Silicone has been widely used in daily life because of its excellent performance. But have your customers ever wondered: Can I put silicone in the microwave? As a silicone manufacturer, we will answer this question and help your business guide them to use microwave silicone correctly.
Can All Silicone Be Microwaved?
You need to know that not all silicone can be put into the microwave. Only the food-grade silicone with the label “Microwave Safe” can be used in the microwave. If you put inferior silicone into the microwave, it may lead to a series of bad results.
Softening and deformation: When you put substandard silicone into the microwave, it is very prone to deformation. What’s worse, some poor-quality silicone may even melt.
Releasing toxins: Unqualified silicone may also contain BPA and heavy metals. If you microwave it, poor-quality silicone will release toxins.
How to Identify If Silicone Is Microwave Safe?
Check for the Microwave Safe Label
When you receive the silicone products, you need to first check if they have the “Microwave Safe” label. Generally, this label is mostly found on the bottom or the back. If you don’t find any marks on these key parts, please look at the edges or sides. However, if you still haven’t found it, please check the packaging or the label again.
Once you find the “Microwave Safe” label or the microwave icon, you can safely put the silicone product into the microwave.
Look for FDA, LFGB & Food Grade Certifications
You also need to confirm if the silicone product has obtained the FDA, LFGB, or Food Grade certifications. These are internationally recognized safety certifications for food-grade silicone.
As long as your silicone has one of these, it is a food-grade material. Naturally, it is non-toxic and heat-resistant, and safe for microwave use. And obviously, you can use it to hold food that needs to be heated confidently.
Smell for Unusual or Pungent Odors
In addition to those obvious marks or certifications, you can also use physical checks to determine if it can be microwaved.
The odor of qualified microwave-safe silicone is very faint, which is perfectly normal. However, if you find that the silicone has a very pungent smell, even if it is labeled as microwave-safe, you should not use it. Definitely, this inferior silicone contains harmful substances. When exposed to high temperatures, it will release toxins.
Check the Soft & Elastic Texture
The texture of microwaveable silicone is extremely good. When you touch silicone, it feels soft and elastic. Moreover, you won’t find it sticky. Additionally, no matter how you stretch it, it will quickly return to its original shape. On the contrary, if you notice that the silicone feels brittle or hard, and it deforms when pulled, then it will become soft or melt easily after being microwaved.
Avoid Silicone with Metal Parts
You need to avoid microwaving silicone with metal parts. No matter how good the quality of silicone is, as long as it has metal parts, you should never put it in the microwave. This is because when you put the metal parts into the microwave, the metal will generate electric sparks. This not only will damage the microwave, but also may cause electric shock or explosion.
What Are the Advantages of Silicone That Is Microwave-Safe?
Food-Safe and Non-Toxic
When you heat food in a microwave, the first thing to consider is food safety.
The qualified food-grade silicone meets the standards of the FDA or LFGB. After you put it in the microwave, it will not produce any toxic substances and thus will not contaminate the food. This makes it fully meet the requirements for food contact safety, which is apparently a good choice for you to heat the food in the microwave.
Heat-Resistant and Durable
Generally, the appropriate temperature range of microwave-safe silicone is -40℃ to 230℃, which is much higher than the conventional heating temperature of the microwave. Therefore, you don’t need to worry that the silicone will easily deform or melt. At the same time, it is also very durable. Even if you microwave silicone multiple times, it won’t easily age.
Non-Stick and Easy to Clean
Because the surface of the silicone is inert, food residues, oil stains, etc., are not likely to stick to it. In addition, after using the silicone product, to make it clean, you just need to rinse it simply with water. This won’t leave any food residue and is also very convenient for you.
Versatile for Multiple Uses
High-quality silicone can be adapted to various usage scenarios. This can greatly save your purchase cost because you no longer need to equip specialized equipment for different scenes.
Specifically, you can put the silicone in the microwave to heat dishes or thaw ingredients, and you can also use it to bake food. Therefore, microwaveable silicone is undoubtedly a one-stop material for you.
