Use a Microwave Safely
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What you will learn
- 1Use a microwave only with a grown-up’s OK and help
- 2Sort dishes into microwave-safe and never in the microwave
- 3Cover food loosely, heat it for short times, and stir it
- 4Explain why a grown-up takes out hot food and why you open lids away from your face
Mini Lesson
A microwave warms food fast. It is handy, but the food, the dish, and the steam can get very hot. Some things must never go inside it. You only use a microwave when a grown-up says OK and is there to help. Learn the safe way, step by step.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- ASK first: only use the microwave with a grown-up’s OK, and with the grown-up there.
- NO METAL: never put metal, foil, or a dish with gold or silver trim inside. Never run it empty.
- USE a microwave-safe dish: look for a dish that says it is microwave-safe, or ask a grown-up.
- COVER loosely: set a lid or cover on top, but leave a small gap so steam can get out.
- SHORT times: start with a short time, then stir the food and check it. Add more time if needed.
- LET a grown-up take it out: the food and the dish get very hot, so a grown-up lifts it out with oven mitts.
♨️ After the Beep
- OPEN lids away from your face: hot steam rushes out and can burn.
- LET it stand for a minute, then check the food is not too hot before you eat it.
A grown-up is in charge of the microwave. Never use it alone. If you see sparks or smoke, or hear popping or crackling, step back, do not open the door, and tell a grown-up right away. The grown-up turns it off.
Words to know
microwave
A kitchen machine that warms food fast.
e.g. A grown-up helps me use the microwave.
microwave-safe
A dish that is made to go in the microwave.
e.g. This glass bowl is microwave-safe.
metal
Hard, shiny stuff like forks, foil, and pans. It never goes in a microwave.
e.g. Take the metal spoon out of the bowl.
steam
Hot, wet air that comes off hot food. It can burn.
e.g. Open the lid away from your face so the steam goes the other way.
stir
To mix food around with a spoon.
e.g. Stir the soup, then warm it a little more.
oven mitts
Thick, padded gloves that protect hands from hot dishes.
e.g. A grown-up uses oven mitts to take out the bowl.
💡 Handy Tip: warm food in short bursts and stir in between. Stirring spreads the heat, so there are no cold spots and no surprise hot spots.
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