Can You Microwave a Wooden Bowl, or Put Hot Food in It?

No, it is best not to microwave a wooden bowl. Microwaves heat the water inside the wood, which dries it out unevenly and can lead to cracks, warping, a damaged finish and, in rare cases, scorching. Heat the food in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic dish, then move it to the wooden bowl to serve.

The same goes for Maple Origins pieces. Our bowls, plates and trays are made in Southington, Connecticut, from recycled maple wood combined with plastic, and because they contain real maple wood we do not recommend microwave cooking in them. They are made for cold or warm foods.

Is it safe to put wood in the microwave?

It is not a good idea. A microwave works by heating the water in whatever is inside it. Wood always holds some moisture, so a wooden bowl heats from within. That moisture turns to steam and leaves the wood faster than it can move through the grain, and the bowl dries unevenly.

The results tend to build up over several uses rather than all at once:

• Cracks and splits, often starting at the rim or the base where the wood is thinnest or thickest.
• Warping, so the bowl rocks on the table.
• A damaged finish. Oils, waxes and lacquers can soften or cloud with heat, and glued or laminated bowls can loosen at the seams.
• Hot spots and scorching. Rarely, a very dry thin spot can scorch, especially with a long run time and little food in the bowl.

None of that is a good trade for one fewer dish in the sink.

Can wood composite bowls go in the microwave?

It depends on the product, so follow the maker's instructions. Composites are made in different ways, and some are labeled microwave safe while many are not.

For Maple Origins, the answer is no. Our pieces are a wood plastic composite with real maple wood inside, and our care guide asks you to treat them like any wooden bowl around the microwave. Every product page says the same thing: not for the microwave.

The rest of the kitchen routine is easy. All Maple Origins products are top-shelf dishwasher safe with any regular detergent, and they can also be hand-washed in hot or warm water.

Can you put hot food in a wooden bowl?

For a solid wooden bowl, warm food is generally fine for serving, while boiling liquids and food straight off the stove or out of the oven are harder on the wood and the finish. Letting a dish cool for a few minutes before it goes in the bowl is the common advice from wooden bowl makers.

For Maple Origins pieces we keep it simple: they are made for cold or warm foods. That covers a lot of a family table, including:

• Green salads, pasta salads and potato salad in the Salad Bowl.
• Popcorn, chips, pretzels and fruit in the Snack Bowl.
• Cereal, yogurt and ice cream in the Cereal Bowl.
• Sides, desserts and rolls in the Serving Bowl.
• A fruit and cheese spread or burgers and hot dogs carried in from the grill on the Party Tray.

For soups, stews or a pot of chili straight from the stove, serve from a heat-safe pot or dish and let portions cool to warm before they go into a composite or wooden bowl.

How do I serve hot dishes at a party without microwaving the serving bowl?

Plan the table so hot food stays in heat-safe cookware and the wooden or composite pieces carry everything else. A few ways families do it:

• Serve hot mains from the pot or baking dish on a trivet, and let guests fill their own plates.
• Use the bowls for the cold and warm sides: green salad, pasta salad, fruit, rolls, chips and dips.
• Reheat in batches in a microwave-safe dish, then top up the serving bowl once the food has cooled to warm.
• Put a tray under the buffet line. A large tray keeps drips off the tablecloth and makes it easy to carry several bowls back to the kitchen at once.

That way the good-looking pieces stay on the table all evening and nothing has to go near the microwave.

What kind of bowls are microwave safe?

Look for the words "microwave safe" or a microwave symbol on the bottom of the dish. In general:

• Usually microwave safe: glass and ceramic dishes labeled for it, and plastic containers marked microwave safe.
• Check first: stoneware and pottery with unknown glazes, and composites or plastics without a label.
• Keep out: wood, anything with metal trim or metallic paint, and foam or thin takeout containers not marked for the microwave.

When in doubt, use the dish you know is safe for heating, and save the wooden or composite bowl for serving.

How do you tell if a bowl is microwave safe without a label?

The safest choice with an unlabeled bowl is to skip the microwave. Some people run a short test with a cup of water next to the empty dish to see whether the dish itself gets hot. That can rule a dish out, but it does not tell you how the dish will behave over months of use, and it says nothing about a wooden bowl drying out. For wood, there is no test to run: the answer is no.

What happens if you already microwaved a wooden bowl?

Let it cool completely, then look it over. A bowl that only looks dull or dry can often be brought back with a little food-safe bowl oil or board conditioner on a solid wooden bowl. A crack, a warp or a strong scorched smell are signs to stop serving food in it.

For a Maple Origins piece, check for any change in shape or surface. If something does not look right, get in touch with us and we will do our best to help.

A simple routine for wooden and composite bowls

• Warm food in a microwave-safe dish, then serve it in your bowl.
• Let very hot food cool to warm before it goes in.
• Wash Maple Origins pieces on the top rack, or by hand in warm water.
• Skip metal scrub pads. Stainless steel and copper pads will scratch our products.
• For stains, scrub by hand with dish soap and kosher salt or baking soda plus a splash of white vinegar.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't wooden bowls go in the microwave?

Wood holds moisture, and microwaves heat that moisture quickly and unevenly. Over repeated use that tends to dry, crack or warp the bowl and can damage its finish.

Can I reheat leftovers in a Maple Origins bowl?

We do not recommend it. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish, then transfer the food to your bowl to serve.

Is it healthy to eat out of wooden bowls?

Many families have eaten from wooden bowls for generations. Keep any bowl clean, dry it well, and retire it if it cracks deeply, since cracks are hard to clean.

Do Maple Origins bowls go in the dishwasher?

Yes, on the top shelf, with any regular dishwasher detergent.

Before you reach for the microwave

Keep one microwave-safe dish handy for reheating and let the wooden and composite pieces do the serving. If you are building a set for everyday meals, the 3-Pack Cereal Bowl Set and the 3-Piece Serving Set come in solid colors and three-color collection mixes, and every piece washes on the top rack.