Many people like to cook, but they don’t like to wash dishes.
In order to solve this problem, some families will divide the work and arrange housework; some families will buy dishwashers; some people simply order takeaway directly, or buy some disposable tableware that does not need to be cleaned.
So, is it safe to use disposable tableware for a long time? Can it be heated in the microwave oven?
The most frequent use of disposable tableware is takeaway. It is rare to buy disposable tableware by yourself, either because you don’t need to wash dishes at parties, or you are too busy to spend the rare rest time on housework.
The characteristic of Chinese food is that it likes hot, oily, often soup, and occasionally needs to be reheated by microwave oven. Therefore, the disposable tableware for holding these foods needs to be resistant to high temperature, oil and water.
Among the many disposable tableware, from the consumer’s intuitive impression, it can be roughly divided into two categories: paper tableware and plastic tableware. There are many kinds of plastic and “paper” pulp raw materials, and consumers only need to identify what we need from many products.
◎Paper Tableware
When it comes to disposable tableware, you may worry that they contain bleach, plasticizers and other ingredients that are not good for your health, but wood-colored and paper tableware are more likely to make people feel at ease.
Therefore, many restaurants have also begun to choose log-colored and paper-based disposable tableware to win the favor of consumers.
◎Plastic Tableware
Plastic is thin and flexible, and different plastic materials have different characteristics and will be used in different scenarios.
Some are cheap, have high strength and are not easy to crack, but are not resistant to high temperatures, so they are suitable for mineral water bottles; some have particularly good ductility, safe ingredients, can directly contact various foods, and are suitable for making plastic wrap.
But when it comes to high temperature resistance and suitable for microwave heating, you only need to remember one kind of plastic: polypropylene (PP), and the plastic material identification code is 5.
There are many kinds of materials for plastic products, such as PS, PE, PET, PVC, and more and more degradable bio-based plastics PLA, PBAT, etc. are now used. It is not easy for the public to remember so many names .
Since our focus is on eating, the most suitable material is PLA, which is microwavable, heat-resistant up to 180F, and contains no artificial paints, petroleum, wax, chlorine, or bleach. Choosing degradable materials can help us stay away from danger as much as possible and ensure safety.
If you go to buy it yourself, you will probably see the following three categories.
①Made of bagasse, straw and other raw materials, the texture is matte and there is no plastic film.
In fact, the fiber itself in raw materials such as bagasse is not oil-proof and waterproof, so it is necessary to add waterproof and oil-proof additives to these slurries, so that the final pressed disposable tableware can meet the needs of daily use.
The biggest advantage of these tableware is that it is safer, and the technology used is closer to papermaking technology. Products with relatively high quality can also be heated in a microwave oven.
②Made of cardboard with plastic lamination.
The paper cups, instant noodle barrels, and kraft paper tableware we often see all belong to this category, and the plastics mentioned above are used for the internal coating.
The most widely used is PE coating. With the enhancement of environmental awareness, more and more merchants use degradable PLA coated tableware.
However, PE coatings are not resistant to high temperatures and are not suitable for heating in microwave ovens.
③Tableware made of cornstarch.
This category of tableware is a bit confusing because the amount of cornstarch used varies widely.
Some tableware is mainly based on cornstarch, with some plastic components added, and some will use biodegradable bio-based plastics, focusing on environmental protection.
Some tableware is mainly made of PP plastic, with only a small amount of cornstarch added, which looks like paper tableware, but is still plastic in essence.
Generally speaking, this kind of disposable tableware is still very safe, and it can also be heated in a microwave oven. It’s just the different plastic components that determine whether this cornstarch tableware is biodegradable.
For the sake of environmental protection, we recommend that you choose degradable materials.
Based on the analysis of the mainstream products currently on the market, you only need to keep the following points in mind:
1. Only use PP materials and degradable tableware (bagasse, straw and other raw materials) for microwave ovens, and do not take risks with other materials.
2. In different scenarios, there will be multiple considerations such as applicability, price, and safety. Some plastic materials that cannot be heated are not necessarily poisonous. They are safe in applicable scenarios.
3. Develop the habit of reading the instructions for use. There are instructions on what scenarios the product is suitable for, whether it can be heated, whether it can be directly contacted with food, and whether it is degradable. If there is no clear instruction on the product, please do not buy it.
4. Only by looking at the instructions on the official product packaging can you believe it. The information on the e-commerce header page is often only used for promotional purposes. In order to attract attention, or their own professional knowledge is not sufficient, some stores may describe the selling points of the product itself does not match.
5. It is understandable to use disposable tableware for a long time if you are really busy, or too lazy to wash dishes. Compared with ordering takeaway, cooking at home and using disposable tableware is already a healthier choice. But at the same time, I also hope that everyone can better plan their lives and rationally plan housework, so that they can live healthier and more environmentally friendly in the future.
Understanding the safety attributes of all materials is to make your choice closer to your inner needs, and to avoid eating more harmful substances because of ignorance, which is contrary to the goal of wanting to be healthy.
Between extreme convenience and extreme health, we need to find our own balance and make the most appropriate choice in the current state of life.
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