HOW TO TELL IF IT'S SAFE TO USE AN OLD DISH IN THE MICROWAVE

Put the dish and a glass of water in the microwave. Heat it for one minute on high. If the dish doesn't get hot it's okay to use it to heat food. But if there is gold or silver trim on the dish it will spark and can't be used. Never use a plate with chips, deep scratches or crazing. You will damage the plate and you may find bits of glasslike glaze in your food. And this is not a test for lead content in the glaze. Some old majolica and heavy pottery wares of the past were decorated with lead glazes which should not be used. Watch out for new decorative plates. They are usually marked "for decorative purposes only" because they have lead glaze.