Food Prep Safety

Is it safe to microwave food in plastic?

The USDA warns on its website against microwaving in single-use containers not intended for that purpose, such as take-out platters and margarine tubs, which may warp or melt, giving possibly harmful chemicals in plastic a chance to taint food. Those containers with "microwave-safe" labels shouldn't melt, but the label is no guarantee that small amounts of chemicals won't migrate during heating or storage. The USDA also cautions that plastic wrap should be kept from touching food in the microwave. Wraps made from PVC, as well as polycarbonate and polystyrene containers, contain chemicals that are being examined for links to birth defects, cancer and fertility problems, and they also leach more quickly and easily into hot fatty foods. Even at room temperature, PVC cling wraps such as Reynolds, and those used to package deli/grocery meat and cheese, can release these chemicals. Try not to heat meat, fish or dairy foods in plastics. To be safest, microwave in ovenproof glass or ceramic containers with covers.

Not-so-clean Teflon

Non-stick coatings on cookware have come into question recently. Tetrafluoroethylene, the major component of Teflon, Silverstone and some other fluorocarbon-based surfaces, is a probable carcinogen that could harm workers during food manufacture (although it's not known to contaminate foods in the finished product). Researchers at the University of Toronto discovered last year that when heated to between 680 and 930 degrees Fahrenheit -- scorching heat, in other words -- the fluoropolymers used in Teflon degrade into several undesirable substances including trifluoroacetate (TFA), a substance highly toxic to plants. The release of TFA worries some researchers, since the compound may build up in the environment over the years. Other chemicals that degrade include fluorine- and chlorine-spiked carboxylic acids, which can collect in animal tissues; chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer; and fluorocarbon, a greenhouse gas. Last but not least, the manufacturer warns that overheated Teflon can release fumes that can be fatal to birds. Maybe it's time to spread some vegetable oil on the cast-iron skillet.