Can disposable tableware be put in the microwave? How do I choose when I buy it myself?
Can disposable tableware be put in the microwave? How do I choose when I buy it myself?
Many people like to cook, but they don't like to wash the dishes. In order to solve this problem, some families will divide labor and cooperate to arrange housework, and some families will buy dishwashers. Some people simply order takeout directly, or buy some disposable tableware that does not need to be cleaned.
So, the topic comes to disposable tableware, are they safe to use for a long time? Can it be heated in the microwave?
Let’s help you sort it out today!
The most frequent use of disposable tableware is in take-out. It is relatively rare to buy disposable tableware by yourself. Either the party is free from washing so many dishes, or it is usually too busy and does not want to spend the rare rest time doing housework.
The characteristics of Chinese food are that it likes hot, oily, often soupy, and occasionally needs to be reheated in a microwave oven.
Therefore, the disposable tableware for these foods needs to be resistant to high temperature, oil and water.
Among the many disposable tableware, from the intuitive impression of consumers, it can be roughly divided into two categories: plastic tableware and paper tableware.
There are many kinds of raw materials for plastic and "paper" pulp. It is not necessary for consumers to understand and memorize them all. They only need to identify what we need from many products.
Plastic tableware is light and thin, and has strong plasticity. Different plastic materials have different characteristics and will be used in different scenarios. Some are cheap, high strength and not easy to crack, but not resistant to high temperature, suitable for mineral water bottles. Some have particularly good ductility and safe ingredients, and can be directly contacted with various foods, making them suitable for making plastic wrap.
But when it comes to high temperature resistance and suitable for microwave heating, you only need to remember one kind of plastic: polypropylene (PP), and the plastic material identification code is 5. There are many kinds of plastic products, such as PS, PE, PET, PVC, and more and more degradable bio-based plastics PLA, PBAT, etc., it is not easy for the public to remember so many names .
Since the usage scenario we are focusing on is eating, we must remember that the most suitable material is PP. If you buy it yourself, you should choose PP material. If the box you order for takeaway doesn’t have the PP logo, don’t put it in the microwave for secondary heating.
This way of grasping the big and letting go of the small can help us stay away from danger as much as possible and ensure safety.
When it comes to disposable tableware, you may be concerned that they contain unhealthy ingredients such as bleach and plasticizers, while log-colored, paper tableware is easier to feel at ease.
Therefore, many restaurants have also begun to choose wood-colored and paper-based disposable tableware to win the favor of consumers. When we were doing the 211 health live class, we also bought such disposable tableware, which looked good and had high quality. If you buy it yourself, you will probably see the following three categories.
Category 1
Made of bagasse, straw and other raw materials, the texture is matte, and there is no plastic film.
In fact, the fiber itself in the raw materials such as bagasse cannot be oil-proof and waterproof, so it is necessary to add waterproof and oil-proof additives to these slurries, so that the final pressed disposable tableware can meet the needs of daily use.
The biggest advantage of these tableware is higher safety, and the technology used is closer to papermaking technology. Products of relatively high quality can also be heated in a microwave oven.
It is also my recommended disposable tableware.
Category 2
Made of cardboard with plastic lamination.
The paper cups, instant noodle buckets, and kraft paper tableware that we commonly see belong to this category, and the plastics mentioned above are used for the internal film.
The most widely used is PE coating. With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness, more and more merchants use degradable PLA coated tableware.
However, these films are not resistant to high temperatures and are not suitable for heating in microwave ovens.
Category 3
Cutlery made from cornstarch.
This category of cutlery is a bit confusing because cornstarch usage varies widely.
Some tableware is mainly made of cornstarch, plus some plastic ingredients, and some will use degradable bio-based plastics, focusing on environmental protection.
Some tableware is mainly made of PP plastic, only a small amount of cornstarch is added, which looks like paper tableware, but the essence is still plastic.
But this is only a very rough classification. During the research, it was found that the formulas of this cornstarch-based disposable tableware vary widely, and some formulas are commercial secrets and are not disclosed.
However, by looking at the order of ingredients on the product packaging, you can still make a rough judgment. Like food, whoever adds the most will come first.
In general, these disposable tableware are still very safe and can be heated in the microwave. It's just the different plastic components that determine whether this cornstarch tableware is degradable.
For environmental protection, it is recommended that everyone prefer degradable materials.
Recommendations for use are based on the current mainstream products on the market. You only need to keep the following points in mind: use only PP material in the microwave oven, paper tableware without film (bagasse, straw and other raw materials), and don’t take risks with other materials.
