Microwaves have revolutionized the way we cook, offering a speedy solution for heating up leftovers or even cooking some dishes from scratch. But it's high time we talk about the plastic containers we know all too well — and sometimes choose to use to cook in the microwave.
Whileit may be convenient to throw your leftovers in the microwave, container and all, cooking in plastic isnot the best choice for our health or the quality of our food. In fact, microwaving plastic can be quite dangerous to you and your family’s health. With just a few simple changes, we can make our microwave meals both safer and more delicious. Let’s dive in:
Many studies come to the conclusion that it is not safe to microwave plastic. Most recently, aNature (2023)article, "Plastic waste releases hazardous gases", has illuminated the dangers of plastic containers. When plastics areheated to high temperatures, like in the microwave, they releasetoxic gases. In the kitchen, this a major red flag. Thesenasty chemicalscan leach into the food, increasing the risks of a variety of health issues,especially when the containers are used repeatedly, like your tupperware would be.
What do researchers warn about microwaving plastic?
You know that dingy plastic container in the back of your cabinet? The one that’s seen better days? When plastic food containers start to wear out, you might notice they get bent out of shape, change color, or look cloudy. These are signs that the plastic is breaking down and tiny microplastics are at risk of contaminating our food. When you heat plastic, like in a microwave, it can crack and release tiny particles and harmful chemicals into your food.
According to an article in Wired, scientists are worried about this because these tiny particles, called microplastics and nanoplastics, can enter our body and are hard to remove. Your kidneys do a good job of removing bigger plastic particles, but the really small ones,the nanoplastics, can even get inside our cells and might be toxic.Ingestingthese nano- and microplasticscould lead to many health issues and can accumulate over time in our bodies, making their long-term impact even more concerning.
The Wired article also outlines how chemicals in plastics can mess with our hormones, affecting how our bodies work in a lot of ways. These particles were even found to be harmful to human kidney cells in lab tests. So, while we don't know everything yet, it's clear that having plastics break down and release particles and chemicals into our food is not good for us.
Microwaving food for babies and children in plastic
Children and babies are especially at risk when it comes to microplastics. Their bodies are still developing, making them more vulnerable to harmful chemicals that may interfere with hormonal and physical development. The American Academy of Pediatrics has cautioned against the use of plastics in children's food containers precisely because of the risk of harmful chemicals leaching into the food, particularly when these containers are heated.
Why Should You Microwave Food In Glass?
Microwaving is a genuinely safe and efficient way to cook or heat your food. The key to this safety and efficiency lies in your choice of container to use when you cook. Plasticis just not a good choice, with itswarping and potentially leaching chemicals into your food. Glassis the best, safest option. It handles high heat like a pro, ensuring that your meal is cooked without any nasty extras being added in the process.
Beyond the health benefits, glass offers a variety of perks. It won't react with your food, meaning your meal will retain its original taste and texture. From an environmental standpoint, glass is both reusable and recyclable, making it a responsible choice. Plus, the transparency of glass allows you to keep an eye on your food as it cooks, minimizing the risk of any microwave mishaps.
Microwaving Food In Glass is Safe and Effective
In a nutshell, microwaving is a quick, effective, and surprisingly nutritious way to prepare meals. The catch? It's all about doing it safely. Ditch the plastic containers, which can leach nasty chemicals into your food, and make the simple switch to glass. Anyday is making it easier than ever to elevate your microwave cooking while keeping your family’s health front and center. It's a small change, but one that comes with big benefits that will last for years to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Johnson
Rachel Johnson (she/her) is the Recipe Manager for Anyday. Her first cookbook, Unicorn Food, was published in 2018 and you can find more of her work in Cooking Light Magazine, Bon Appetit, and other outlets. She enjoys pizza, feminism, and creating joy through food.
When plastics are heated to high temperatures, like in the microwave, they release toxic gases. In the kitchen, this a major red flag. These nasty chemicals can leach into the food, increasing the risks of a variety of health issues, especially when the containers are used repeatedly, like your tupperware
tupperware
Tupperware is an American company that manufactures, and internationally distributes preparation, storage, and serving containers for the kitchen and home. It was founded in 1942 by Earl Tupper, who developed his first bell-shaped container and introduced the products to the public in 1946.
While many food storage, preparation, and serving products are made from plastic, microwaving them can accelerate the release of harmful chemicals like BPA and phthalates. Therefore, unless the plastic product is deemed microwave safe, avoid microwaving it, and replace worn plastic containers with new ones.
Research suggests that all plastics may leach chemicals if they're scratched or heated. Research also strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in these products, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may cause cancer in people.
Since heat helps to break the chemical bonds in plastic, it's possible that exposure to high temperatures increases the rate of chemical migration from the container into the food. Scientists have documented higher rates of chemical migration even in water bottles left in the sun.
Can you microwave plastic? To know if a plastic container or plastic wrap is microwave safe, you should look on the packaging material for a “Microwave Safe” label. Plastic products with an imprinted microwave symbol can be used in the microwave. This symbol is mostly used on reusable plastic storage containers.
Single-use plastics like those used for yogurt, cottage cheese and other foods should never be microwaved. The same rule applies to plastic to-go containers that don't clearly state that it is microwave-safe. Similarly, do not use cracked, old or discolored plastic containers.
The testing showed that more than 70 percent of the products released chemicals that acted like estrogen. And that was before they exposed the stuff to real-world conditions: simulated sunlight, dishwashing and microwaving, Bittner says.
When exposed to high temperatures, food-safe PET can leach the contaminant, antimony, into your foods. On the other hand, cold foods such as salads and wraps can be packaged and stored into PET containers. PET Temperature Limits: Up to 120°F.
After four weeks at 158 degrees Fahrenheit, researchers found increased levels of antimony and BPA, which can mimic estrogen release. BPA is a chemical component present in polycarbonate plastic used to make 3 to 5 gallon containers, but is not present in the PET plastic used to make smaller water bottles.
Ziploc® brand bags and Endurables® are designed to meet all FDA requirements. Our Ziploc® products are suitable for food contact use for microwave defrosting and reheating, room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing.
Glass-ceramic ware and heatproof glass ware are safe in the microwave oven. Oven cooking bags, baskets made of straw and wood (without metal), wax paper, parchment paper, and vented plastic bags are all safe to use in the microwave. Paper products that are specifically approved for microwave cooking are safe to use.
silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer,” the report said. “Plastic production workers are at increased risk of leukaemia, lymphoma … brain cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma … and decreased fertility.
Tupperware says all of its products are BPA free as of 2010, but any older products still might contain levels of BPA. If you want to check if your Tupperware is BPA-free, check the bottom of the container. Any number 1 through 6 means it is BPA-free, but a 7 means there might be BPA in that product.
Some plastic bottles, cups, containers, toys and pacifiers, are made with the chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. These chemicals may be toxic when released by heat or when the product is scratched.
Pollutants are present in the environment. When plastics end up in the environment, they can bind with these pollutants, including persistent organic toxins such as PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins, both of which are not only very resistant to degradation but can also accumulate in animal fats and tissues.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and furans are among the most toxic chemicals commonly released into the air when burning plastic waste; chronic exposures cause cancer and interfere with hormone functions.”
Should You Be Worried? A new study shows that plastic baby bottles, when heated or shaken, release microplastics into the liquid. Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, often too small for the eye to see. They're created as plastic degrades.
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