, you will find that the food doesn’t dry out from the heat.
When you wrap the food, since the dampness creates a barrier between the food and the heat, the napkin will take the majority of the heat. This helps give your food the right amount of heat without drying it out.
Cleaning Tough Stains
Another reason one might ask “can you put napkins in the microwave?” is because they want to clean tough stains.
One way you can clean tough stains is to first dampen the cloth, and then put it in the microwave to heat it up a bit.
Some of you might be thinking, “Why not just use hot water so you don’t need the microwave?”
The reason why some people prefer using the microwave is to get an even distribution of heat throughout the napkin. This avoids having one section of the napkin hotter than the others.
Some also don’t want to wait for the water to heat up. However, this method does come with some risks that we will talk about later on.
A warm damp napkin is great for tough stains as a gentle steam is released.
Steam loosens:
- Hardened sauces
- Sticky oils
- Dried food splatters
- Sugary residues
A warm damp napkin can also help with:
- Softening spilled wax
- Loosening hardened butter or chocolate
- Cleaning sticky jars
- Wiping spills on countertops
- Removing labels from glass containers
Warming Up Plates And Avoid Scratching
This is not common, but it is something some people do.
For those who have bigger microwaves and prefer to warm up multiple plates, a napkin is sometimes used between the plates to avoid scratching while they warm up with the food.
It is also another way to ensure that the heat is distributed more evenly among the plates.
Some people also place the plates on top of napkins to protect them. Examples include:
- Ceramic plates
- Thin porcelain plates
- Plates with slightly uneven bottoms
This is mainly seen in more professional environments like restaurants, but it is worth mentioning.
Factors you should consider before putting a napkin in the microwave
- What’s It Made Of?
- Presence Of Synthetic Fibres
- Chemicals/Color Dyes
- Thickness Of The Napkin and Density of The weave
- Food Or Oil Residue
- Metallic Threading Or Prints
- How Long You’ll Microwave It For
- Microwave Wattage Differences
- What’s It Made Of?
You should avoid flammable materials. In this case, materials like linen and cotton are your best options.
If you choose paper, you run the risk of setting your microwave on fire. When looking at paper napkins versus cloth napkins, cloth napkins are almost always superior.
Presence Of Synthetic Fibres
This is similar to our previous point, but this is an important factor to consider which is why I made it a separate factor to consider.
When speaking both synthetic fibres I am referring to fibres such as
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Rayon
Synthetic fibres are highly flammable. This is a factor that isn’t mentioned often because so many napkins in today's world include synthetic fibres in them.
Here is the problem with putting synthetic fibers in a microwave
- They melt under heat
- They release chemicals when exposed to heat
- They stick to the microwave interior
- They give off a burnt plastic smell which can then influence how your food smells.
When looking at napkins, every time you see something that says “cotton blend”, there is a big chance the napkin is mainly made up of polyester (synthetic) with just a little bit of cotton. This is why it's important to go for pure fabrics instead of blends.
Chemicals/Color Dyes
This is similar to our synthetic fibers point which is why we're listing this factor to consider right now. Color dyes are often used to make the napkin look more aesthetic.
While the dyes do make the napkins look aesthetic sometimes, you run the risk of exposing your home to unnecessary chemicals.
Heat is a very big factor that will cause chemicals to be exposed to the environment. Since the microwave is a very small space that is enclosed, putting a napkin that has chemicals and color dye in it with your food is going to be harmful for your health.
It is also worth pointing out that many of the napkins that have color in them were done chemically.
This is why it's also important to look at the company and see how they are making their items.
Companies that have been doing this for a long time will usually not use chemicals when using a different color. They instead use a different color yarn when weaving the item.
Thickness Of The Napkin and Density of The Weave
To put it simply, when looking at a thickness of an app can consider this:
Thinner napkins → Dries out fast → Higher risk for fire
Thicker material (i.e. linen or cotton) → retain moisture → safer and avoids fires better
Napkins are overlooked when purchasing.
This makes people believe that cheap napkins will suffice, but in the long run, cheap napkins cause you to worry more about the safety of your home.
