Stop!
Don’t put that travel mug in the microwave!
At least not until you’re sure it’s safe.
Because some of them are perfectly fine to microwave, while others are not at all.
How do you tell the difference?
Well, the first step is to check the box it came in, the instructions it came with or the tag that was hanging on it when you got it. Those will always tell you whether you can put that particular tumbler in the microwave.
If you no longer have any of those, you’ll have to guess. But there are a few simple guidelines you can follow.
Can You Put A Travel Mug In The Microwave?
Here’s how to find out if your cup can be microwaved.
Is it metal?
If it is made of metal or has any metal components, do not microwave it. Ever.
For one, a stainless steel exterior will block the microwaves from ever reaching the drink inside and heating it. Moreover, you should know that you never want to put metal in a microwave, because it can damage it.
Is it ceramic?
If your cup is made from ceramic (and does not contain any metal), it is almost certainly fine to microwave. You might want to check the bottom to see if it says it’s ok, but even if it doesn’t, it should be fine. Here is a list of microwaveable travel mugs.
The same is not necessarily true of plastic parts the mug may have. If the lid is plastic or it has a plastic sleeve, I highly recommend removing those first, unless you know for a fact they are safe.
Is it plastic?
This is the hardest one to determine. Plastic will not damage the microwave, but some plastics can release toxins into your drink when exposed to high heat.
It should say on the bottom of your cup whether you can place it in a microwave or not. If it does not say, I’d assume you cannot.
If your cup is new, always check the instructions or packaging to check if it can safely be microwaved, even if you don’t plan on ever doing that. You may want to in the future, so it is something you should know.
If you’ve had the travel mug for a while and no longer have any of the packaging or documentation, follow the basic guidelines detailed above. In short:
- Metal = No
- Ceramic = Yes (but not any metal or plastic components)
- Plastic = Maybe (it should say on the bottom; if not, then no)