Is It Safe to Use Plastic Food Wrap in the Microwave Oven?

Plastic Composition

• At its base, plastic is made of petroleum. Plastic wraps are either made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE). PVCs, in particular, are considered an environmental hazard and health risk. Its base chemicals and the additives used in the production of plastic wrap are dangerous substances to mammals and fish if ingested.

Microwaves

• Microwave ovens use high frequency radio waves to stimulate and heat the molecules in food through a process of dielectric heating. This microwave radiation works quickly and efficiently, heating through the layers of food. Foods high in fat, like meats, poultry and butter, can get very hot and melt or warp plastic containers and wraps.

Mixing Heat and Plastic

• The problem when plastic wrap is heated in microwave ovens is that its chemical composition can break down and leach into the foods it covers. Because exposure to these chemicals in high doses is dangerous to humans, avoiding any contact with them is a good idea, which holds especially true for women who are pregnant and children.

Limiting Exposure

• One way to avoid the danger of plastic wrap's chemical breakdown in the microwave is to substitute its use with a damp paper towel, parchment or wax paper. Another choice is to select FDA-approved plastic wraps composed of LDPE and certified as microwave safe. However, even products certified as safe can still leach chemicals if they come in direct contact with hot, fatty foods. Assuring enough space between the wrap and its food helps, but with a better-safe-than-sorry motto, avoiding plastic wraps altogether when using microwave ovens is best.