
Back in college, I didn’t own a toaster, just a sad microwave and a serious Pop-Tart habit. Most mornings I ate cold Pop-Tarts, but sometimes I missed that warm, toasted bite.
So, like any desperate student, I tried the microwave.
Spoiler: it actually works. Not perfect, but kind of great
Here’s what really happens when you microwave Pop-Tarts. and why it’s the ultimate lazy-day move.
Microwaving Pop Tarts is a Shortcut for People Who Don’t Care
So yeah, technically you can microwave Pop-Tarts.
Kellogg’s even says it’s fine.
But you have to take off the wrapper first, because, and I can’t stress this enough, foil plus microwave equals chaos.
There’s a viral YouTube video of a group of people who didn’t get that memo.
They popped the whole foil pack in the microwave and just stood there while it started sparking like a Fourth of July show.
That clip kind of sums up microwaved Pop-Tarts perfectly: they’re chaotic, messy, and a little wrong, but somehow comforting.
So What Actually Happens When You Microwave One?

If toasting a Pop-Tart is a tiny moment of self-respect, microwaving one is the emotional equivalent of wearing pajama pants to the grocery store.
Here’s what really goes down:
- The crust turns soft and gives up on structure.
- The frosting melts just enough to look suspiciously glossy.
- The center becomes molten lava that will burn your tongue and ruin your day if you’re not careful.
You lose the crunch, but you gain a weird sort of cozy gooiness.
It’s not really “breakfast”, it’s “bare minimum survival.”
But hey, sometimes that’s enough.
Exactly, We’re not chasing perfection here, we’re chasing speed and sugar.
The Internet Has Big Feelings About This

For some reason, people online treat microwaving Pop-Tarts like a moral crisis.
It’s hilarious how passionate people get about this. Like, calm down, it’s breakfast, not politics.
But that’s also what makes it fun. Everyone’s projecting their personality onto a piece of frosted pastry.
The toasting crowd thinks they’re refined.
The microwave people? We’ve accepted our fate, and we’re fine with it.
Why “Giving Up” Tastes Kind of Great
If toasting is hopeful, microwaving is honest.
It’s what you do when your energy’s on 2%, your brain’s buffering, and you just want a warm bite of something sweet before logging back into real life.
Microwaved Pop-Tarts are the snack of surrender, the “I don’t care anymore, but I still deserve something nice” meal.
You’re not quitting. You’re coping.
And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful.

Related: Can You Microwave Toaster Strudels
TL;DR
Yeah, you can microwave Pop-Tarts, just take off the wrapper unless you want sparks.
They come out soft, a little messy, and weirdly comforting. It’s not about doing it right; it’s about doing something.
Sometimes giving up tastes like warm frosting and peace, and that’s fine.