The love of fast food and at times hot food never ends thanks to the microwave. Can a microwave give you cancer? It depends on the situation. It can be based on the type of dish you use to heat up food, but your exposure to cancer is minimal is you pick the correct dishes.
What makes up plastic dishes?
First, we define plastic as a synthetic substance made of different organic polymers such as nylon and polythene. Plastics contain phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA) chemicals. Bisphenol A is a clear material that is used to make products ranging from water bottles to eyeglasses. Phthalates, on the other hand, are soft, flexible and often found in children's products. When Bisphenol is used over an extended period of time, it can leak into food — hence the reason why plastic dishes are not safe.
Examples of plastic dishes
Microwave plastic dishes come in different shapes, sizes and colors. The most common type of plastic dishes are made of melamine. Melamine resin is a product of combining melamine and formaldehyde using pressure, and the end result is modified into any desired shape. Melmac, on the other hand, is a brand of melamine. Do not heat food and drinks in melamine-based dinnerware because heat increases the risk of melamine moving into your food.
Why are plastic dishes used?
- They are cheap. You can easily afford melamine dinnerware as opposed to glass dinnerware.
- Plastic dishes are easily available. They can be found online or in stores.
- Plastic dishes are nearly impossible to break compared to glass or ceramic dishes.
3 possible effects of using bad microwave plastic dishes
Increased reproductive disability
Experts have suggested that phthalates and Bisphenol-A (BPA) have chemicals that are capable of altering the level of testosterone and estrogen in human beings. This could lead to complications, heart disease, diabetes and even reduced sperm production, which is unhealthy.
Plastic dishes pose a high risk of getting cancer
Several chemicals in plastic dishes may migrate into your food when heating it up. Some chemicals that leak could be high in fatty acids, affecting your health if consumed in food.
Plastic dishes break off easily
When exposed to a lot of heat, plastic dishes may melt and migrate into your food.
Top 7 solutions to prevent the use of bad plastic dishes
- Use glass or ceramic containers labeled for use in microwave ovens.
- Do not put cracked or scratched containers in the microwave, as they may leak into your food
- Do not use plastic dishes to heat up food unless they are labeled as microwave-safe.
- Transfer food into a glass dish before heating it up.
- Food containers (ex. plastic yogurt containers) are not safe.
- Avoid heating up food in microwave plastic bags — especially those you get from the grocery store.
- Do not put soft plastic containers in the microwave.
Plastic or glass dishes?
Dinnerware. Why? Because even though they are costly, glass and ceramic are durable as well as microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Glass dinnerware poses zero health hazards compared to plastic dishes.
Invest wisely. Remember that health is wealth.