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Do you warm plates in the microwave?

(91 Posts)
GrandmaKT Thu 03-Feb-22 19:46:02

Our microwave started spluttering and buzzing, so I just bought a new one (800w, no grill). Reading the instruction manual, it says it should not be used for heating plates. I have done this for years (it's one of the main things I use it for!). Could I have damaged my old one by doing this?

Lilypops Thu 03-Feb-22 22:37:13

I put plates in the the sink, then if I am straining water from potatoes or any veg , I let the boiling water from the pan strain over the plates, then dry them before putting the meal on them.

Woodmouse Thu 03-Feb-22 22:43:19

I have always heated my plates in the microwave. I can't abide my food being served on "cold" plates unless it's salad.

SpringyChicken Thu 03-Feb-22 22:45:09

I always warm plates (mostly in the oven at 120℃) but in the microwave (wetted) otherwise. I also warm the mugs in the microwave in winter before pouring out tea. None of us bolt our food so it's needed.

BlueBelle Thu 03-Feb-22 22:45:40

Never it clearly tells you not to use the microwave without food

SpringyChicken Thu 03-Feb-22 22:47:56

The water counts as the food, BlueBelle.

MayBee70 Thu 03-Feb-22 22:58:28

Oopsadaisy1

Always put a cup of water on top of plates or your Microwave could be damaged. Microwaves should always have something ‘wet’ in them when switched on.

Yes. That’s what I’ve always done too.

Lincslass Fri 04-Feb-22 08:32:18

I warm plates in my combi microwave, it has an oven programme so can warm plates at the lowest temp.

Elegran Fri 04-Feb-22 09:16:38

If I am heating part of the meal in the microwave (frozen veg, "baked" potatoes, gravy, custard, whatever) I just put the plates under or on top of the thing being heated. The plates heat up in the steam. I wouldn't heat just te plates in there. When the microwave isn't in use the plates go into hot water, or into the ordinary top oven, which gets quite warm when the bottom oven is on (I suspect the insulation isn't very good)

Redhead56 Fri 04-Feb-22 09:19:31

I have a proving draw if the ovens not on I will put plates in there.

Audi10 Fri 04-Feb-22 09:22:51

No never ever done it

Nanawind Fri 04-Feb-22 09:30:12

A few years ago we had a new oven. This was delivered when DH was out.
It's an all singing and dancing one lots of buttons and knobs.
It included a microwave. I'd gone out before DH got home.
I was going to call at the chippy on the way home.
So phoned DH to warm the plates. In the short space of time
he didn't know how to turn on the warming drawer.
So what he did was turn the gas fire on and held the plates in front to warm.
This is now a family joke asking dad/grandad to warm the plates.

Mapleleaf Fri 04-Feb-22 09:53:18

I’ve done it occasionally when reheating something, but mainly I use a table top hostess plate warmer that I’ve had for years. I dislike putting hot food onto cold plates.

henetha Fri 04-Feb-22 09:56:22

It has never occurred to me that plates can be warmed in the microwave!. I have a little warming oven above the main oven.

nadateturbe Fri 04-Feb-22 10:27:56

Husband has done this for years.

MiniMoon Fri 04-Feb-22 10:32:01

Rarely. My husband doesn't like hot food , so I usually serve it on to cold plates.
Over the years I've got used to it.

ExDancer Fri 04-Feb-22 10:39:16

I hate cold food (if it ought to be hot) but my DH lets his food go cold (well lukewarm) like Minimoons's. I can't understand it - he's the same with tea and coffee! Weird or what?
I've always used the MW to warm plates - seems I must stop!

Elegran Fri 04-Feb-22 13:23:15

It is OK if you are also heating up food in the Mwave at the same time.

AreWeThereYet Fri 04-Feb-22 13:24:17

I have some silicon plate warmers that you put between the plates in the microwave. We bought them about 30 years ago and still use them. The plate warmers get very hot and warm the plates.

AreWeThereYet Fri 04-Feb-22 14:00:48

We use these ones, I think. We bought them about 30 years ago but they look the same!

www.lakeland.co.uk/13008/Microwave-Plate-Warmers

Pepper59 Fri 04-Feb-22 14:12:11

No, I wouldn't heat plates in the microwave. I usually sit them in the grill while cooking, or I have an oven setting for plate warming. When I worked in catering, we had plate warmers that were operated by electric. We were told never to heat plates in the microwave, but ours were industrial not domestic. I'd still not heat plates in a domestic microwave.

NanKate Fri 04-Feb-22 18:29:40

Yes those are the mats we have Arewethereyet and ours are about 12 years old and are still going strong. ?

Greciangirl Sat 05-Feb-22 10:36:00

Never warm plates in microwave.

Always in the oven on low setting.
It has never occurred to me to warm then in the microwave.
I don’t know why.

Janetashbolt Sat 05-Feb-22 10:40:46

I warm plates by putting some water on them then microwaving for 1 minute. I have a combi microwave and no oven, if using the oven part of the microwave I warm the plates on the top of the cabinet.

JackyB Sat 05-Feb-22 10:55:42

In the recipe book that came with my microwave there is a list of things you can do in there, such as popcorn making and softening of ice cream. One of them is warming plates and dishes.

However, it also says you can put yeast doughs in to rise and warm baby foods in there, which I would not do.

If you drop a spoonful of water on to the plates before heating them, surely you can call it boiling water and not warming plates, so the microwave won't know any better?

HazelGreen Sat 05-Feb-22 10:58:17

Interesting posts. Never thought of using microwave just for plate but I often do a veg in a small pot, could try putting plate under and see if it warms at same time? I use plates as lids for any hob pots and they warm that way or in the oven if using the oven. The top oven is so well insulated now that little heat escapes from lower oven when in use... used to be a good place to keep things warm.