We’ve all been there. You order takeout and pick it up, but on the long drive home, it grows unpalatably cold. The easiest way to warm the food up again would be to just stick the takeout container into the microwave. But is that a good idea?
Equipment
Which Takeout Containers Can You Microwave?
Sometimes your takeout gets cold before you get home. Can you just microwave the foods in their containers?
By Published Mar. 14, 2024.
Here’s a rundown of all the different takeout container materials and how safe they are to microwave.
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Plastic Deli Containers
Verdict: No.
Heating any plastic container can increase the rate at which toxic chemicals leach out of the plastic and into your food. These chemicals have been linked to higher risk of reproductive, endocrine, and neurological disorders, among other issues.
Styrofoam Cups, Bowls, or Clamshells
Verdict: No.
Styrofoam will melt in the microwave. In addition, studies have determined that styrene, one of styrofoam’s components, is “reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen”—that is to say, raising the risk of certain types of cancers.
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Foil Wrappers or Bowls
Verdict: No.
While some metals can be safely used in the microwave, they’re generally not the kind used for takeout containers. Foil containers can cause “arcing,” sending electrical sparks flying inside your microwave and potentially causing fires or otherwise damaging your microwave.
Chinese Takeout Containers
Verdict: No.
The metal fasteners can create sparks, damaging your microwave. In addition, the cardboard is often coated in plastic or other waterproof coatings that can leach chemicals into your food when heated.
Compostable Containers
Verdict: No.
Most compostable containers are either made from bioplastics or from fiber-based materials that are coated or impregnated with plastics in order to keep them waterproof. In both cases, there’s a risk of chemicals and plastics migrating into your food when the material is heated.
Article
No, You Shouldn’t Microwave Plastic
Many containers say they’re “microwave-safe.” But what does that really mean?Learn More
Bottom Line
Even if a takeout container purports to be microwave-safe, you might want to avoid heating it.
As Justin Boucher, operations director of the Food Packaging Forum, told us: “Material manufacturers themselves often do not disclose or know the exact chemical composition of the final materials they put on the market. . . . so every product can be chemically different and migrate different chemicals at different rates.”
Studies have even shown that the migration of these chemicals “is almost guaranteed when microwaving food in non-inert materials,” Boucher explained. And that’s regardless of whether your food comes packaged in plastic, styrofoam, foil, paper, or compostable materials.
A new study by Consumer Reports corroborated the bad news: bisphenols and phthalates, two groups of chemicals known to increase the risk of several health problems, were found in 79% and nearly 100% (respectively) of the packaged foods they tested, regardless of packaging type. (Contamination was not solely attributed to the packaging itself, though packaging is known to be a contributing factor.)
Ultimately, we don’t recommend microwaving any takeout container. It’s always best to take food out of its packaging and heat it on a microwave-safe plate, bowl, or cup made of an inert material, such as glass or ceramic.
