| Can You Microwave? I got “and” , “but” and “or” they’ll take you pretty far…. While many people think styrofoam can’t be used in the microwave at all, styrofoam can actually be designed for use in the microwave. Polystyrene (and most high molecular weight polymers) are in no way soluble in water, and even if 50 per cent of your cup were to melt, you will not be absorbing any appreciable amount through the water in your cup. Uh, hooking up words and phrases and clauses… obviously!!! Of course it melted a little under the corners of the pizza. Organisms of […], The specific gravity of water varies with temperature, however, at 4 degrees Celsius the specific gravity of water is 1. If you microwave ramen in a styrofoam cup, these toxins can be absorbed by the ramen, and then taken in by your body. We cover everything from solar power cell technology to climate change to cancer research. According to several human and animal studies, the polystyrene compound found in Styrofoam has been linked to cancer in both humans and animals. A microwave’s temperature can vary based on food, container, and wattage, but logically, microwaving something for 30 seconds is less likely to cause Styrofoam damage than nuking it for 5 minutes. While the average cooking temperature of a microwave is unlikely to reach these temperatures, some substances contained within styrofoam may reach beyond these temperatures. Ideally speaking, Styrofoam and other styrene compounds can be safely used in a microwave. Styrofoam is technically a trademarked term, referring to a specific brand of a type of material called extruded polystyrene foam. Various tests are run on the containers to ensure that they are safe to microwave food in during ordinary usage. Set the power level temperature to medium and nuke for 30 seconds or less to maintain safe standards. Yes, you can safely microwave Styrofoam if the container is marked as microwave-safe. What a bunch of losers ! We all clearly understood his point. We love feedback :-) and want your input on how to make Science Trends even better. Q: Styrofoam is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to keep things sterile, as an insulation material in building, or a packing material in trading and manufacturing goods.Yesterday you bought a new gadget packed in styrofoam, and now you are about to microwave that piece of meat from the restaurant in a foam food container. Can You Microwave Foam Plates? Conjunction junction how’s that function? A trillion. As mentioned earlier, there are two types of Styrofoam. But the truth is, there are two types of Styrofoam, the later which appears to be microwave-safe. This makes it a possible health hazard to heat any type of food in a microwave inside a container made from Styrofoam. But be extraordinarily careful heating oil inside a microwave oven because oils can easily reach temperatures of over 400 F! The maximum amount of plasticizers that are allowed to migrate is roughly 100 to 1000 times less per pound of body weight than the amount that has been demonstrated to harm lab animals. In addition, many styrofoam containers aren’t pure styrofoam, and it’s unclear how styrofoam containers created with other materials can affect the integrity of the styrofoam. Styrofoam. Additionally, styrofoam is highly flammable and can quickly explode when used in the oven. Make sure your container has a microwave-safe symbol! Cheryl, please check your use of Murphey’s law. I think she meant the contraction of it is and I spent a fair amount of time figuring this out because I am an even sadder human being but I hate to correct people on small things like that which most people immediately understand without being corrected. Good for the brain…, I like your reply Reader Rita and I agree with you but I am a sad human being, Why would you distinctly comment, just to correct someone’s grammar?Like, who cares? The best way to know is to read the packaging of the container and see if it reads “microwave safe.”. Polystyrene is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer and a lightweight material composed of about 95 percent air, with very good insulating properties. 8. Nobody cares. All Rights Reserved. If you leave a styrofoam container in the microwave for too long then you do risk a chance of it melting. Also, oils have a specific heat capacity of about 0.5, which is half that of water (1.0) and that means that for a given amount of microwave energy absorbed oil will heat twice as much as water. Conjunction junction what’s their function? Mutualism is […], 1,000,000,000,000. You simply need to check and make sure that any styrofoam container you are using the microwave is labeled safe for usage. That's great to hear! Polystyrene doesn’t melt from the heat in the microwave though, it would melt from the heat of it’s contents warming up. As a possible consequence, styrofoam may release chemicals into the food that might lead to certain health issues. I recommend against using plastics while reheating food in the microwave. Informative article. Yeah, Cheryl misused “conjunction”… but that doesn’t detract from her point that the original article misused contractions. Can styrofoam be used in the microwave? The short answer to this question is probably not. The best option, as we have already stated above, is to check the labeling and never use it for a prolonged period inside a microwave. Agree. Styrofoam is a type of plastic, and toxic chemicals may leach out of these products into the food that they contain especially when exposed to heat. Please check your use of Murphy’s law. Various chemical substances are added to batches of plastic in order to help stabilize the plastic or help it take on certain shapes. It’s not about grammar it’s about information. Nonetheless or is it none the less I liked her comment and did not feel it was pedantic, derogatory or meant to shame. What most people know as Styrofoam, is actually the trade name of a polystyrene foam product used for housing insulation. Also, fatty and oily foods are commonly microwave re-heated in styrofoam containers. http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/pronouns/1-grammar-error/. Want to know more? We're sorry to hear that! According to documents published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, polystyrene begins to decompose at around 200°C, while pure styrene begins to decompose around 175°C. You simply need to check and make sure that any styrofoam container you are using the microwave is labeled safe for usage. I want to find the answer to my question, not read your childish comments about grammar. The only styrofoam that can go in microwave. Styrofoam has not been tested and regulated for microwave use so we can’t be sure it’s safe for humans to eat food that has been in contact with microwaved Styrofoam … Microwave-safe Styrofoam This alternative material is constructed using safer materials, lower levels of hazardous chemical compounds, and is designed to remain more stable at higher temperatures. is that that says Microwaveable on bottom! While Styrofoam is officially created for use in insulation for buildings, colloquially the term is used to refer to any type of polystyrene foam or the white polystyrene foam used to hold food products and used as packaging material. It’s not Murphy’s law… that implies something outside of your control went wrong whereas in this case you just felt the need to call out someone on the internet about their grammar and in tern made a fool of yourself, not sure what you would call it.. maybe hubris?? The original type of styrofoam that was invented is made out of polystyrene which is basically a plastic product.When asked “can styrofoam be melted in the microwave?” The answer could always lead to a yes if you are not careful. All educated people should know the correct use of “its and it’s!” The minute I read something where these words are written incorrectly, the intelligence of the writer immediately goes down in my mind!! Please check your usage of it’s, the conjunction of “it is” or “it has”. For these reasons, if the container you are using is not explicitly marked microwave-safe, or if you are still worried about the possible harms of using styrofoam, it is recommended that you transfer your food to a glass, pyrex, or ceramic container to microwave it. This compound has been connected to cancers in certain studies. However, they begin to change states at lower temperatures, approximately around 100 degrees Celsius for polystyrene. Is Styrofoam toxic and can you microwave Styrofoam? So, the answer is a big yes. Polystyrene is the primary material used in the construction of styrofoam and it’s a hydrocarbon polymer, derived from a monomer called styrene. Prove you're human, which is bigger, 2 or 8? Cheryl, please check your use of “conjunction”. Thank you Scott! So, it is best not to heat them inside a microwave oven.”, Reference https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/microwave-oven.316981/. The endocrine system is made out of various glands that control hormonal balances, and these balances are necessary for things like proper tissue function, growth, proper metabolism, sexual function, mood regulation, and sleep. They are potentially carcinogenic and may leach Besphenol A, a potentially deadly toxin, into the food.