Steaming in Plastic Microwave Containers | Is It Safe?

Using leftovers is an easy and quick choice for lunches.

We often store leftovers in plastic containers in the fridge.

It would make sense to zap them quickly in the microwave and serve them up, right?

But is this a healthy choice?

Is it safe to steam food in plastic microwave containers?

Read on to find out how steaming in plastic microwave containers can affect the food and the health of you and your family.

Are plastic microwave steamers safe?

Steaming food has long been suggested as one of the healthier ways to cook food. This is possibly because:

• It reduces the amount of fat or oil, compared with frying
• It reserves nutrition in the food, rather than leaching it out when food is boiled
• Food tastes better and fresher
• Food keeps its shape and texture better.

This would lead you to think steaming in plastic microwave containers a good choice when you are preparing food. 

Heating food, however, isn’t quite that simple.

Is it safe to steam food in plastic containers?

There are several different types of plastic. This complicates the safety issue of steaming food in plastic microwave containers.

Dr. Hauser, from Harvard Medical School, explains the different names for plastics.

Some of them are:

• Polypropylene
• Polyethylene
• Polyethylene terephthalate
• Polycarbonate.

The ordinary person would find it difficult to tell the difference between each of these plastics.

Even if we know what kind of plastic we’re using, it’s difficult to know what’s in it.

You can read more about each type on Harvard’s website, but one of the things they say is:

“Generally, there are several chemicals in plastics that are considered worrisome because they have been shown to be harmful to people who are exposed over the long term”.

In other words, steaming in a plastic microwave container one time is probably fine.

If you do it every day it will become a problem.

The effects add up and eventually can do damage to your body.

Is microwavable safe plastic container safe for steaming?

Nutritionist and naturopath Ross Walter agrees steaming in a plastic microwave container daily is problematic.

He says although microwaves are convenient for heating food quickly, they work by “stimulating massive friction between water molecules in the food”.

Steaming in plastic microwave containers can be convenient, but Ross lists these downfalls:

• Breast milk warmed in the microwave shows damage to cells
• Plastic can leach into the food
• Uneven temperatures can cause salmonella
• Vitamin C is reduced when the food is microwaved
• Vitamin B12 is reduced when the food is microwaved.

Read on to discover more of the effects that Ross discusses.

Is a plastic steamer safe?

The above list isn’t the only problem with steaming in plastic microwave containers.

Ross lists these effects of plastic leaching into food:

• Cancer-causing chemicals getting into the food
• Hormone disruption
• Early puberty for children
• Fertility problems.

You don’t have to heat food for a long time for these problems to show up.

Steaming in plastic microwave containers frequently for short periods of time can also cause them.

Simply warming up your lunch every day could expose you or your children to these problems.

Is a plastic container safe for steaming?

As mentioned above, there are many types of plastics.

For the average parent, it’s difficult to know which is which. Most people know that we should avoid bisphenol A (BPA).

However, Ross Walter explains BPA is only banned in baby bottles.

This means it might still be in microwave containers without you knowing.

Some problems associated with using BPA containers include:

• Hormone disruption
• Disruption of glands and cells
• Disruption of estrogen
• Disruption of the menstrual cycle
• Weight gain
• Reproductive problems
• Early puberty
• Infertility 
• Cancer
• Disruption of thyroid
• Prostate problems.

Although BPA is banned in baby bottles, it might be in the plastic containers you’re steaming food in.

That means you and your family could be exposed to these risks.

Plastic cups for steaming

Perhaps you have decided to avoid BPA altogether, and make sure your microwave containers are labelled ‘non-BPA.’ 

Will another type of plastic be safe?

BPA containers have become well-known for being unsafe to eat foods from, but now another damaging plastic has replaced BPA.

Bisphenol S (BPS) is now being used, and scientists believe it has as many harmful effects as BPA.  

The average parent doesn’t know anything about BPS and its dangers.

Is Tupperware safe for steaming?

The Tupperware website states that all Tupperware is BPA free.

However, you might want to think twice before using it to steam your food in the microwave.

This website gives detailed descriptions of many types of plastics and explains how even Tupperware can leach hormone disruptors into food if microwaved.

It’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid steaming in plastic microwave containers, including Tupperware.

Is it good to use a plastic steamer?

The experts seem to agree.

It’s best to avoid steaming in plastic microwave containers.

It can cause problems such as:

• Hormone disruption
• Weight gain
• Infertility
• Cancer
• Menstrual cycle disruption
• Early puberty 
• Disruption of estrogen
• Prostate problems.

And many more.

When we choose to use a plastic container to steam food in the microwave, we are taking a risk with our family’s health.

It’s a serious enough problem that some types of plastics have been banned.

Pregnant women must be especially careful.

Harvard says:

“At particular risk are pregnant women and their fetuses. Many of these chemicals cross the placenta, so the fetus is exposed. Experts say childhood exposure is also of high concern”.

Although it might sometimes seem more convenient, the possible negatives of steaming in plastic microwave containers seem to outweigh the benefits.

It is generally recommended to use materials other than plastic.

Containers for steaming

Steaming in plastic microwave containers is fast but choosing not to doesn’t mean food preparation has to take a long time or be difficult. 

There are many other options.

Although there are drawbacks to using microwaves, sometimes it might be your best or only option.

If this is the case, try using:

• Ceramic
• Pyrex.

These can be safer choices for warming your food. The food will be heated without the danger of plastics leaching into it.

You might choose to warm your food without a microwave.

Some healthy alternatives are:

• Boiling
• Cooking in a toaster oven
• Using a rice cooker.

If you want to retain the vitamins and taste and warm your food quickly, you can still steam your food. A microwave isn’t necessary for steaming food.

Bamboo or metal steamers are other good options.

These types of steamers give you the benefits of steaming without the dangers.

It’s best to stay away from steaming in plastic microwave containers. 

Other materials and methods will help you prepare much healthier food for your family.