Can You Put Metal in a Convection Microwave Oven to Heat or Cook Food?

There used to be a joke that people mistook a microwave oven for a TV. Both of them were pretty similar in looks back in the days. 

But with the invention of the microwave, we have come to enjoy foods faster than ever. It uses a radiation heating system to heat anything you want. And then came the convection microwave oven, which is a better and healthier option than a microwave.

Although you had specific rules with a traditional microwave oven, there seem to be not so many rules with a convection microwave. You can pop in anything anytime and heat it up. 

But can you put metal in a convection microwave oven, this is the question in a lot of people’s minds. We are going to discuss that in this article.

Can You Put Metal in a Convection Microwave Oven

The straight answer would be yes, you can use metal cookware in a convection microwave oven. Either to heat or cook food, you can use any type of metal cookware in your convection oven. But there is a twist to it. 

What Cookware Is Best for a Convection Microwave Oven

You can practically use anything in a convection microwave. As it uses hot air to cook the dish you have put in it, there will be no harm to your cookware whatsoever.

But keep in mind, it uses hot air, not radiation like a traditional microwave. So it will take time to cook your food. The thicker the cooking pot, the longer it will take. So best go with a slim outer shell pot. 

Any cookware is safe in a convection oven. You can even put it in a foil tray and it won’t create any static from it. But mind it, do not put an empty dish in the convection oven. It might get too hot for your hand and cause damage to the device itself.

What Type of Cookware Is Not Suitable for Convection Microwave Oven

Although there is no limitation to what type of cookware you use in a convection microwave oven, it is better to use lighter cookware in it. 

This allows the heat distribution accordingly. Also, using flat surface cookware benefits a ton. The hot air can distribute all around the food you are cooking. It also takes less time to cook in a flat pot rather than a round bottom pan in a convection microwave.

One thing a convection microwave has is a rack. You might think it is not necessary. But it is a key element while you are cooking in it. This allows the air to flow beneath the cookware and cook from the bottom. 

So go crazy with glass, ceramic, pyrex, stainless, steel, or even iron cookware in a convection microwave oven. It is the same as a gas oven, but better functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an aluminum pan in a convection microwave?

Yes. You can use an aluminum pan in a convection microwave oven. It is even one of the best metal cookware to put in a convection oven, due to its lightweight and thickness. The low rim of an aluminum pan gives more room for the hot air circulating inside the oven to cook foods thoroughly. 

What kind of pan can you use in a convection microwave?

You can use any type of pan in your convection microwave oven. Be it glass, pyrex, ceramic, stainless, steel, iron, aluminum, or anything else. But one thing that you should keep in mind, the rim of the pan should be thin. Thicker pans will make it hard for the oven’s hot air to cook the food. 

Can I use plastic in a convection microwave?

As plastic melts faster in a hot environment, especially when heated, you should not use plastic in a convection microwave. No matter how thick it is. It not only will melt and destroy your oven but also the plastic microparticles can mix in with your food. 

Can I put Tupperware in a convection microwave oven?

Tupperware is mainly made out of plastics. Depending on how they are made, how much heat they can deal with is the key to using them in a convection microwave. If your Tupperware comes with a level friendly to microwaves, then you can use them in a convection microwave. But we suggest not to heat up any plastic container. 

Conclusion

By now, you know what you can do with your convection microwave. You can put almost anything in your oven and it will be safe. Only remember that the rim is not thick. This will allow your food to heat up or cook perfectly. Another thing you should keep in mind, heating up plastic isn’t healthy for anyone. No matter how good the levels say. Microparticles of the plastics get attached to your food when it is heated up. You can store your foods in the refrigerator in a food-grade container, but do not heat them up.