Can you put styrofoam in the microwave?
When it is time for reheating leftover food in the microwave, not all foam containers are created equal. This can easily be confirmed with a quick check of the packaging. Take a look at your foam container and see if it has a symbol depicting the outline of a microwave with a series of wavy…
When it is time for reheating leftover food in the microwave, not all foam containers are created equal. This can easily be confirmed with a quick check of the packaging.
Take a look at your foam container and see if it has a symbol depicting the outline of a microwave with a series of wavy lines. This is a visual indication that the container is microwavable. The symbol means the FDA has approved the container for safe use in the microwave; however, if you do not see this symbol, you should not microwave the container. Instead, transfer your food to a microwave-safe vessel before reheating.
Foam containers are convenient for keeping food and drink at hot or cold temperatures, but all in all, they really aren’t the best options when it comes to reheating food.
The chemicals from the styrene can leach into the food when the foam container is heated and this can be a cause for concern. The styrene has been classified as a cancer-causing ingredient and there is also a danger for containers to catch fire or melt (especially if heated too long) if they aren’t marked as safe-to-use in the microwave. This also applies to Styrofoam plates used in the microwave to heat up food.
So, the Styrofoam containers can get your food delivery to your door and safely hold the contents in the fridge for later use, but after they serve these purposes — you may want to play it safe and retire them. Take the extra step to transfer any leftover food items to a microwave-safe container for reheating in the convenient countertop appliance or use a dish that is made for oven use and warm the contents by baking at a gentle temperature.
