Five Foods You Shouldn’t Microwave in Your Indiana Kitchen

When I was in my first year of college, I had this really bulky hand-me-down microwave from the 1990s that sounded like an old Mario Cart video game. The rotating glass plate was always loose, and only half of the green lights ever worked. By the end of my second semester, I finally broke down and bought a newer microwave. However, it was only because I may have started a small fire with a bag of popcorn in the old one.

As annoying as that microwave was, it became my best friend when it came to saving money. I would heat ramen noodles, microwave popcorn (obviously), pizza, and just about any cheap college meal you can imagine. However, after running across an article from Southern Living, I discovered that I've been placing foods in my microwave that I probably shouldn't be reheating.

1 - Eggs

The first item you're apparently not supposed to reheat is boiled eggs. According to Southern Living, boiled eggs tend to explode in the microwave, and reheating scrambled eggs or omelets will just leave them dry and rubbery. Rather, you should just reheat your eggs in an oven at about 300 degrees.

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I actually still reheat my boiled eggs in the microwave, but only for five seconds at a time. That said, there have been instances where five seconds was enough to spawn a deep clean of my microwave, so maybe the oven really is your best bet.

2 - Pasta

Reheating pasta in the microwave may not make you reach for the paper towel, but it will make your noodles very dry. Southern Living recommends reheating pasta on your stovetop over medium heat. Personally, I've found that if you put water in your pasta before placing it in the microwave, it really doesn't turn out all that bad.

3 - Casseroles

This next item makes sense, simply because it follows the same reasoning as that surrounding pasta. As casseroles often contain breadcrumbs and pasta, reheating them in the microwave will dry them out. Instead, Southern Living says they should be reheated in the oven and covered with some aluminum foil.

4 - Pizza

In my first year of college, I reheated a lot of pizza in the microwave. (I still do.) Sure, it made the crust a little soggy and chewy, but most of the time, I was just happy to have pizza on hand. However, if you've got the time, Southern Living recommends reheating pizza on some aluminum foil in the oven or in a cast-iron or nonstick skillet on your stovetop. These methods will ensure the best-reheated version of your favorite pizza.

5 - Fried Food

While my fried food intake is much lower than it once was, I still find myself reheating chicken tenders or fries from time to time in my microwave. Southern Living notes that, like pizza, reheating fried foods in the microwave will destroy their crunchy texture and result in a chewy end product. For the best results, fried foods should be reheated in the oven at about 300 degrees.

Southern Living also urges people to avoid reheating really old leftovers in the microwave to avoid any health risks. The USDA actually recommends throwing out refrigerated leftovers that are three or four days old. In my opinion, if the food you want to microwave doesn't pose a health or deep cleaning risk, then go for it. Let's face it, not all of us have time to preheat an oven or skillet, so sometimes the microwave is just the most convenient option. What do you think?