Did you know that there are plenty of old wives’ tales about using the microwave? There are so many myths about using this appliance that it’s hard to know what’s true and what isn’t. That’s why we want to help you by answering one question: Can You Put A Styrofoam Plate In The Microwave? The answer may surprise you! Read on to learn more.
Can You Put A Styrofoam Plate In The Microwave?
“Can you put a styrofoam plate in the microwave?” is a question that has been asked many times. Styrofoam is an expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) product. It is used to make products such as disposable cups, plates, and bowls. In order to be used in the microwave, styrofoam must be marked with the words “microwave safe” or “microwaveable”.
What Is A Styrofoam Plate?
A styrofoam plate is simply a plate made from styrofoam. You may see the word “foam” used alone as well. It usually comes in two types of plastic: polystyrene and polyethylene. While the names may seem similar, the materials are quite different. Polystyrene is the same material used to make those hard disposable coffee cups. Polyethylene is a softer plastic that’s used to make things like plastic grocery bags, takeout containers, and plastic cups for hot drinks. While styrofoam plates are made from the same plastic used in coffee cups, they’re not meant to be put in the microwave. That’s because styrofoam has a lower melting point than other plastics. The plastics that make up styrofoam plates melt at lower temperatures than most other microwavable plastics.
Is It Safe To Put A Styrofoam Plate In The Microwave?
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If a styrofoam plate is marked “microwave safe” or “microwaveable”, then it is safe to microwave.
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If a styrofoam plate is not marked “microwave safe” or “microwaveable”, then it is not safe to microwave.
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If a styrofoam plate does not have any markings at all, then it should not be put into the microwave.
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If a styrofoam plate has any other markings besides those three, then it should not be put into the microwave.
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Any of these plates with these markings can be placed in the oven or dishwasher as well as the microwave if they are meant to withstand those temperatures as well.
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Any of these plates with these markings can be placed in the oven or dishwasher as well as the microwave if they are meant to withstand those temperatures as well.
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If a styrofoam plate is marked “microwave safe” or “microwaveable” and it is not put into the microwave, then it will still melt in the oven.
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If a styrofoam plate is marked “microwave safe” or “microwaveable” and it is put into the microwave, then it will be melted when removed from the microwave.
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If a styrofoam plate is not marked “microwave safe” or “microwaveable” and it is not put into the microwave, then it will still melt in the oven.
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If a styrofoam plate is not marked “microwave safe” or “microwave
Why Shouldn’t You Put Styrofoam In The Microwave?
- Microwaves don’t have enough oomph to thoroughly heat styrofoam plates.
- Microwaves can cause styrofoam plates to melt if they are heated too long.
- Styrofoam doesn’t have the right texture, so it can melt and fuse with your food.
- Using styrofoam plates in the microwave can be unsanitary. When you microwave styrofoam, food particles can get embedded inside the plate. Since microwaves don’t thoroughly clean the plates, the food particles can transfer to your food. This can lead to food poisoning.
- You should use a different plate for your dishes that require high heat as well as those that do not require high heat such as pancakes or stir fry dishes where you want a thick layer of cooked rice or noodles on top of the dish instead of a thin layer of cooked rice or noodles sitting on top of a thin layer of uncooked rice or noodles (ex: fried rice).
- Styrofoam is not a good insulator and can actually get extremely hot. By using styrofoam in the microwave, you are essentially using an oven to heat food instead of a microwave.
- Styrofoam plates cause uneven heating of food and may burn foods on the bottom of the plate if they are not covered with something else when microwaved such as popcorn or breading for fried foods (ex: fish, meat).
- Microwaves do not have enough oomph to thoroughly clean styrofoam plates so there is a chance that your food could get contaminated by bacteria from the styrofoam plate itself.
- Styrofoam plates are okay for use in the oven but not in the microwave due to lack of insulation properties and higher temperatures achieved in the oven versus those achieved in a microwave oven (ex: steaks, chicken breasts).
- You should use a different plate for your dishes that require high heat as well as those that do not require high heat such as pancakes or stir fry dishes where you want a thick layer of cooked rice or noodles on top of the dish instead of a thin layer of cooked rice or noodles sitting on top of a thin layer of uncooked rice or noodles (ex: fried rice).
Bottom line
Microwaves use electromagnetic waves to heat food. While microwaves are great at heating food, they aren’t so good at cleaning the plate. That’s why you should only use microwavable plastics with your microwave. Make sure they’re marked with a “20” inside the microwave symbol. When microwaving plastic, be careful not to heat it for too long at a high temperature. This could cause it to melt.
