Whether you have stomach cramps or muscle soreness, it’s always useful to have a microwave heating bag around the house. These bags are so easy to make, and they offer great relief for a variety of aches and pains, whether you use them as heating bags or cooling packs.
The best part is, you can customize the fillers to fit your personal needs!
So, what are the best fillers for microwave heating bags? The best fillers for microwave heating bags have good heat retention and durability. Some great options include flax seeds, wheat berries, dried corn, rice, crushed walnut shells, and more.
If you are making your own microwave heating bags, below are some options for fillers that can make your microwave heating bags uniquely yours.
Qualities To Look For In Heating Bag Fillers
We all know that heating bags are filled with some types of grain like rice or wheat, but why are some fillers better than others?
The truth is that you can fill your heating bags with pretty much any type of grain or herb, as long as they have the following qualities:
Heat Retention
You will want something that can be heated up in the microwave after one or two minutes and can retain heat for a long time afterward. You don’t want something that loses heat too quickly because then you will have to make frequent trips to the microwave, which defeats the purpose of the heating bags.
Durability
It goes without saying, but you definitely don’t want a type of grain that can be cooked in the microwave. Instead, a heating bag filler needs to be able to withstand multiple heatings without spoiling.
A lot of grain filler options are perishable (like rice or corn) that are prone to rotting, molds, and maggots, so it’s always a best practice to replace the filler content once every few months to avoid these issues.
Comfort
There’s a reason heating bags are always filled with small, light grains. They are flexible enough to hug the curves of your body while offering a light pressure that can dull your pain.
The smell is also a big plus when it comes to your comfort. You will want something that smells pleasant or has no smell at all when it is being heated. If the smell is too strong, it can affect your enjoyment of the heating bag.
Cost
Depending on the size of your heating bag, you will need several pounds of fillers to fill your heating bag. You don’t want a type of grain that can get expensive when purchased in large quantities. It’s always wise to opt for an affordable grain that won’t break the bank to fill the heating bags.
If you need some suggestions, let’s find out what makes the perfect filler for your heating bag.
Plain Filler Options
When in doubt, you can fill your heating bag with a plain, fine grain. Let’s take a look at some options below:
Flax Seeds
Flax seeds are not just a superfood; they make amazing fillers for your heating bag. They can heat up really quickly, maintain a consistent heat for about an hour, and they don’t burn you when you first pick the heating bag out of the microwave.
Since this is a very fine seed, the heating bag can hug your body comfortably without clumping up in some areas. Flax seeds can be found in most grocery stores or online stores, but they can be a bit on the pricier side.
Keep in mind that flaxseed can be susceptible to pests, so if you use flax seeds to fill your heating bags, make sure to replace the content every few months (especially if you don’t use it regularly) to avoid this issue.
Wheat Berries
Wheat berries are wheat that has not been completely processed, so they can stay in storage for longer without spoiling. Since this is a bigger grain, it may not be as comfortable as the fine grain fillers, but it can still feel comfortable against your body.
When wheat berries are employed as heating bag fillers, they can heat up quickly and retain heat really well. That means after microwaving the heating bag, make sure to let it cool down for a few minutes before touching it so that you don’t burn yourself.
If you are not using your heating bag, make sure to store it in a dry, cool area so that the wheat berries don’t absorb moisture and rot away.
Steel-Cut Oats
Unlike the oatmeal that you often buy in stores, steel-cut oats are chopped into small pieces, which makes them very comfortable when used as fillers for heating pads.
This filler retains heat very well and heats up quickly, but because it is a processed grain, you will need to replace the filler content once every few months to avoid spoiling.
Dried Corn
Dried corn is probably the most popular option when it comes to heating bag fillers because it has a comfortable grain size that feels very sturdy yet comfortable against your body.
Dried corn can be purchased online or in most pet stores. Make sure to buy the animal feed type, not the type of corn that is used to make popcorn, because otherwise, the corn will pop when it is put in the microwave.
Dried corn can retain heat really well, so after microwaving, you should leave the bag to cool down a bit before using it so that you don’t burn yourself.
Dried corn is prone to molding and rotting, so you should keep the bag away from humid areas and replace the content once every few months to keep the bag nice and fresh.
Rice
Rice is another popular filler option for microwave heating bags. It is inexpensive; the fine grain feels super comfortable against your body while still applying a light pressure that feels amazing for muscle soreness. It can retain heat for about an hour after microwaving, and it only takes a few minutes to reach a nice and comfortable temperature.
Rice is also very affordable and easily accessible – you can find it in most grocery stores, just make sure to avoid instant rice that can be cooked in the microwave.
Since rice is a processed grain, it will not last as long as other types of unprocessed grains, so you will need to replace it occasionally to avoid spoiling or rotting.
Pearl Barley
Pearl barley is very similar to wheat berries, especially in size and texture. These are barley grains that have been somewhat processed so that the outer hull is removed but not so processed that it would spoil quickly.
Similar to wheat berries, pearl barley can be heated very quickly and can retain heat for about 30 minutes. The smaller grains allow the bag to hug your body comfortably and can maintain a consistent pressure that feels soothing.
Pearl barley can be purchased at a reasonable price in most health food stores and online.
Crushed Walnut Shells
Crush walnut shells also make amazing fillers for heating pads. They are available in pet stores and online at a very affordable price, and the fine size of the shells also makes them quite comfortable to use in heating bags.
The walnut shells can take a while to heat up, but they retain heat really well and have a pleasant nutty fragrance when they are heated. They are also quite durable and can be heated again and again without having to worry about spoiling.
Soothing Filler Options
Fillers for microwave heating bags don’t have to be boring. If you have specific needs, you can always mix grains with herbs or essential oils to soothe muscle soreness, headaches, or cramps.
Adding essential oils to the filler also creates a nice aroma which will help reduce stress and makes the microwave heating bag feel even more comfortable.
If you are mixing essential oil or herbs with a fine grain, you can put all the ingredients in a sealed Ziploc bag for a few days, shaking the bag occasionally to help the ingredients mix together and the fragrance to set properly so that it will stay with the bag for a long time.
Fillers For Muscle Soreness
If you have muscle soreness, mixing a fine grain with herbs or essential oils can greatly improve the performance of the microwave heating bag.
Start with a base grain that you can choose from the list above, such as dried corn or rice. Then, you can combine it with a soothing type of herb or essential oil.
For muscle soreness, herbs like cloves, nutmeg, ginger, or cinnamon can smell very pleasant while offering instant relief. Keep in mind that these herbs and spices can sometimes burn, so adding a tiny bit to your heating bag will do.
If you want to add some soothing fragrance, then add essential oils like lavender, rose, or peppermint oil.
Fillers For Headaches
Did you know that headaches can also be soothed with a microwave heating bag? The key is to combine a grain with a pleasant, soothing ingredient that can help calm your nerves and help your body relax.
We recommend combining a grain that doesn’t have a strong smell, like rice or dried corn, with an herb that can offer pleasant smells, like dried lavender, marjoram, cloves, or rosemary. When heated, the fragrance can become stronger and provide stress relief and soothe headaches easily.
How To Make A Microwaveable Heat Pack
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to making a microwaveable heat pack, take a look at the video below from The Bare Threads explaining how to put one together!
