Where can I find silicone in life? Is it safe? In the kitchen, you'll probably find oven mitts, spatulas, and waffle pans everywhere. But it doesn’t just exist in small kitchens, it also exists in some areas:
Silicone breast implants
Commonly used dry cleaning solvents in dry cleaners
Baby products including pacifiers and bottles
Toys include plasticine
Skincare, makeup and hair care products
Outdoor clothing coating
What kind of silicone is there in the kitchen?
Commonly found in baking and kitchen utensils are:
Baking pan
Air fryer liner
Cutlery and bowls
Cake lining
Food storage containers
Ice cube tray
Silicone straw
Baking mold
Silicone is also found in:
What is silicone?
Silicone is also known as polysiloxane. It is a man-made polymer composed of repeating units of siloxane. The polymer is typically made into a flexible, rubber-like substance that is a high-strength and extremely durable elastomer. This silicone elastomer has many usable properties required for kitchen applications. It is also known for its heat resistance and low toxicity, making it ideal for many different uses.
What is silicone made of? Where does it come from?
Silicone is a viscoelastic silicone polymer and is therefore considered a man-made elastomer. Not only is it sticky; It contains the elements oxygen, silicon, hydrogen, carbon, and sometimes other elements.
The manufacturing of silicones involves many key steps. Silicon is usually found in the form of the silicon dioxide compound silica. Quartz containing silica is placed in a high-temperature furnace to separate pure silicon. The reaction temperature reaches up to 1800 °C. Next, the manufacturer mixes the silica powder with methyl chloride and heats it to activate the reaction between the components. The product of the reaction is methylchlorosilane. This mixture contains dimethyldichlorosilane which is the main component of silicones. After that, the various chlorosilane compounds are separated by subjecting the mixture to a precise distillation process. Then water is added to dimethyldichlorosilane for hydrolysis to obtain polydimethylsiloxane. Finally, the silicone is polymerized. The process involves many different methods.
According to the required performance requirements of the final product, the raw silicone polymer is mixed with catalysts, pigments, and other additives and evenly converted into the base compound. These uncured compounds are molded using different manufacturing processes including injection, compression, and extrusion. The shape after vulcanization is the final product.
Which silicones contain harmful chemicals?
Not all silicone production processes are the same.
Some manufacturers add low-cost fillers to reduce unit costs. These fillers are usually plastic polymers and other fillers. When exposed to high temperatures, silicone products containing these fillers may leach toxic substances into the food you are cooking over time.
Usually, you can use the "pinch test" to check the quality of silicone. When testing, pinch the silicone and twist or stretch it. Generally, the result should not be white. If the twisted part appears white, it means it is not pure silicone.
Food-grade silicone that complies with FDA regulations and is approved can come into contact with any food. These silicone polymers are free of BPS, phthalates, BPS, and other harmful substances and are allowed for use in silicone kitchen tools. Unfortunately, food-grade silicone is cured with peroxide, which means standard food-grade silicone is not the safest.
Finally, platinum silicone, which does not contain any by-products or fillers, is probably the safest option. This medical-grade silicone, which is cured with the precious metal platinum, is a safer alternative to standard silicone.
How toxic is silicone?
Cured silicone has excellent chemical stability, so many authorities and experts consider this elastomer safe. It may not be toxic. You don’t have to worry about silicone turning toxic over time because silicone can resist normal oxidative deterioration for decades. Numerous studies have shown that silicone does not produce any toxic fumes or react when exposed to extreme temperatures or contact with food, water, heat, cleaning products, and harsh chemicals.
Most silicone may end up in landfills and be incinerated, ultimately remaining as inorganic components including carbon dioxide, water, and amorphous silica. Food-grade silicone currently has no documented health hazards.
Some positive responses from experts and authorities
Experts and authorities have provided some positive responses on security issues:
In 1979, the FDA determined that silicon dioxide, the raw material that goes into silicone products, was safe for food-grade applications.
Health Canada states: "There are no known health hazards associated with use of silicone cookware. Silicone rubber does not react with food or beverages or produce any hazardous fumes."
Silicones Europe：Years of studies have confirmed the safety of linear and cyclic siloxanes for human health when used as intended.
Large-scale studies are yet to be conducted to fully assess the potential impact of silicone on surveillance. Therefore, we should have a positive attitude toward silicones.
Silicone vs plastic: what are the advantages of silicone?
Silicone is an extremely environmentally friendly, less toxic, and more sustainable material than plastic. It is a high-temperature-resistant elastomeric material, making it an excellent choice for cookware, oven mitts, and other cooking aids.
Safer and more environmentally friendly
Compared to plastics, which are made from petroleum materials and often contain BPA (bisphenol A) chemicals, silicone is more environmentally friendly and safer.
Reusable and more durable
Whether it's extreme cold or heat, silicone can withstand it. Its resistance to wide temperature swings ensures it will not melt, degrade, or crack. Another advantage of silicone is that it is reusable. Generally speaking, when silicone is properly cared for and maintained, it is reused multiple times.
Can silicone be recycled?
Opportunities for silicone recycling are indeed limited. Recycling of pure silicone is relatively difficult. However, in some cases, uncontaminated silicone can be ground into powder or granules and reused. Another option is to reuse silicone instead of recycling them. The result is not only reduced emissions but also savings in energy resources and raw materials.
Summarize
Silicone's low toxicity and chemical stability make it safe to use in the kitchen. As an alternative to plastic, it is at least safer than silicone.
Yuanyi is a manufacturer of silicone baking and kitchenware. Our team only uses cured silicone to produce kitchen products, which means our products are safe to use in the kitchen. If you have any safety or technical questions about custom silicone kitchenware, please contact our engineers as soon as possible.
