How to Tell If a Plastic Plate Is Safe for Microwaves
It is arguably the fastest way to heat your meal in a microwave, just put it in a microwave and let the electronic appliance do the work for you. But, with that convenience comes the age-old debate - Is it safe to microwave your food using plastic plates or plastic containers?
It is arguably the fastest way to heat your meal in a microwave, just put it in a microwave and let the electronic appliance do the work for you. But, with that convenience comes the age-old debate - is it safe to microwave your food using plastic plates or plastic containers?
Many people have misconceptions about whether they should be using plastic containers to microwave their meals using plastic plates, especially those not labeled as BPA-free.
Well, we are here to verify whether it is safe to use plastic plates for microwaving or do plastic plates indeed release potentially dangerous toxins in your food.
How to Tell if a Plastic Plate Is Microwave Safe
One of the easiest ways to determine if your plastic plates are microwave safe is to verify whether they are BPA-free or contain BPA chemicals.
The BPA-free plastics plates are generally the safer plastic plates that don't cause any harm to your food when heated in the microwave. Meaning, that BPA-free plastic plates are safer for microwaving your meal.
To better understand BPA, let's break it down. BPA is a chemical component found in polycarbonate plastic which is often used when making certain drinks & food containers, and plastic plates.
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) research, a small amount of BPA may migrate from the plastic plates or plastic containers to the food, especially when the heat is involved.
The best way to find out whether your plastic plates are BPA-free or not is to read out the product description provided by the manufacturer that is mainly printed on the product's packaging.
Sometimes, manufacturers emboss BPA-free labels on the bottom of the products for BPA-free indication instead of the product description. You can also verify your plastic plates by the printed plastic identification code and stamped labels.
The number 1-6 indicates that plastic plates are safer for microwave purposes. Unfortunately, the 7 number tells the plates aren't BPA-free, and not recommended to microwave your food.
From Where to Get BPA-free Plastic Plates?
Many online stores promise to deliver BPA-free plates, but not many of them fulfill their promises. "Smarty had a Party" is a super online store where you won't only get BPA-free plastic plates but also microwave-safe plates for reheating your meal.
We have a wide range of elegant disposable plates. Our range starts with microwaveable plastic plates for casual settings for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and other upscale parties.
Moreover, the list of their benefits doesn't stop here; microwaveable plastic plates are also disposable. You won't need to worry about the after-party mess, as you can simply discard them in a trash bag.
Get disposable plastic bowls, plastic drinking glasses, and disposable plates at a fraction of the cost and kill the hassle of thinking about the BPA effects on your health while using our plastic plates.
Look for a Label to Confirm if Microwaving Plastic Plates Is Safe
One of the easiest ways to find out whether your plastic plates are microwave-safe or not is to look for a wavy label on the bottom of them. Sometimes, manufacturers emboss the labels on the packaging.
If you still have the plastic plates' packaging, it's easier to verify if they are safe for reheating your meal using the microwave. The wavy label indicates that the following products have been tested and are completely safe for microwave applications.
Are Plastic Plates Microwaves Safe?
Reusable plastic plates are generally safe for microwave purposes. However, disposable plates came up with a label that is also safe for microwave purposes.
If your plastic plates didn't come up with any label or symbol indicating microwave safe, it's harder to know whether they are microwave safe or not as you can generalize the plastic plates.
If you bought plastic plates online, email the online store to find out if the products they are selling are microwave-safe or not. However, if you are still unable to find out the answers, you can conduct a simple test at your home.
How to Test If Plastic Plates Are Safe for Microwave Use?
Here are the simple steps to conduct a test to verify your plastic plates if they are microwave safe.
1 - Grab a cup or a glass and pour it with water, and put it with the plastic plates in question in the microwave. Set the microwave on the maximum heat, and heat both of them for a minute.
2 - After a minute, take out both of them, and check if the plastic plate in question is hot or not. If it's warm and a cup of water is cool, it's not compatible with microwave use. Don't pour the water on the plate itself.
3 - Contrarily, if the plastic plate didn't get warm or hot and a cup of water is hot, it's a sign your plastic plates are safe to use for reheating your meal using the microwave.
Can You Put a Plastic Plate in the Microwave?
A simple and straightforward answer is: Yes, you can put a plastic plate in the microwave. However, there are some precautions you need to follow to make it safer for you.
The plastic plates with non-BPA-free formation aren't suitable for microwave use as there's a risk of toxins migrating to your food. However, the use of plastic products containing BPA is widespread, and we come in contact with such substances daily by eating and drinking food stored in them.
In fact, we all carry BPA in our bodies. However, the European Food Standards Agency has declared the current level of BPA found in the human body isn't harmful, and no such evident harmful side effects have been found.
This indicates that the current levels of BPA present in human bodies are at a normal stage. However, another study suggests that BPA can have hormonal impacts on pregnant women.
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