The first choice for babies learning to eat independently is a silicone bowl. It is made of food-grade silicone and has many properties such as softness, resistance to extreme temperatures, resistance to bending, resistance to stains, etc., making it ideal for tableware. Newly born babies have immature body systems, especially the immune system, and are easily infected by viruses and bacteria. Therefore, the silicone bowl that parents have just purchased for their newborns, must be sterilized before use for the baby. So, how do you sterilize a silicone bowl? Can a silicone bowl be boiled at high temperatures? Does it emit harmful chemicals during the cooking process?
The answer is yes.
Because silicone has excellent heat resistance, it can withstand 230C° and will not melt, become brittle, or leach toxic substances, nor will it cause damage to the surface of the bowl. So you can safely boil the bowl in water, which will help remove dirt and bacteria from it.
Precautions for boiling silicone bowl:
Pour cold water into the pot until it boils.
Put the silicone bowl into the pot and boil for about 3-5 minutes.
Remove the product and wait a moment for it to cool.
Wipe it clean with a towel before use.
What should you pay attention to when buying a silicone bowl?
When purchasing or before use, please read the relevant rules marked on the outer packaging, such as cleaning rules, usage rules, and special precautions. Some silicone contains fillers and will volatilize harmful substances in high-temperature cooking environments and affect their functionality, such as swelling or damage. This type of silicone cannot be sterilized by boiling. Be sure to choose outer packaging that clearly states that the product can withstand a maximum temperature of 180-200C°. If there is no explanation, it is recommended not to buy.
Bowls with complex design structures will have blind spots for cleaning. When babies eat, food residues will enter the bowl and breed bacteria. Even after high-temperature boiling, it is difficult to completely clean the bacteria. Such products cannot be purchased either.
Are there other ways to sterilize silicone bowls?
Due to the high-temperature resistance of silicone rubber, the bowl can also be sterilized in the microwave, oven, and with detergents.
Oven
Place the bowl in a preheated oven at 150-80°C and bake for about 10 minutes.
Microwave oven
Use a microwave sterilization box, put the silicone bowl into the sterilization box, and then start the microwave for heating and sterilization.
Detergent
Use baby dish soap mixed with warm water to clean, then rinse with clean water.
Conclusion
Silicone bowls need to be disinfected and replaced regularly after use to ensure that babies use tableware safely. Although there are many disinfection methods, boiling is a safer and hygienic option that does not pose a threat to babies. However, some silicone contains fillers and is not safe to sterilize by boiling. Therefore, when choosing baby products, you need to pay attention to choosing food-grade silicone products and carefully read the instructions on the outer packaging.
