Plastic bags are everywhere, be it in a grocery store or your kitchen. Whenever it comes to packaging and storing food, plastics are the go-to materials we all make use of in our daily lives. And despite the concerns regarding the poisonous effects of plastics, they are inevitable.
But when it comes to microwaving one, we need to be a little more cautious. Because storing and packaging might not evidently harm or cause damage to one’s health, but heating plastics under high temperatures can be a completely different story.
So, can you put a plastic bag in the microwave?
No, the best thing to do is not use a plastic bag in a microwave. Plastic bags are prone to melting and leaking harmful chemicals that might enter and mix with our food at high temperatures. Therefore, plastic bags are a big no when it comes to microwaves. However, plastic containers are a different thing because of their structure. Similarly, some plastic bags can also be used in a microwave, but only if they are designed to be so.
If you are still confused about whether to use a plastic bag or not, refer to the explanations below to help yourself make a decision.
Plastics bag in a microwave
In a general sense, we all know that plastics are amongst those materials that are toxic to our health. And especially when it concerns microwaves, they can be the worst material that one can use to heat food. Because, despite the chemical composition of plastic, plastic bags are very unstable materials that have high chances of adversely reacting to high or hot temperatures.
Now, one might question why plastic containers are recommended but not plastic bags.
It is simply due to that reason that plastic containers are structured in a way that can tolerate heat and remain stable. They have very low chances of melting down and contaminating the food with harmful chemicals even under high temperatures. And to ensure that, they come with microwave-safe symbols.
On the other hand, plastic bags are very different. And especially when heated with fatty food inside, plastic bags have a high chance of melting and leaking chemicals.
One might not realize the effect immediately, but consuming food microwaved in a plastic bag can have long-term issues. Hence, it is recommended that plastic bags are better left unbothered when it concerns microwaves and heat.
However, there may be some exceptions
After learning the above points, it is clear that we should not use a plastic bag in a microwave. However, this scenario can be different with some plastics. This means some plastic bags have been stated as harmless and microwave-safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
To ensure their safety and meet the FDA standards, the plastic bag manufacturer tests the bags and provides the time they can last in a microwave.
When it is the desired amount of time, they are marked as microwave-safe. And for the consumers to know that they are safe, they come with microwave-safe symbols. So, use a plastic bag in a microwave only when there is a symbol present.
Nevertheless, that would not guarantee 100% safety. Therefore, it is still best not to use one in a microwave at all.
