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How to Tell If Something Is Microwave Safe
by C.D. Crowder
Published April 29, 2010 | Updated May 15, 2015
Many bowls and plates are consi however, if you use the wrong dish, you could ruin both the
and the dinner. Microwaves are convenient appliances, but there are a few precautions you should know about when it comes to your dishes. Always check to see if a dish is microwave safe before using it in the microwave. Some containers can break, melt or scald you. Some containers can also damage your microwave, such as foil-lined containers.
Microwave-safe dishes can be used to both cook and store food. Non-microwave safe containers can only be used for storage or serving.
Microwave Safe Dishes:
Examine the DishTurn the dish in question over, so the bottom is facing you. Read the back of the dish. Many dishes and containers state either "Microwave Safe" or "Not for Use in Microwaves." If this isn't clearly stated, continue to Step 2.
Turn Up the HeatSet your microwave oven to its highest power setting. The method varies based on microwave manufacturer. Consult your microwave's manual for exact instructions. Most microwaves have a "Power," "Power Level," "Menu" or "Settings" button. Usually, the default setting is the highest power.
Add WaterFill a glass measuring cup or glass bowl with 1 cup of water. Place both the cup of water and the dish in the microwave. For larger dishes and containers, place the cup of water on or inside the dish. Don't pour the water into the dish in question.
Set the TimeMicrowave the dish and cup for one minute. If the dish or container is warm or hot after heating, the dish or container isn't microwave safe. If the dish or container is cool and the cup of water is hot, the dish or container is microwave safe.
Note: if you placed the cup of water on or in the dish, the area around the cup may be warm. The rest of the dish should be cool if the dish is microwave safe.
Once you've established whether a container is microwave safe or not, place a piece of masking tape or a small mark with permanent marker on the bottom of non-microwave safe dishes. This will give you a quick way to determine the difference in the future.
Glass and glass ceramic cookware is microwave safe as long as it doesn't have gold or silver rims. Glass cups may or may not be microwave safe.
Never reuse frozen food trays and containers. These are made for one-time use only.
Avoid microwaving cold food-containers, such as butter tubs and whipped topping bowls. These can release chemicals into food when exposed to high heat.
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CONNECT WITH USWhich Food Containers Are Safe for the Microwave? - Real SimpleMicrowaving food in plastic: Dangerous or not?
The Family Health Guide
Chances are good that you've at some point received an urgent "PLEASE READ THIS!" email about the dangers of microwaving food in plastic containers or plastic wrap, or run across an article about it on a website. The message is that chemicals leaching out of the plastic and into the food will cause cancer, reproductive problems, and other ills. Is there any truth to this, or is it just another Internet-fueled "urban legend"? As is often the case with such warnings, this one contains a small kernel of truth — and a lot of misinformation.
Let's cover the original misinformation first: The earliest missives warned that microwaved plastic releases cancer-causing chemicals called dioxins into food. The problem with that warning is that plastics don't contain dioxins. They are created when garbage, plastics, metals, wood, and other materials are burned. As long as you don't burn your food in a microwave, you aren't exposing yourself to dioxins.
Migrating chemicals
There's no single substance called "plastic." That term covers many materials made from an array of organic and inorganic compounds. Substances are often added to plastic to help shape or stabilize it. Two of these plasticizers are
bisphenol-A (BPA), added to make clear, hard plastic
phthalates, added to make plastic soft and flexible
BPA and phthalates are believed to be "endocrine disrupters." These are substances that mimic human hormones, and not for the good.
When food is wrapped in plastic or placed in a plastic container and microwaved, BPA and phthalates may leak into the food. Any migration is likely to be greater with fatty foods such as meats and cheeses than with other foods.
The FDA long ago recognized the potential for small amounts of plasticizers to migrate into food. So it closely regulates plastic containers and materials that come into contact with food. The FDA requires manufacturers to test these containers using tests that meet FDA standards and specifications. It then reviews test data before approving a container for microwave use.
Some of these tests measure the migration of chemicals at temperatures that the container or wrap is likely to encounter during ordinary use. For microwave approval, the agency estimates the ratio of plastic surface area to food, how long the container is likely to be in the microwave, how often a person is likely to eat from the container, and how hot the food can be expected to get during microwaving. The scientists also measure the chemicals that leach into food and the extent to which they migrate in different kinds of foods. The maximum allowable amount is 100–1,000 times less per pound of body weight than the amount shown to harm laboratory animals over a lifetime of use. Only containers that pass this test can display a microwave-safe icon, the words "microwave safe," or words to the effect that they're approved for use in microwave ovens.
microwaved food in 31 plastic containers, lids, and wraps, it found that almost none of the food contained plastic additives.
What about containers without a microwave-safe label? They aren' the FDA simply hasn't determined whether it is or not.
Is Styrofoam microwave safe?
Contrary to popular belief, some Styrofoam and other polystyrene containers can safely be used in the microwave. Just follow the same rule you follow for other plastic containers: Check the label.
The bottom line
Here are some things to keep in mind when using the microwave:
If you're concerned about plastic wraps or containers in the microwave, transfer food to glass or ceramic containers labeled for use in microwave ovens.
Don't let plastic wrap touch food during microwaving because it may melt. Wax paper, kitchen parchment paper, white paper towels, or a domed container that fits over a plate or bowl are better alternatives.
Most takeout containers, water bottles, and plastic tubs or jars made to hold margarine, yogurt, whipped topping, and foods such as cream cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard are not microwave-safe.
Microwavable takeout dinner trays are formulated for one-time use only and will say so on the package.
Old, scratched, or cracked containers, or those that have been microwaved many times, may leach out more plasticizers.
Don't microwave plastic storage bags or plastic bags from the grocery store.
Before microwaving food, be sure to vent the container: leave the lid ajar, or lift the edge of the cover.
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