In an apparatus for hazardous chemical detection in a microwave oven, a microwave oven comprises an electromagnetic wave shielding material, at least one chemiresistor, a microcontroller, and a digital display, wherein the at least one chemiresistor is overlaid by the electromagnetic wave shielding material, and the microcontroller is electronically coupled to the digital display. In an approach to detect the release of a hazardous chemical during a cooking cycle in a microwave oven, a processor receives a reading from at least one chemiresistor, wherein the at least one chemiresistor is configured to detect a chemical. A processor determines whether a pre-set threshold is met. In response to the pre-set threshold being met, a processor sends an alert.