For convenient storage or protection of their food products, many consumers use Saran Wrap. However, can you microwave Saran Wrap? In most cases, YES.

When warming food in the microwave, plastic wrap is acceptable as long as certain safety measures are taken. Most importantly, use a low or medium power setting, microwave for less than two minutes, and keep the plastic wrap elevated above the food surface to reduce risk.

Keep reading

What About Saran Wrap?

Many people have questioned whether Saran plastic wrap, one of the most well-known brands of plastic food wraps on the market today, is safe to use in microwave ovens to reheat food.

Yes, Saran wrap can be microwaved. The United States Department of Agriculture has granted it approval for microwave use.

Is It Safe to Eat Melted Plastic Wrap?

The safety of eating burned or melted plastic wrap is another worry people have about it. Many people might believe that it is impossible for them to come into contact with heated plastic food wrap, but accidents do happen and occasionally this can result in inedible plastic food wrap ending up on your plate.

Are such plastic wrap pieces safe to consume? a former FDA supervisory chemist named Dr. Charles Breder, don’t be alarmed if you accidentally cooked some plastic wrap. The only negative side effect would be that your food would taste terrible.

Do Plastic Containers and Wraps in Microwaves Cause Cancer?

Use only plastic wraps and containers that are marked “microwave safe” in microwaves. According to Dr., no research has been done to date showing that eating plastic used for food containers and microwave cooking causes cancer. Jenny Permuth, assistant member of Moffitt’s Cancer Epidemiology Program (1).

Concerning using plastics in the microwave, people have long been advised against it. The worry was that microwaves would release dioxins, which are cancer-causing chemicals, into food. However, as was already mentioned, polyethylene makes up the majority of modern plastic packaging.

There are no discernible dioxins in polyethylene by itself. Dioxins are instead produced during the melting or burning of plastics and other materials. Therefore, you can prevent the production of dioxins by not melting or burning your plastic wraps or containers in the microwave.

Use only containers or wraps designed for microwave use, which is another important reminder. Although the FDA has not yet approved their use, this does not imply that plastic wraps that cannot be microwaved are necessarily unsafe. Therefore, it is best to err on the side of caution and only use plastic wrap that is marked “microwave safe.”

How Do You Microwave Plastic Wrap?

If you are using plastic wrap in the microwave oven then you will have to follow basic steps to follow:

• Make use of a dish or bowl with high sides.
• Keep some space between the food’s surface and the plastic wrap.
• Set the microwave oven’s heating temperature to low or medium power.
• A maximum of 2 minutes should be used to heat the plastic wrap.

How Long Can You Microwave Plastic Wrap?

You should not keep the plastic wrap in the microwave oven when eating foods higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can microwave plastic wrap for about 20 minutes at low power levels. At high temperature levels, use plastic wrap for less than 2 minutes.

It is safe to use in the microwave oven while reducing heating time and temperature as long as you are using a microwave-proof plastic wrap.

Tips to Microwave Plastic Wrap

When it comes to microwaving plastic wrap, there are a couple basic tips to improve safety and reduce concern:

• When purchasing plastic wrap, you must initially inspect its quality. Spend your money with a reputable company.
• After being microwaved, do not use the plastic wrap again.
• Ensure that there is space between the food’s surface and the plastic wrap.
• To allow for steam venting during heating, cover the bowl with some loose plastic wrap.

FAQs

Microwaving Plastic Wrap: Final Thoughts

As we have discussed, it is ok to use microwave safe plastic wrap in the microwave oven. When using it, exercise some caution. because the plastic compounds can leach into your food and present health hazards.

Most importantly, the plastic wrap should not come in contact with the food surface while heating. Keep the plastic elevated above the food by placing it in a bowl with high sides.

Plastic wrap should be heated at low to medium heat for less than 2 minutes. Keep in mind that plastic film is a fragile material that is not made with strong materials, so time and temperature should be kept to a minimum.

If you have been confidently microwaving plastic wrap, proceed with caution. However, if you have any concern about microwaving plastic, then consider switch to a safer option like a microwave cover or paper towel that are much safer to use when heating food in the microwave.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. Thank you for reading.