The melted plastic can also be very difficult to clean up and, obviously, will ruin any food or drink that is contained in the cup. This is a fairly normal side effect, and can even happen when microwaving a cup that is deemed microwave-safe. Microwaving Styrofoam is not advisable, or safe for that matter where it hasn’t been proven or made sure about how this may affect foods and drinks. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. When you microwave your food in Styrofoam containers, you will most likely smell plastic burning, and that could also mean that the toxic from the plastic which makes the Styrofoam container is leeching into your food. Styrofoam Cutting Hazards; Effects of Inhaling Muriatic Acid Fumes; What Are the Dangers of Permethrin? Don’t keep lidded items in the microwave, and make sure you unscrew it, to let some air pass through. Therefore since this can penetrate food and pose as a major health risk, it is advisable to always use what is microwave-safe and stay clear from harm’s way. First of all, the article makes sure to point out that Styrofoam is a form of plastic so when discussion dangerous materials in a microwave, all forms of plastic are included. Releasing them when put into the microwave will let these merge into food / drink items posing as a very evident health threat. It was found that volatile styrene monomer penetrated the egg shells, which were stored in polystyrene packaging, and after being in the supermarket for two weeks led them to get chemically saturated. Store food or drink in glass containers rather than plastic jars and bottles. Microwaving Styrofoam is not advisable, or safe for that matter where it hasn’t been proven or made sure about how this may affect foods and drinks. Coffee Cups – Often Styrofoam coffee cups are used to serve coffee and hot chocolate. Types Of Styrofoam Containers. BPA exposure or ingestion can also cause harm to fertility, the immune system, and even body fat percentage, according to the AAP. Rather, it means that the FDA makes sure the amount that is transferred falls within a safe range. Here's why you should quit the habit and switch to glass instead. When microwaving styrofoam, it's important to make sure that the cup is microwave-safe before heating it if you want to avoid the dangers. Use white paper towels or wax paper when heating foods, since plastic wrap that is not microwavable in nature can melt and enter foods / drinks. If a cup isn't microwave-safe, more dangerous levels of plasticisers could leach from the cup into the food or drink. Would you like to write for us? Microwaving may reduce the formation of harmful compounds in certain foods. Tests done on hundreds of plastic products put through “real world” scenarios, including getting warmed in the microwave, showed that estrogenic chemicals seeped out of 95 percent of the plastic products. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. At high enough levels these compounds are carcinogenic, can pose a threat to your health and reproductive system, and should be avoided. We look through some tips to consider before cooking / heating up food and liquids. Always use a microwavable plate, or something that is microwave proof. Styrofoam is difficult to recycle; many environmental groups discourage its use. Because of the heating and cooling process, if it gets hot enough, it's been believed that Styrofoam can break down when put in the microwave, with all sorts of toxins entering your food. This does not mean that the chemicals will not migrate into the food or drink during the heating process. Even meat products are kept stored in these polystyrene containers, with yet another incident where these got contaminated after it was found that it gave off a bad odor when shipped. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. How much do you really know about this product that poses as a health risk among regulars? If a cup isn't microwave-safe, m Use paper towels that are microwave safe, or they’ll catch on fire easily. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Vitamin content while you navigate through the website food or drink during the heating process seeping into.. A safe range plastic jars and bottles not be used for heating and! Rights Reserved avoid a dangerous scenario a reality check - What are the of. 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