Are Melamine Dishes Microwave-Safe?

Microwave

• Melamine dishes are not microwave-safe. Exposing the dishes to such high temperatures causes chemicals in the dish to leach into the food. Heating acidic food such as tomatoes or citrus fruits causes the highest levels of leaching from melamine.

Cleaning

• Melamine dishes can be cleaned in the dishwasher, although some people question whether heating up the dishes that much is safe. The concern is that since they can leach small amounts of harmful chemicals when heated in the microwave, what is stopping the same thing from happening in a dishwasher. To play it safe, hand-wash all melamine dishes in warm water with a mild dish soap and air dry.

Potential Dangers

• In 2007 and 2008 melamine powder was used to boost protein levels of infant formula in China and added to pet food made in China that was sold in the United States, causing widespread cases of kidney stones, kidney failure and even death of some animals. While these problems occurred when the chemical was directly ingested, the long-term effects of continued exposure to low levels of melamine from microwaves or dishwashers are unknown. The FDA states that the level of chemicals leaching into food is well below what has been deemed a potential risk.

Considerations

• Over time most melamine dishes become scraped from sharp knives and utensils. To avoid potential hazards from leaching chemicals, discontinue use after a few years. Melamine dishes cannot be recycled, so instead opt for re-purposing them. They can become a little girl's play dishes, broken into pieces to create a mosaic table or used as a bird feeder. If no other options work for you, discard them.

Alternatives

• If you are concerned about exposing your family to the potential dangers of melamine and other plastics, other dishware options include bamboo and stainless steel, both of which are lightweight and will not break. Vitrified glass dishes resist breakage during normal household use, though they can shatter if dropped on hard surfaces such as ceramic tile.