Are Solo Cups Microwaveable?

Considerations

• Solo makes several products designed for use in the microwave, including its line of takeaway and leftover containers. The pieces consist of a base plate with dividers for different types of food and a clear plastic lid. You place the leftovers on the base and store with the lid in place. When you place the food in the microwave, simply remove the top. The company also makes a line of paper plates and cups that are microwave safe and clearly labeled as such.

How to Know

• Turn the bottom of the Solo cup over and look at the base of the cup. Unless the cup says that it is microwave safe, you cannot use it in the appliance. If the cup has no marking, then check the package. The package should state whether or not the cups are safe for use in the microwave. In general, only a few products sold by Solo are safe for microwave use and only those made from paper materials.

Warning

• Microwaving plastic items is potentially dangerous because of the risk that the plastic releases chemicals that leak into your food. Foods with a high level of fat, including cheese and some meats, release the chemical diethylhexyl adipate from the cup. When the foods heat up in the microwave, the chemical releases and reacts with the plastic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that companies test the amount of chemical released by different plastic containers and submit that information before releasing the plastic containers to the public.

Expert Insight

• According to The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, you should not use any plastic container in the microwave if the plastic has a one-time use design. A one-time use means the plastic is disposable and that you throw it away after using it once. The designs use thinner sheets of plastic, which result in more chemicals seeping into your foods. Solo plastic cups have a one-time only use design. Both the brightly colored Solo cups and the clear plastic cups feature the thinner plastic.