Are aluminium trays safe to put in the microwave?

The dispute over using aluminium containers in the microwave has been going on for decades, but the European Aluminium Foil Packaging Association has finally given the green light: aluminium can be used to heat food in a microwave without any contraindications, provided that users follow the instructions below. Here are a few recommendations on how to position aluminium trays in a microwave oven to prevent accidents and heat food quickly and safely.

The first thing to do when you want to heat a first course, side dish, meat or fish in the microwave using an aluminium tray is to remove the lid. Aluminium tends to reflect the waves of the microwave and, by removing the lid, the food will be heated more evenly.

Last but not least, you should only heat one tray of food at a time to ensure even heating of the food, whilst checking it is 2/3 full and that the food covers the bottom of the tray. This prevents the aluminium rims from coming into contact with the microwave oven structure and ensures more even heating of all the contents.