How to Use Silicone in the Microwave Safely?
Inspect Your Silicone Before Microwaving
You need to check the silicone before microwaving.
Specifically, you need to inspect if it has any cracks or damage, or if its surface is sticky.
Additionally, you should also make sure the silicone has no oil stains or residues adhered to it. This can help silicone avoid developing a terrible smell when you microwave it.
In addition, please do not forget to check whether the silicone has metal accessories.
All of these situations can pose risks. Therefore, once you find any of these issues, you must not put the silicone in the microwave.
Follow the Silicone Instruction Manual
After checking the silicone quality, you need to read the instructions carefully.
When you go through the silicone instruction manual, focus on whether it clearly indicates “Microwave safe” and “food-grade silicone”, which can ensure the silicone can be safely microwaved.
Next, you need to check the maximum temperature the silicone can withstand. Generally, microwave-safe silicone needs to reach at least 120℃ or above, as the temperature of the microwave will exceed 100℃ after being heated. If your silicone is not able to withstand high temperatures, it will gradually deform and even release toxins.
Use Silicone Safely in the Microwave
When you put silicone into the microwave, you also need to operate safely.
Avoid Empty Burning
You cannot microwave silicone products without filling them. If empty silicone products are heated, they are prone to deformation and aging.
Do Not Fasten the Lid Tightly
When you heat a silicone box with a lid, make sure you leave a gap or open the air vent. This can effectively prevent the silicone from bulging or exploding due to excessive internal pressure.
Control the Heating Time and Temperature
Please do not microwave the silicone at a high temperature for a long time.
For example, when you need to heat the food for three minutes, do not directly heat it at a high temperature for three minutes. You can first heat it at a medium temperature for one minute, then take it out to check. Next, heat it for another minute. If the food is not yet hot, you can heat it for another thirty seconds.
During the whole process, you need to maintain a medium temperature, which can prevent the silicone from deforming.
Be Careful with High Temperatures
You should avoid contacting the silicone directly with the heating element of the microwave, as the element temperature reaches between 300°C and 500°C during heating. This is far beyond the normal temperature tolerance of the silicone.
Additionally, when you remove the silicone from the microwave, please remember to use heat-resistant gloves or a towel. This will effectively prevent you from getting burned.
Clean & Care for Microwave-Safe Silicone
After using the silicone, you need to clean and maintain it properly. You should wait for the silicone to completely cool down before washing it. At the same time, please use a mild soft cloth and detergent to prevent the silicone surface from being scratched. After washing it, you need to ventilate it to dry and store it dry.
FAQ
Is Silicone Better Than Plastic In the Microwave?
Definitely yes! Firstly, high-quality silicone does not contain BPA or other harmful substances, and it will not release toxins when heated. Secondly, silicone is more resistant to high temperatures and durable, and is less likely to deform. Therefore, we recommend you use silicone to heat food in the microwave.
Is Silicone Safe for Microwaving Baby Food?
It is completely safe for you to use food-grade and microwave-safe silicone to heat baby food. At the same time, we recommend you choose silicone products with FDA or LFGB certification. Moreover, when using the microwave, you need to avoid overheating it to ensure food safety.
Can I Reuse Microwaved Silicone Multiple Times?
Yes, you can. Microwaveable silicone is designed to be reused repeatedly. These microwave-safe silicones will not deform even after being heated hundreds of times. Therefore, as long as you use and maintain it correctly, it can be reused repeatedly.
How Long Can I Microwave Silicone Safely?
Most microwave-safe silicones can withstand 3-10 minutes of heating. Therefore, you need to avoid heating it for more than 10 minutes, as this will accelerate the aging or deformation of the microwaveable silicone. If you want to better control the microwave time, please follow the heating time indicated in the manual.
Final Thought
Please don’t worry! As long as the silicone is high-quality and microwave-safe, you can heat it confidently. And if you want to ensure your silicone can be microwaved safely, don’t miss Legensilico. We will provide you with reliable silicone products at all times. Please contact us in time!
