Microwave Safe Plastic Numbers

According to rolf halden the director for the center for environmental security at the biodesign institute at arizona state university the amounts of bpa and phthalates leaching into food depends on the type of plastic that s put in the microwave the amount of time it s heated and the condition of the container.

Microwave safe plastic numbers.

3 6 7 although the number within the recycling symbol won t definitely determine if the plastic is necessarily recyclable it does definitely specify what is not microwaveable. That number went up to 95 when the plastics were microwaved. Find out which are safe and which may be hazardous. Microwave safe plastic guide.

Microwave safe containers go through stringent fda testing to ensure that at temperatures reached in the microwave oven the amount of chemicals that leach out of the plastic is no more than 100. While plastic containers have been vilified for potential health risks some are ok to use. Is it safe to microwave plastic. Although the number within the recycling symbol won t definitely determine if the plastic is necessarily recyclable it does definitely specify what is not microwaveable.

You can identify containers made from pp by looking on the bottom for the pp stamp or a recycling sign with the number 5 in the middle. If you must wash plastics marked dishwasher safe place them in the top rack far from the heating element consumer reports advises. Also avoid containers that are made of soft plastic since they can contain harmful chemicals. Avoid putting type 3 pvc type 6 polystyrene and type 7 polycarbonate into a microwave oven.

Inside the triangle there is sometimes a number and that number denotes the type of plastic the item is made of. Plastic product is deemed microwave safe. Plastics 1 3 6 and 7 should be used with varying to extreme caution especially around food or drink. Be weary of putting them in the microwave even if they are labeled microwave safe.

To summarize plastics in categories 2 4 and 5 are generally considered safe.