Read This Before Putting A Microwave-Safe Dish In The Oven
K_E_N/Shutterstock By Hannah Beach/Dec. 22, 2021 1:45 pm EST
We’ve all heard the phrase “microwave-safe,” particularly when plastic is involved: Is this takeout container approved for reheating leftovers? Will that plastic bowl melt if zapped for too long? Is it alright to warm up coffee in a plastic mug?
While it’s true that plastic is generally safer than styrofoam or treated paper products, it largely depends on the type of plastic utilized (via The Spruce). Thin plastics, including bags, takeout containers, and single-use containers –- like those used for yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. –- should never be microwaved. These plastics frequently contain BPA, a toxin, which can leak into your food if heated. All this said, even plastics marked as safe can still release BPA into your food, increasing your risk of developing cancer. Most of us know better than to put a flimsy takeout container in the oven. But what about “safer” dishes, like ceramic or glass? And if they’re marked as microwave-safe, can you use them in the oven, too?
Read This Before Putting A Microwave-Safe Dish In The Oven
K_E_N/Shutterstock
By Hannah Beach/Dec. 22, 2021 1:45 pm EST
We’ve all heard the phrase “microwave-safe,” particularly when plastic is involved: Is this takeout container approved for reheating leftovers? Will that plastic bowl melt if zapped for too long? Is it alright to warm up coffee in a plastic mug?
While it’s true that plastic is generally safer than styrofoam or treated paper products, it largely depends on the type of plastic utilized (via The Spruce). Thin plastics, including bags, takeout containers, and single-use containers –- like those used for yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. –- should never be microwaved. These plastics frequently contain BPA, a toxin, which can leak into your food if heated. All this said, even plastics marked as safe can still release BPA into your food, increasing your risk of developing cancer. Most of us know better than to put a flimsy takeout container in the oven. But what about “safer” dishes, like ceramic or glass? And if they’re marked as microwave-safe, can you use them in the oven, too?
While it’s true that plastic is generally safer than styrofoam or treated paper products, it largely depends on the type of plastic utilized (via The Spruce). Thin plastics, including bags, takeout containers, and single-use containers –- like those used for yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. –- should never be microwaved. These plastics frequently contain BPA, a toxin, which can leak into your food if heated. All this said, even plastics marked as safe can still release BPA into your food, increasing your risk of developing cancer.
Most of us know better than to put a flimsy takeout container in the oven. But what about “safer” dishes, like ceramic or glass? And if they’re marked as microwave-safe, can you use them in the oven, too?
Microwave-safe and oven-safe do not mean the same thing
harexape/Shutterstock
A good rule of thumb is to play it safe. If you aren’t sure whether something is microwave- or oven-safe, don’t use it. Instead, use a dish you can be certain is meant for the kind of heat it will be subjected to.
