Is Silicone Bakeware Dangerous?

Personal Injury

• Silicone bakeware reaches a high heat when placed in the oven, though not as high as traditional metal pieces. You must use some type of potholder when removing the silicone from the oven. Touching the hot silicone material may result in burns. As the pans stay flexible, you also risk dropping the pan when removing it. As you hold the outside edges of the pan, the inside droops down. It is even possible to drop hot food on yourself when removing the pans.

Chemical Makeup

• Silicone bakeware uses a mixture of chemicals that create the shape and design of the pan. The silicone itself is safe for humans, but the other chemicals change the makeup of the silicone. The chemicals change the way the silicone reacts to heat and may also encourage faster breakdown of the silicone. Silicone pieces do not leach out any chemicals into your food, which makes the pans safe for use in cooking applications. According to the Food and Drug Administration, silicone does not release any fumes and is safe for human use.

Advantages

• Silicone bakeware has a non-stick surface, which means grease is not necessary for cooking. Using a small amount of grease, butter or oil helps the food slide out faster, but it is not mandatory. The pans are safe at temperatures of 428 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes the pans safe for home ovens. Silicone pieces work equally well in the freezer and let you move food from the oven to the freezer or refrigerator. The pans also distribute heat evenly for even cooking of different foods.

Warning

• While silicone bakeware is fairly safe, it cannot be used in certain situations. As the pans are only safe at up to 428 degrees, you may find that the pans are not safe for all dishes. Certain cookies and cakes that require a higher baking temperature cannot go inside a silicone pan. As the temperature rises inside the oven, it causes a softening of the silicone. The more you expose the pan to those high temperatures, the greater your chances are of the pan breaking down.