Is Rubbermaid Microwave Safe | Food Safety

I love Rubbermaid containers. I use them almost every day. It’s what I use to pack my kid’s lunches. I even pack my lunch in one of these containers. I also use them to store leftovers and do meal prep. Rubbermaid containers are so practical for everyday use that you’ve probably wondered whether they can go in the microwave.

Is Rubbermaid microwave safe? You can find the answer in this article, as well as a lot more valuable information.

Can Rubbermaid Go In The Microwave

The short answer is yes, you can use Rubbermaid containers to heat food in a microwave. However, you should always be extra cautious before you put a container in your microwave oven. Therefore, make it a rule to check whether there is a symbol on the container that indicates it’s microwave safe.

You should also make sure to check whether there is a BPA-free sticker on the product. I’ll talk more about BPA in regard to microwaves later on in this article.

Will Rubbermaid Melt in the Microwave

Like virtually any material, there is a limit to the temperature Rubbermaid containers can handle. If you would heat them at a higher temperature than the boiling point of water (212 degrees Fahrenheit), the containers would begin to deform and slowly melt. This would cause the release of plasticizers that would get into the food and make it hazardous for your health.

Avoid Fixed Lid and Steam Build Up – Pop!

It’s important that you remove the lid of the Rubbermaid container before putting it in the microwave. In case you don’t do this step, you should at least lift the edges of the lid. If you don’t, there won’t be proper ventilation and the increased pressure will likely cause the lid to pop off. This will cause you to spend time cleaning the mess left behind in your microwave oven.

Is Rubbermaid Microwave Safe

People are very careful when it comes to using plastic containers to microwave food, as they should be. Some containers contain materials like bisphenols and phthalates that can be extremely dangerous when mixed with food. That’s why Rubbermaid does thorough testing to ensure their containers are safe to use in a microwave oven.

There are some foods that you should avoid cooking in a microwave, even if you are using Rubbermaid containers. Foods that are high in fat and oil can heat up too quickly and result in a fire.

Heating Food in Rubbermaid Containers

Although Rubbermaid products are generally safe to use in a microwave, there are some valuable tips you should follow to avoid issues when it comes to reheating foods in plastic containers. Below is a list of tips you must follow if you want to reheat food in a Rubbermaid container:

• The first thing that you should do is remove any packaging materials and labels from the container you plan to use.
• Think twice before reheating any tomato-based foods in a Rubbermaid product because the container will likely get stained.
• You should use heat-resistant gloves or at least a kitchen towel when you’re removing the container from the microwave after the timer runs out.
• Stay away from the steam that comes out of the container once you remove the lid.
• Don’t reheat foods that are high in sugar, oil, fat, and salt since they might damage your container.
• Make sure to never overfill a container you plan to put in a microwave. If you overfill, your containers may get stained.
• Be careful not to overcook your food. In case the timer runs for more than it should, the plastic may begin to burn.

These are some of the crucial things you should remember before you begin reheating food in Rubbermaid containers.

Defrosting Food in Rubbermaid Containers

You can safely use Rubbermaid containers for defrosting food in a microwave. The only thing you should pay attention to is not to defrost any foods that are high in sugar or fat content. There is most likely a defrost button on your microwave. In case there isn’t, you should adjust the microwave power to 20-30% and be careful not to leave the food in for too long. You can cook the food only after it’s defrosted.

How To Tell If Your Container Is Microwave Safe

One way to determine whether a plastic container is safe for use in a microwave is to check the recycling code. These codes are numbered to represent the compound the container is made from. Here is what the numbers represent and whether you should use these containers to heat food in your microwave.

• Number 1 stands for PETE, otherwise referred to as polyethylene terephthalate. This is a material that is intended for one-time use. This means that you shouldn’t use it for reheating food in a microwave.
• Number 2 stands for high-density polyethylene, which is not particularly recommended for microwave use. It can be okay if the container has a symbol signifying it can be used in a microwave.
• Number 3 represents polyvinyl chloride. This is a number that you won’t encounter on food containers since it contains a dangerous chemical known as BPA.
• Number 4 is used to classify the presence of LDPE, otherwise known as low-density polyethylene. Some containers with this recycling code can be safe for microwave use, while others aren’t. Be cautious with containers that feature this code.
• Number 5 represents PP or polypropylene. This is the recycling code you should hope to find on the container you wish to use in a microwave. Polypropylene is a material that’s labeled safe for microwave use.
• Number 6 stands for PS or polystyrene. In case a container features this recycling code, you should never place it in your microwave.
• Number 7 is a recycling code for other materials not mentioned thus far. You must avoid using containers with this code for reheating food in a microwave oven.

Now, you may have an unlabelled container that you think is microwave safe and want to use to reheat food. However, you know that using the wrong container can lead to health problems. In this case, you can simply test whether the product is safe by using it to heat up some water in your microwave oven.

Here’s what you should do.

The first step is to fill the container about halfway up with water. Place it in your microwave and heat it on high for about half a minute. Grab a kitchen towel or some oven mitts and remove the container from the microwave.

You should now touch the container above the water line. Is it cool enough to touch and not feel the heat of the water? If so, it’s likely that the container is microwave safe. In case the whole container is hot, you shouldn’t put it in the microwave again.

Doing this simple test will let you know whether the container absorbs heat or passes it through. This is important because you don’t want the container to absorb heat. You only want your food to be heated.

Microwave Safe Symbol

The FDA recommends that you only use containers that are labeled microwave safe. You can tell whether the container is safe for use in a microwave if it has the appropriate symbol. It’s super easy to find this symbol, as it looks like a microwave with wavy lines.

Is Your Container Genuine Rubbermaid

Some plastic containers may look like they’re manufactured by Rubbermaid but they’re not. That’s why you need to make sure that the ones you have are genuine Rubbermaid products with adequate labels.

Rubbermaid Plastics

Rubbermaid makes some of the best plastic containers you can find on the market. The company has multiple lines of containers, including TakeAlongs, Brilliance, EasyFindLids, and FreshWorks. All of the containers from these product lines are BPA-free, while the first three are completely safe to use in microwaves, freezers, and dishwashers. The FreshWorks line of products is safe for use only in dishwashers.

Is Rubbermaid BPA Free

Rubbermaid is a company that puts a lot of effort into creating products that are safe to use in multiple ways. That’s exactly why they focus on making containers that are BPA-free. This means that you won’t have to worry about toxic bisphenols mixing with your food if you’re using Rubbermaid products.

Are Rubbermaid Containers Dioxin Free

Dioxins represent environmental pollutants that can cause health problems like altered liver function and skin lesions if you get exposed to them. Long-term exposure can lead to more serious problems, including cancer. Thankfully, dioxin is not a compound that can be found in Rubbermaid containers.

FAQ’s Microwaving Rubbermaid Products