Definitely Do Not Put Plastic in the Microwave
Definitely Do Not Put Plastic in the Microwave
www.bonappetit.com
Definitely Do Not Put Plastic in the Microwave
45 comments
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Wow. I honestly didn’t think much about microwaving stuff like tupperware before, but I think this convinced me to switch to glassware.
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I started replacing my food storage containers with glass a few years ago. It's not only safer, but also nicer looking and easier to clean.
I didn't want my old plastic to go in the waste stream, so I use it for overflow dry goods, hardware storage, and household cleaning tasks.
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We ALL need to do what you’ve been doing.
My household eliminated plastic and non-stick items. We’ve been using only cast iron and stainless steel for stovetop, glass and stainless steel for oven and mixing, glass and stainless for eating. Even the pets’ bowls are stainless steel.
Plastics and Teflon coatings are pure poison.
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Is there glassware with lids that closes well enough to transport it?
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Any suggestions for food storage containers without plastic lids?
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Yeah I'm starting to think about this as well
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Ok... but what about the plastic in the microwave that's part of the microwave?
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Ok… but what about the plastic in the microwave that’s part of the microwave?
I think a glass and steel microwave oven could look pretty damn cool, but until we have those, I simply try not to cook my food on the microwave's surfaces. :)
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We're gonna be needing a probiotic that breaks down plastic in the future.
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Breaks it down into what though? The article stated that several of these plastics are made of toxic chemicals. So if we are not careful, that could make things even worse.
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Ideally into something that doesn't poison us, something that we could either safely absorb, or expel from our bodies all together.
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At the end of the day, they're still carbohydrates and theoretically could be broken down into Co2/methane/alcohol or other short carbon components.
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There are fungi that break down plastics. Maybe if we are lucky we can find a fungi that wants to feed off of the poisons that we eat and live in our bodies taking up what our organs can't safely absorb.
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This is a good question, already covered in the other comments.
I will add here that exploding food has been much less common since I figured out how to choose a reduced power level on my microwave. (But I still cover the food anyway.)
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I've always just used a bigger plate/bowl to cover things. They're much easier to clean than any plastic lid.
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In the microwave, I always use the lid of a bigger glass bowl on top of my large, wide, glass, measuring-pitcher. It doesn't fit perfectly, but I turn the lid upside down so it doesn't slide when I carry it.
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Pyrex/borosilicate dishes work pretty well here. Both Pyrex and IKEA do little single serving casserole dishes with a lid that work fantastic. Been using them for decades now
Alternatively you could upend a plate on-top of your bowl
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Meh. Gonna die anyways. I'm probably 40% plastic by now. Might as well bump it up.
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After 30 years of putting plastic in the microwave … I think I'm fine, definitely not worrying about my sperm count ;)
Obviously, it's good they study this, but apparently the microplastic is already in everything and we don't really know what it's doing to humans. Good luck, trying to convince the fossil fuel industry to produce less plastic.
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I actually disagree with this cooking MYTH.
But; it depends on the TYPE of plastic. Don't trust takeaway containers or soft and flexible plastics.
Hard and rigid plastics are in fact SAFE if marked as "Microwave-Safe"; they HAVE TO BE SAFE to have that marking.
DO:
- avoid soft plastics
- avoid takeout containers
- avoid heavily damaged tupperware
- replace old tupperware plastics once in a while; especially if they're all scratched/dinged up.
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As per the article:
"But what if my container is 'microwave-safe'?
Though various plastics are marked as microwave-safe—and plenty of plastic lobbyists have defended them as perfectly safe—the term is somewhat misleading. It’s simply referring to plastic types that won’t crack or melt when heated, not their chemical makeup. Supposedly microwave-safe products can still contain bisphenols, phthalates, and plenty of other potentially harmful ingredients."
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Did you read the article?
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I know plastic is scary but guys, you don't need to replace your entire plastic container selection - you could just, decant your food into a different container before microwaving it? The microwave is what's doing this, not the fridge.
I'd recommend getting a small borosilicate/Pyrex dish like This. I've been using two of them my entire life (did none of you get taught that microwaving plastic with food make it go funny as a kid?) And they last a good while. Provided you don't drop them. I think IKEA sells them and I've seen them around in my local kitchen store in non-pyrex brands. Also they're oven and dishwasher safe too!
Also I don't reccomend hunting for vintage Pyrex here - old pyrex chips super easily and constant use and slamming the lid on will chip the edges to hell and back. The European formula isn't actually the same as the old one so it's fine but unless you like glass chips in your cupboard and super sharp edges, don't go for it.
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The microwave is what’s doing this, not the fridge.
Nobody said the fridge is doing this, but it doesn't prevent it, either. It happens through contact. The microwave accelerates it.
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45 comments
Good article.
"Though various plastics are marked as microwave-safe—and plenty of plastic lobbyists have defended them as perfectly safe—the term is somewhat misleading. It’s simply referring to plastic types that won’t crack or melt when heated, not their chemical makeup."