When looking at the density of the weave, the tighter the weave, the better the napkin
- The more heat it can trap
- The slower moisture escapes
- The more evenly it warms
Loosely woven napkins or fluffy paper towels ignite more easily since the airflow is higher in these napkins, drying them out faster. As stated before, the faster the napkin dries, the higher risk for fire hazard there is.
Tightly woven fabrics such as linen are able to stay stable under heat.
Linen is especially known for being tightly woven, meaning it’s much more durable while still maintaining a high performance.
Food Or Oil Residue
This is often one you need to consider especially if the napkin has been used before.
If the napkin has
- Grease
- Oil
- Butter
- Food stains
The napkin will heat much faster.
Oil especially can absorb microwave energy more efficiently than water. This means that the oil can lead the napkin to catch fire very quickly.
So to summarize, make sure your napkin is clean.
Metallic Threading Or Prints
This is a small detail that many don't consider.
Some napkins (especially the decorated ones) include:
- Metallic embroidery
- Metallic stitching
- Metallic foil prints
- Metallic edging
It is very important to ensure your napkin does not have any metallic fibers or thread in them. It will cause sparks in the microwave, leading to a fire.
How Long You’ll Microwave It For
It's important here to consider that you can't microwave a napkin for too long. Napkins can really only be used for short times. If it's in the microwave for too long, it can catch fire.
Microwave Wattage Differences
An important factor that you want to consider which is why I left it last. is that the higher the wattage, the faster something can heat up.
Microwaves of the weaker wattage (600W), might not see these issues.
When I'm referring to higher wattage microwaves, I'm referring to 900W-1200W
Can You Microwave Cloth Napkins
Yes but you need to ensure no chemicals, synthetics, or metals are in the cloth napkin and that it's damp.
Cloth napkins that are made from natural fabrics like linen are safer than paper napkins and other items such as paper towels to use in the microwave.
How To Safely Use A Napkin In The Microwave
- Napkin Should Be Damp: This way the water absorbs the microwave energy
- Natural Fibres Only: Synthetic fibres will release chemicals
- Avoid Printed Or Decorated Napkins: These are highly flammable. This shouldn’t be confused with designs WOVEN onto the napkin however. Designs WOVEN onto the napkin is not the same thing and is safer
- Short Microwave Times: Too long and you risk something catching on fire
- Clean Napkins Only: Any grease, oils, or anything related are flammable
- No Direct Contact With Microwave Walls: This dries the napkin faster, leading to fires
- Short Tasks: Warming bread, covering food, creating a warm damp wipe
- If It Smells Or Browns, Stop Immediately
Alternatives
Besides napkins, you can also use other items that are safer to use in the microwave
- Microwavable plastic lids are built to cover food as they’re in the microwave
- Parchment paper provided it is plain and natural (no chemicals or dyes)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Microwave Paper Napkins?
Yes but you need to ensure it’s a plain napkin and no synthetics were used to make it as well as chemicals or dyes. If you don’t, this can cause an electrical fire and severe damage to your microwave.
Refer to the “Factors To Consider” section for more.
Can You Put Paper Towels In The Microwave?
Yes you can, but you need to ensure they are plain paper towels. Napkins with chemicals, dyes, scents, or synthetics are dangerous to put in the microwave. The same applies with paper towels.
If the paper towels have these hazardous materials on them, the same chemical exposure can happen and have a negative effect on your health and your food. So as long as it’s a plain paper towel and you are microwaving it briefly you should be fine.
When microwaving, you want to do the same thing you would do for a napkin and ensure that the paper towel is damp. This allows the food to be evenly warmed, and also avoids any fire since it’s not dry.
Can You Put Tissues In The Microwave?
No and you should stay away from this. Tissues in the microwave are extremely dangerous since they are thin materials.
Tissues are extremely thin, making them more susceptible to drying out quickly and catching fire. They aren’t meant to be exposed to extreme heat.
If you need to cover your food and want to use a cloth, look for thicker, naturally made materials for health and safety
Can You Microwave Paper?
If it is plain parchment paper then yes. But it needs to be plain parchment paper that isn't made with chemicals
Overall can you put napkins in the microwave? Yes but it must be
- Natural fabrics like linen
- Damp
- Not touching the microwave walls
- Clean
- No printed or decorated napkins with synthetic metals (designs woven into the fabric is not the same)
