Can Milk Be Microwaved? What You Should Know!

Some people use microwaves for just heating and reheating food while some use it for baking, cooking and even making tandoori food like tikkas. For someone who is only using this for reheating purposes, the first question that pops into our head is – can milk be microwaved?

Gas stoves and microwave ovens work on completely different principles. Unlike the regular gas ovens where the heat is generated due to fire (direct heat), the heat in a microwave is generated because of the radiations having microwave frequencies. Microwaves use electromagnetic radiation to cook food. It is a combination of electrical and magnetic waves. The operation of the microwave oven is much more complex and challenging than a regular gas stove.

Be it milk for cereal or for tea, it needs to be warm. Yes, you can also do it the traditional way on your gas top, but it takes up more time than required. Sometimes when you are running late for work or school, using the microwave to warm milk is a quicker alternative.

However, before you place a bowl filled with milk inside the microwave oven, let’s see how to warm milk in the microwave, the precautions that you have to exercise, and other relevant information.

Material Of The Containers To Be Used In A Microwave For Heating Milk

Can milk be microwaved in a plastic container? How about a glass one? Before you put the milk inside the microwave for heating it up, you need to know about the containers which are microwave safe.

Once you switch on the machine and close the door, the magnetron inside the microwave starts generating circular waves of microwave radiations. These radiations pass through the container and start heating the liquid inside. This is why the container should be made from a material that can withstand the radiations easily.

Here is a list of materials that are microwave safe –

• Ceramic containers.
• Plastic containers which are labeled to be microwave safe.
• Glass containers that can resist the heating process of microwave.

Do not use stainless steel, aluminium, or other metal containers. Even though plastic utensils can be used, doesn’t mean it is recommended. If the plastic container is damaged, it can leech harmful substances in your food. Be sure to use only those containers that are marked safe for microwave oven use.

What Is The Right Way To Heat Milk In The Microwave?

Now, our next topic of discussion about can milk be microwaved or not is regarding the right way to use the appliance for warming milk. Here is a brief description of how you can heat milk without causing a disastrous mess.

1. First, pour the milk in a container that is microwave safe. It is best if you don’t fill the entire container with the liquid for heating.
2. Once you place the container on the rotating plate Brackets (turntable), close the door and make sure that no gap is there between the door and the appliance body. You have to change the oven settings to medium-high and set the timer to a minimum of fifteen seconds.
3. Once the timer will go off, take out the container, and stir the milk to distribute the heat evenly throughout the liquid. Again, place the container inside and set the timer to fifteen seconds.
4. Repeat the process at every fifteen seconds interval till you see steam coming out of the milk. You can also check the temperature of the liquid using a thermometer to ensure that it has been warmed correctly.

What Are The Precautionary Measures You Have To Exercise While Heating Milk?

Taking adequate safety precautions is important while using a microwave. If the correct container, or the right temperature is not set, it can result in damage. Lets have a look at how to boil milk in the microwave and what are the safety measure you must take if you are using the microwave to heat milk.

• Firstly, if you are an amateur user, you have to learn about the microwave settings. Without knowing about the operational settings, you might cause disrupt the settings.
• Check whether the door is locked correctly or not after placing the milk container inside.
• Do not fill the container until the rim with milk. This will cause spillage and also, it will become quite difficult for you to stir the milk in intervals.
• Use only those containers which are marked safe for microwave use. If you are using some other material, they might break because of uneven expansion of the container walls under the heat generated by the radiations.
• Always place the container right in the middle of the rotating plate inside the appliance.

What Is The Correct Temperature To Warm Milk?

Can milk be microwaved at any temperature? Are there any temperature or timer rules for warming the milk and boiling it? Can the temperature be altered in a microwave as a gas oven for heating milk? These are some of the common questions that people ask whenever they have to heat the milk for the first time in a microwave. And truth be told, none of these questions are baseless. Having such concerns at the first help will actually help you in avoiding accidents and mishaps in your kitchen.

• First, the microwave power should not be more than seventy percent, i.e., the perfect setting for heating milk in the microwave is medium-high.
• No matter whether you are heating or boiling the milk, you have to take out the container and stir the liquid every fifteen seconds. The stirring will prevent the uneven heating of the liquid and hence scorching of milk.
• If you plan to heat the milk and thicken it for custard, you need to heat one cup of the liquid for at least two to three minutes, stirring every quarter of a minute.
• To heat the milk at drinkable temperature, you have to keep the container inside for sixty seconds to ninety seconds max.
• Chilled milk? Need milk at room temperature? Heat the milk for forty to forty-five seconds in the microwave.

The time settings that we have provided here might differ from one microwave to another, depending on the wattage and power consumption. But yes, a low powered microwave will take longer to heat the milk than a high-wattage appliance.

Is Heating Milk In The Microwave Safe For Your Health?

Often there are speculations regarding the health issues when it comes to microwave cooking and heating. Whenever the question like can milk be microwaved arises, people are skeptical about it. People usually believe that since radiations are the main source of heat generation, the milk inside the oven will be harmful for our health. Another question that commonly arises is that of the vitamins and minerals, specifically calcium in microwave heated milk. Well, even though there are no direct results, studies have revealed the following –

• Microwave radiations simply increase the temperature of the milk by increasing molecular agitation and intermolecular energy.
• The vitamins present in the milk like Vitamin A, E, B6 and B2 do not react or break down when the liquid is heated inside the microwave.
• Generally, if a liquid contains free ions, they might get charged and cause electric sparks when placed inside the microwave. This is because the radiations that emerge from the magnetron not only contain heat but also they contain charges. But, in milk, there is no such free ion that can be charged by the waves. Hence, no electric sparks will be generated.

 So, yes, microwave milk is absolutely safe to drink!

Conclusion

Heating milk in the microwave is an easy task if you know your appliance well. You have to know about the timer settings, the power consumption of the appliance, the functional settings and so on for an uninterrupted experience. This discussion on can milk be microwaved, might help you clear your speculations and confusions regarding this topic.

Milk, a pantry staple, is loaded with calcium and other vital nutrients and can be used to make paneer, curd, desserts and even soups. Here are 11 delicious dishes you can make using milk.

Disclaimer – This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information before making any dietary changes.