In recent years, silicone products are quickly filling your kitchen. They range from silicone plates, cake molds, ice cube molds, cups, spatulas, and even silicone straws. When using kitchen tools you may be wondering if is silicone safe to microwave silicone? The answer to the question is yes. Silicone has excellent heat resistance, durability, harmlessness, and non-stick properties, which makes it safe to use in the microwave. It should be noted that only food-grade silicone is the best choice. Read on to learn whether silicone products are safe to cook with and the key steps to cleaning them.
What is silicone?
Silicones are man-made polymers with a siloxane backbone, where their side chains are organic compounds typically composed of carbon and hydrogen.
How is silicone made?
Silicon is a chemical element that makes up silica and is found in large amounts in rocks and beach sand. Metallic silicon is extracted from these natural compounds, and then the powdered silicon and methyl chloride undergo a series of chemical reactions at high temperatures to convert into organic silicon basic raw materials. The polymer is then mixed with fillers and other additives to obtain a highly adhesive liquid or gel. These raw material compounds can be cross-linked at high temperatures and vulcanized into the final product using different curing systems and molding processes.
What are the main components of silicone?
Food-grade silicone is a non-toxic polymer composed mainly of silica. It contains no BPA, BPS, PVC, or other inferior fillers. It should be pointed out that to reduce production costs, some manufacturers add low-cost fillers during the silicone production process. This reduces its performance and lifespan.
What are the other advantages of silicone?
Available in a variety of interesting shapes
Coordinated all required colors
Lower thermal conductivity
Not reactive
Not easy to fade
Non-stick surface
Soft and scratch-resistant
Easy to clean and longer life
No changing the taste and characteristics of food
Are silicone products safe for food when microwaved?
Yes, silicone products are safe. Silicone baking pans, bowls, and cake molds are often used to make or store delicious foods. The main component of food-grade silicone is inert silica, so it won't migrate any harmful chemicals into the food you're steaming. In addition, food-grade silicone utensils and cookware that meet FDA standards will not cause chemical contamination of food.
How to identify if silicone products contain fillers?
There are usually several methods of identification:
First: Put the silicone products close to your nose and smell them. Industrial-grade silicone has a pungent smell. Food-grade silicone does not have any odor.
Second: Twist the flat product. If it turns white, it means it contains inferior fillers. The original color is pure silicone.
Third: place it in the oven at 200C° to 280C° to bake. Ordinary silicone will turn yellow and scorch. What remains unchanged is food-grade silicone.
Fourth: Contact the silicone raw material factory directly to ask for a third-party laboratory test report that complies with all FDA regulations.
Does silicone products melt?
Silicone products are microwave-safe and will not melt. Strictly speaking, silicone remains solid until it burns. It has no melting point. Covalent bonds between atoms in their molecules provide strong and strong interaction forces.
Why don't silicone products burn?
Silicone products can be used in microwave ovens and ovens, but will not burn. The natural temperature of silica gel is about 450C°. When the temperature is close to its ignition point, it will begin to decompose, releasing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and finally remaining white powder (silica). Food-grade silicone combustion temperatures are not typically reached in kitchen tool heating applications, so silicone products are safe for use in microwave ovens.
Compared with silicone products and plastic products, which one is safer?
In contrast to plastics, which slowly melt under high temperatures, food-grade silicone can be exposed to a wide operating temperature range of -50°C (-58°F) to +280°C (536°F) without deforming. This feature makes silicone products safer and more durable than plastic products. Additionally, plastics often contain phthalates and BPA. During the high-temperature heating process, it releases environmental hormones that can be deposited in human fat tissue. Food-grade silicone can withstand extreme heat without producing any by-products.
Can silicone products be put in the dishwasher?
Yes. Silicone products can also be removed from the microwave, refrigerator, and oven and placed in the dishwasher without worrying about cracking and wear. Food-grade silicone provides abrasion resistance over a wide temperature range and excellent tensile and tear strength.
How to clean silicone products?
One problem you will encounter after baking or steaming is how to clean silicone molds and silicone baking pans. This depends on the nature of the dirt and the type of silicone product. The best advice is to use a fatty dish soap. If you prefer hand washing, please follow the following steps:
First step: Soak the tableware in the sink with hot water and a little mild dish soap. The usual time is 30 minutes. For some stubborn stains, the soaking time can be extended to more than 60 minutes.
Step two: Apply dish soap to a sponge(non-abrasive) or soft brush and gently wipe the mold or baking sheet. The process is repeated for more complete stain removal.
Third step: Rinse with hot water.
The fourth step:Turn the silicone products upside down until the water has completely evaporated.
In addition, Silicone products that have serious buildup on the surface or have a peculiar smell can be placed in the oven. Set the oven temperature to 175°C for about 10 minutes, and then soak it in hot water to thoroughly clean food stains. If there are still a lot of oil stains on the silicone products, you can use baking soda and a damp cloth to gently wipe the surface.
Conclusion
Silicone products are safe in the microwave. Excellent high-temperature resistance, mechanical properties, and non-stick properties allow it to perform well in high-temperature applications. But before purchasing, please make sure your silicone products are high-quality 100% food-grade silicone. Now that you have a complete understanding of using silicone safely in the kitchen, you can choose the most appropriate silicone manufacturer for your project. If you still have questions about silicone products or need technical support for a specific project, please contact our professional team.
