{"id":660,"date":"2017-03-20T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T09:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydoorsign.com\/blog\/?p=660"},"modified":"2025-03-06T04:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T09:25:08","slug":"office-courtesy-series-microwave-etiquette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydoorsign.com/blog\/office-courtesy-series-microwave-etiquette\/","title":{"rendered":"The Office Courtesy Series: 10 Tips for Microwave Etiquette At Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, the microwave. An essential, wonderfully convenient item in the workplace\u2026except when the only available appliance to heat up food is a microwave splattered with someone else\u2019s pasta sauce.\u00a0 As office workers, what can we do to minimize microwave mess? Guidelines for microwave etiquette will help ensure a clean environment.<\/p>\n

\"Dirty<\/a>

A dirty office microwave<\/a> is unsanitary and an inconvenience.<\/p><\/div>\n

Microwaves are breeding grounds<\/a> for germs. \u201cIf the health inspector came to your house or office, I doubt it would pass\u2026 a microwave can get pretty disgusting,\u201d says Beth Kitchin, MS, RD, professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. \u201cPeople are so afraid of food poisoning in restaurants, but studies have shown that our own kitchens are much worse than any restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tips on microwave etiquette<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Steel<\/a>

Keeping the office microwave clean<\/a> is a collaborative effort.<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Wipe out the food spots and stop inner microwave stains by wiping down the area. Dishes like soups will splatter when you heat them up. Try covering the food to avoid this, or clean the microwave when your food is the culprit of a mess. Not only do food spots spoil your coworkers\u2019 lunch experience, they also can attract bugs.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t leave your food out. Leaving food to sit in the microwave prevents other people from heating up their food. However, people are human and forget things. Some recommend waiting thirty seconds before removing another\u2019s food and inserting your own. However, don\u2019t take out someone else\u2019s food early\u2014it\u2019s not fair.<\/p>\n

3. Reset settings: Try resetting the microwave to basic settings. Just like refilling a coffee pot after it reaches the bottom, resetting the microwave for the person behind you is considerate and convenient.<\/p>\n

4. Save smelly food for elsewhere: Try to avoid heating up overly fragrant food for the sake of your coworkers. If possible, use the one farthest from your working area. Office managers, try using air fresheners near the microwave.<\/p>\n

5. Keep it short and sweet: It\u2019s not fair to constantly use the microwave for 8-minute meals. Try limiting microwave meals to three minutes. After all, you don\u2019t want to delay your ravenous coworkers.<\/p>\n

6. With explosions: If your food explodes and leaves meat sauce dripping in the microwave, you are the only one who is responsible for cleaning it up.<\/p>\n

Of course, we want to establish solutions to the problem.<\/p>\n

\"Office<\/a>

Posting a sign<\/a> or a list of microwave etiquette rules and procedures can make a difference in creating awareness.<\/p><\/div>\n

Here are a few microwave cleaning suggestions<\/b>:<\/p>\n

7. Swab the microwave, inside and out, with a household cleaner containing bleach. Then use water to wipe off the cleaner, or you\u2019ll smell bleach after you cook.<\/p>\n

8. Keep the microwave door open between uses to cut back on lingering odors.<\/p>\n

9. Cover your food. Put plastic wrap on top of the container\u2014not touching the food or sealing the container\u2014to create steam that will heat food quickly and kill bacteria.<\/p>\n

10. If you\u2019re using the microwave to defrost food, make sure you cook it immediately afterwards because it\u2019s already started to heat. Otherwise you\u2019ll create an environment for bacteria to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing worse than when someone doesn\u2019t bother to clean up after their soup explodes,\u201d said Cole Paulson, Manager at MyDoorSign. \u201cWe take the office microwave for granted, and I think having a code of conduct for kitchen items for everyone to follow would be really helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n

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