I am shocked! shocked! Well, not that shocked.
Still, don't heat stuff for the infants in a plastic.
Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
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Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#12I've long ago stopped cooking or putting hot food in plastic containers.. not because of this but because of the possibility other harmful substances leeching from the plastic in to my food.
Sure, there are some plastics labeled "for safe" and "BPA-free", but that doesn't guarantee some other plastic that's used doesn't contain harmful substances or cause as yet unknown side effects that just haven't been found by researchers yet. This goes double for new plastics which haven't had much research done on them yet but that manufacturers can honestly claim don't contain BPA.
Those kinds of assurances just aren't good enough, as this study shows.
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#13It was already known that some kinds of plastic release microplastic particles when heated. I assume this is why we have some plasticware that is labeled as being suitable for microwave oven usage, but at quick glance at the abstract doesn't seem they considered this difference. It would be interesting to know the amount of micropastic released by "microwave suitable" plastic vs common plastic.
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#14I would love to read the full paper but it is gated behind paywall and I can't possibly pay for every article that I find interesting.
I've heard that a lot of the time the authors are happy to email you the paper directly, if you ask.
Basically no one likes the academic paywalls, except for the world's most awful people [not an exaggeration].
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#15Why we don't use glassware? It's perfect for food. 1. Easy for cleaning 2. Good glass container will look new for years with proper washing 3. It breaks. So it requires full attention of person handling it. We all want to live in present moment, don't we? Use glassware and you will be in the present moment more often ;)
Some of us do use it. It just has the slight problem of weighing 200 tons which makes it mildly impractical for anything but use at home.
At least we don’t know our neighbors anymore. We wouldn’t want to get invited to a potluck, bring our scalloped potatoes in a Pyrex dish, leave the leftovers with the host, and never got our dish back.
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#16It's great to have some science on it but a lot of people have considered this common sense for one or two decennia.
Agreed. I haven’t microwaved food in plastic for 20+ years. It just always seemed gross. My biggest beef with plastic containers is that once washed with cheap dish soap (e.g. Dawn) the plastic container and any food stored in it always an forever smell and taste like the fragrance in the soap. I don’t find this to be a problem when using 7th Generation dish soap, which I consider to be far superior.
Microwaved plastic is obviously something to avoid I agree but what I would like to know is what happens on plastic plates in washing machine?
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#17I would love to read the full paper but it is gated behind paywall and I can't possibly pay for every article that I find interesting.
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#18Great news, my local council outlawed or out regulated throw away plastic food containers so everything is not in waxed cardboard. Which holds up about as long as the food is actually safe to eat. So win win.
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#19Why we don't use glassware? It's perfect for food. 1. Easy for cleaning 2. Good glass container will look new for years with proper washing 3. It breaks. So it requires full attention of person handling it. We all want to live in present moment, don't we? Use glassware and you will be in the present moment more often ;)
1. Cleaning doesn't really change much if it's plastic or glass.
2. With proper care, I agree, they'll look new/good for many years. Plastics can too, but to a lesser degree.
3. It breaks.
4. Glassware usually costs more. 5. Knowing that I can't break the tub of food that I have in my bag just because I accidentally dropped my bag, releases me of a lot of stress and worry.
Don't get me wrong, I do agree that plastics are toxic, but when I go to the store I always look at the prices and pick the cheapest option available, I wish I had the option of just being able to take what looks nice and pay without even knowing how much I pay, but sadly I can't, _yet_, afford that.
Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food
#20Oh uh, not good. I'm heating my lunch in a plastic container. Dammit. Glass is way too heavy!
Put your lunch onto a plate and pop a bowl on top of it to prevent spillage. Ceramic doesn’t react.
or put the food in a bowel and put a plate on top of it ;)
this, and microwave heating longer on low is my go to for consistent temps