Love, Shirley
Microwave Ovens
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Mornin',
Tex, thanks for those references. They pretty much reinforce what I believe. (I did know that there was no dioxin in plastics and that some cling wraps like Saran were safe). But I do believe that the jury may still be out on those small amounts of chemicals that can be released when heating certain plastics. I think the following paragraph by Dr. Halden best sums up my thinking.
"In general, whenever you heat something you increase the likelihood of pulling chemicals out. Chemicals can be released from plastic packaging materials like the kinds used in some microwave meals. If you are cooking with plastics or using plastic utensils, the best thing to do is to follow the directions and only use plastics that are specifically meant for cooking. Inert containers are best, for example heat-resistant glass, ceramics and good old stainless steel. "
I definitely agree with his last sentence and will continue to use non-plastic containers for cooking. Just to be safe - but is there anything truly risk-free in this day and age? LOL!
Love,
Polly
Tex, thanks for those references. They pretty much reinforce what I believe. (I did know that there was no dioxin in plastics and that some cling wraps like Saran were safe). But I do believe that the jury may still be out on those small amounts of chemicals that can be released when heating certain plastics. I think the following paragraph by Dr. Halden best sums up my thinking.
"In general, whenever you heat something you increase the likelihood of pulling chemicals out. Chemicals can be released from plastic packaging materials like the kinds used in some microwave meals. If you are cooking with plastics or using plastic utensils, the best thing to do is to follow the directions and only use plastics that are specifically meant for cooking. Inert containers are best, for example heat-resistant glass, ceramics and good old stainless steel. "
I definitely agree with his last sentence and will continue to use non-plastic containers for cooking. Just to be safe - but is there anything truly risk-free in this day and age? LOL!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
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kate_ce1995
- Rockhopper Penguin
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Just remember to never put that "good old stainless steel" in the microwave!
What gets me about the whole plastics thing, is stuff like PVC was initially thought (or portrayed) as not so bad. But they have learned it does release chemicals as it decays (age, heat, whatever). So now we have "newer" plastics like ABS, HDPE, etc. My understanding is there are less (or no) additives to these plastics to make them malleable enough to form and strong enough to be durable like there was in PVC, which is quite brittle as a straight, additive free product, but we haven't been using them for very long.
Katy
What gets me about the whole plastics thing, is stuff like PVC was initially thought (or portrayed) as not so bad. But they have learned it does release chemicals as it decays (age, heat, whatever). So now we have "newer" plastics like ABS, HDPE, etc. My understanding is there are less (or no) additives to these plastics to make them malleable enough to form and strong enough to be durable like there was in PVC, which is quite brittle as a straight, additive free product, but we haven't been using them for very long.
Katy
Right, it's the "plasticizers that are the problem, and they leach out whether heat is present or not. In photo albums, for example, the plasticizers leak out of the clear plastic sleeves to deteriorate the photos inside, unless one uses "archival quality" plastic sleeves, (which don't contain the plasticizers).
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.