How many times have you bought a hot cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts and then got distracted by other things and by the time you got back to your coffee, it had got cold? We all know that cold coffee doesn’t taste great, so what to do with it? Is it just wasted or can you microwave coffee in Dunkin Donuts cups?
In this article, we answer that question, share some tips on microwaving Dunkin Donuts coffee, find out how we can tell if a cup is microwave safe and if you can use refillable cups at Dunkin Donuts.
Can you microwave Dunkin Donuts cups?
The first thing we want to focus on is can you put your Dunkin Donut cup in the microwave if you need to reheat your coffee? Is it safe?
The paper coffee cups from Dunkin Donuts are made to hold fresh coffee and keep the temperature of hot beverages for a long time, but with no need for an extra sleeve around it. The cups can withstand hot temperatures, so that should make them microwave safe. However, they are not.
The main reason the cups are not safe for reheating in the microwave is that the sides of the cups are sealed with adhesive glue that can melt and leak into the coffee. When the glue has leaked into the coffee, it is no longer safe to drink. When the glue melts, it can also distort the cup’s shape or they can leak if the seals split in the high heat.
Another risk is that the paper cup will burn because the high heat level in microwaves can create pockets of uneven heat. For more information on why heating your coffee using the Dunkin Donut cup is not recommended, visit My Kitchen Specs.
What about plastic or styrofoam coffee cups?
The answer, again, is no. Plastic cups will melt when heated in a microwave. Styrofoam or polystyrene foam cups are usually made of polystyrene or plastic recycling number 6 and neither of them is microwave safe. They may leak potentially carcinogenic chemicals into your coffee.
Are Dunkin Donuts travel cups microwave-safe?
If you have a travel cup from Dunkin Donuts and it is ceramic and it contains no metal, then it is safe to use in the microwave. It will also be safe to wash in the dishwasher.
Tips on microwaving Dunkin Donuts coffee
So if it is not safe to reheat the coffee in its original container, what can you do instead? The best thing to do is to pour the cold coffee into another microwave-safe cup. If you then want to take the coffee with you whilst on the move, pour it back into the Dunkin Donut cup, because they are great for drinking coffee whilst traveling.
Best substitutes for the Dunkin Donuts cups when reheating your coffee in the microwave are glass, pyrex, or ceramic cups. When coffee is heated in a microwave, the intense heat will create super-heated bubbles in the coffee. Stir the drink every 10-15 seconds to break up the bubbles.
What if you have no access to other cups?
If you had no alternative but to heat the coffee in the Dunkin Donut paper cup, then follow these steps.
- Remove the plastic lid.
- Set the power to medium.
- Heat the coffee in 10-15 second increments and stir between the intervals.
However, it is much better and safer to use a cup that is proven to be microwave safe.
If you would like tips on how to reheat your donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts as well as their coffee, take a look at this article from Microwave Meal Prep.
How do we know if a cup is microwave safe?
We have established that paper, plastic, or styrofoam coffee cups are not for the microwave and you need to find a substitute cup to reheat your coffee. How will you be able to tell if the cup is safe to use in a microwave? There are several things you can do to check if it is suitable for microwave use.
The first thing you can do is to check the bottom of the cup. If it is safe to use in a microwave, it will usually have a symbol of a microwave with some wavy lines on it. Another symbol that shows it can be used in the microwave is #5. This symbol means it is made of polypropylene (PP) which is considered microwave-safe.
What other symbols might there be?
According to an article from Genpak, these are the symbols to look out for when checking if the container is safe to use in a microwave.
CPET, #1 symbols show the cup is safe for the microwave. They can be heated to very high temperatures and they are usually safe to use in ovens, too.
APET(E) symbol means the container is not safe for the microwave. You will usually find this letter string on most containers used for cold foods and water bottles.
PS, #7 means it is not microwave-safe. They are made of styrofoam and designed to keep food warm during transport but not to reheat food.
What if there is no symbol?
If there is no clear symbol on the bottom of the cup, then there is another way you can check if it is microwave safe.
First, you need to set your microwave oven to its highest power setting. Next, fill a glass that fits inside the cup you want to test with water. About half-full will do. Then place the glass inside the cup and put it in the microwave. Don’t pour water directly into the cup you are testing.
Now set the time on the microwave for one minute. After one minute, take the cup carefully out of the microwave. If the cup is hot after heating, then it is not safe to use in the microwave. If the container has remained cool and the water glass is hot, then the cup is microwave safe.
For more safety tips on what is safe to use in a microwave, we recommend this post from CBS7.
Is there another way to reheat your Dunkin Donuts coffee than in the microwave?
If you would like to reheat your Dunkin Donuts coffee but you don’t have a microwave, there are other methods you can use. They will take longer, but you will have hot coffee in the end.
Reheating coffee in the oven
If you would like to reheat the coffee in an oven, you need to preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Pour the coffee into an oven-safe dish and heat for just three minutes. Once you have taken it out of the oven, leave it for 2-3 minutes before pouring it into a cup.
Reheating coffee on the stove
To reheat your coffee on the stove, you need to fill a big pot with about an inch (2.5 cm) of water. Pour your coffee into the pot and stir over low heat. Once ready, allow the coffee to rest for about half a minute before pouring it into a cup.
For more alternatives to using a microwave to heat your Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, check out these tips from PokPoksom. You might also be interested in watching this video from James Hoffman where he tests different ways to reheat coffee.
How do you use reusable cups at Dunkin’ Donuts?
The first thing you need to know is that there is some variation between different Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants. The general policy of the chain is that if you want them to serve your coffee in the reusable cup you brought in with you, they should do it. They should also only charge you the price of a refill or a small coffee even if you have a bigger cup.
Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants sell travel cups, up to the size of 24 ounces, but you don’t need to use their cup. You can bring any reusable coffee cup with you.
In most Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants, the staff is happy to serve your beverage in a reusable travel cup at least when you are ordering non-blended drinks such as iced coffee, cold brew, tea, and hot chocolate.
If you are ordering drinks that require mixing or blending, such as a latte or a macchiato, then they might not serve it in your tumbler. The reason is that they use exact measures to make the blended drinks and cannot measure them out in cups they are not familiar with.
Of course, you can pour it into your reusable cup after they have made it, but that defeats the main purpose of reusable cups in replacing disposable cups.
The summary
It is always best not to microwave paper cups or plastic or styrofoam coffee cups from Dunkin’ Donuts as these cups can melt in the extreme heat of a microwave and leak toxins and harmful chemicals into the coffee.
A much better way to reheat the coffee is to pour it into a microwave-safe cup and remember to stir the coffee at intervals to disperse the super-hot bubbles.
If you would like to ask us any questions about Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cups, you can write your questions in the comments section.
