Yes, plain paper towels are fine in the microwave for short periods. The risk comes from dyes, recycled fibers, and running them dry too long, not the paper itself.
Paper towels show up in microwave use constantly, whether it's draping one over a plate to stop splatter or sandwiching bacon between two sheets. Most people never think twice about it, and for plain white towels, that's fine.
Where it gets risky is with printed, colored, or recycled paper towels, and with running any paper towel in an empty microwave for too long.
Plain white, undyed paper towels made without metallic flecks are considered microwave safe by most manufacturers for covering food or absorbing grease during normal reheating, typically a few minutes at a time.
A paper towel with food or moisture absorbs microwave energy along with the food. A bare, dry paper towel running for several minutes with nothing else in the microwave can scorch or ignite, since there's nothing to absorb the energy except the paper itself.
Keep an eye on the microwave the first time you use a new brand of towel, just to see how it holds up.
Plain paper towels are a normal, safe part of microwave cooking when they're covering or touching food for a few minutes. Save your caution for dyed or recycled towels, and never run one alone and dry for an extended stretch.
It's best to avoid them. Dyes and inks aren't always tested for microwave heat, and some prints use metallic pigment that can cause sparking.
Manufacturers test their plain towels for short-term microwave contact with food and confirm no chemicals leach at typical reheating temperatures and times.
Yes, a damp paper towel over a bowl of vegetables traps steam and helps them cook faster and more evenly, which is a common and safe technique.
It's better to skip it. Recycled paper towels can contain tiny bits of metal left over from the recycling process, which can spark in the microwave.