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Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

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Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#61

Post by reaperducer »

thomastjeffery wrote: post #44
quaintdev wrote: post #5

Why 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 ;)

Glass gets very hot in the microwave. Hot enough to burn skin.

Glass gets very hot in the microwave. Hot enough to burn skin.

So does plastic.

Also, it's a microwave oven. Who thinks that you can stick your hands on something in a device called an "oven" and not get burned?

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#62

Post by wheels »

andrewstuart wrote: post #21

Slightly off topic but I threw out all my pots and pans with non stick surfaces. Nothing will convince me it’s safe to cook food to high temperature on whatever that chemical coating is. And after a while you notice the surface is wearing away…. where is it going? Into you and your family. All my pots and pans are stainless steel.

Most folks that cook a lot don't use non-stick pans much anyway because they just don't last very long. I keep a couple around for eggs and pancakes, but that's it.

The usual recommendation for skillets is carbon-steel and cast iron because the seasoning does provide some non-stick properties. I have the full gamut with carbon steel, cast iron, non-stick and stainless steel, and find myself mostly leaning on the carbon steel. (I don't have any other materials since I cook on induction.)

But here's a catch: that seasoning? Basically a plastic. It's polymerized cooking oil. You can decide if you care. But you'll also polymerize oil when cooking on stainless. Basically: if you want to go ultra-paranoid, don't fry things.

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#63

Post by adrian_b »

gumby wrote: post #41
nervousvarun wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm in the minority but we (and everyone else we seem to interact with) use pyrex.

Dishes marketed under the Pyrex name are no longer borosilicates. The brand name was sold off (and in fact the company that bought it was recently discussed in HN as they also bought Instant Pot, and have gone bankrupt).

True, which is why any buyer must search for glassware that is said to be "borosilicate" and not search for "Pyrex", which has become a meaningless trademark.

When you hold it in the hand, real borosilicate glassware is very easy to distinguish from other glassware, because it is noticeably less heavy.

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#64

Post by reaperducer »

moffkalast wrote: post #8
quaintdev wrote: post #5

Why 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.

It just has the slight problem of weighing 200 tons which makes it mildly impractical for anything but use at home.

And yet, somehow it was the standard method of operation for more than half a century before plastic bowls became widely available.

I feel bad for those poor 1940's housewives, all hunched over and disfigured from dragging 200 tons of Corningware to the church potluck supper.

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#65

Post by camtarn »

G234323 wrote: post #36
ikekkdcjkfke wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ikea glass containers are sturdy

yep, can confirm, have been using them for years and didn't break a single one. I bring them to rally events and other sites without issue.

We've managed to crack one - no idea how, since they're never treated particularly roughly - but even then, it didn't fully break. I'm definitely a fan.

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#66

Post by nathias »

quaintdev wrote: post #5

Why 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 ;)

> We all want to live in present moment, don't we?

not at all

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#67

Post by kevincox »

iopq wrote: post #17
hu3 wrote: post #3

I 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.

Here https://mega.nz/file/5Bgn1R4K#6BlIb9hUCxc_7JdQq7vvE6YqtCBpsD...

[dead]

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#68

Post by dekken_ »

KoftaBob wrote: post #54
dekken_ wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

The food ends up in a bowel at the final step, you're getting ahead of yourself! :)

dang

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#69

Post by nmpennypacker »

Looks like the study was performed on a liquid, so I guess definitely don't microwave soup. Wonder if the effect is the same with a food that doesn't have as much contact with the container. Anyway, like many commenting here, microwaving food with plastic fallen in the "it just seems wrong" category for me, so it's business as usual.

Re: Microwaved plastic containers release microplastics into food

#70

Post by Aachen »

mrob wrote: post #31

Converting the units to make comparison easier: Worst case ingested dose for toddlers: 22.1ng/kg·day Dose found to be toxic in vitro: 1,000,000,000ng/kg

Where did you get the 1g figure from? I'm curious to read more about the circumstances under which they found toxicity, e.g. if that's acute rather than sustained across decades.

Also, what does in vitro mean here? Do I remember correctly this means you're not dead?! Seems like an odd bit of jargon to add

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