While reheating and cooking food in the microwave, we try to cover it to prevent the food from getting dried and getting splattered. There are many options to cover it out of which one is cling wrap and this is used very commonly by most of us.
Many of us have the question if cling wrap is microwave safe. Well, the answer to this is yes, cling wrap is microwave safe and can be used to cover food in the microwave if it is labeled as microwave-safe.
There are some precautions that you should take while using a cling wrap in the microwave. Always check the quality of the cling wrap before buying it. It should be from a reputable brand.
The microwave-safe cling wrap is made up of high-quality material which can withstand high heat levels in the microwave but to get the safest results, you should reduce the temperature of the microwave to a low or medium level.
Also, the cling wrap should not be used with high fat or sugar-dense food items. Other precautions are:
- Once used, the cling wrap should not be reused. Reusing cling wrap is strictly prohibited as it can cause a bad impact on food items.
- There should be a gap between the cling wrap and the food so that the cling wrap does not touch the food when it is heated or cooked in the microwave.
To ensure this, it is better to use a bowl that is wide or deep and keep food inside the bowl. Make sure that:
- The cling wrap should be placed loosely over the bowl so that steam can vent out while heating the food.
- A cling wrap should be heated at medium or low temperatures. If it is heated at a high temperature of more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit, it should be used for less than 2 minutes. If it is used at a low temperature, the cling wrap can be used for 20 minutes.
Does plastic wrap melt in the microwave?
No, the plastic wrap does not melt in the microwave if it is high-quality and microwave-safe. While using any plastic wrap during cooking or heating in the microwave, you should ensure that it is used at a low or medium temperature.
Heating the plastic wrap at a high temperature can cause melting of it due to which toxic contents can leach into the food. This must be avoided always.
There are other precautions also which you should follow while using plastic wrap in the microwave and these are mentioned above. Do follow them carefully to avoid suffering from health hazards.
Is Glad cling wrap microwave safe?
Yes, Glad cling wrap is microwave safe as it does not melt or warp in the microwave. It is made up of plastic which is BPA-free, so it does not leach harmful substances into the food when heated in the microwave.
Unlike other plastic wraps, it is not made up of Polyvinyl chloride plastics and plasticizers. The main component of Glad cling wrap is polyethylene which is safe to use in high temperatures as well.
While using Glad cling wrap in the microwave, the food should not touch the cling wrap.
Glad cling wrap can also be used to keep the food fresh for a long time as it can tightly seal the food and prevents unwanted air from getting in.
Is it bad to microwave plastic wrap?
It is indicated by USDA that it is not bad to microwave plastic wrap as long as it is labeled as microwave-safe. Also, it is recommended that the actual food should not be touched by the plastic wrap while heating or cooking in the microwave.
If the plastic wrap is of low quality and heated to the point where it melts or burns, it can release harmful substances in the food.
We must avoid this and so, high-quality plastic wraps should be used only. Also, while cooking, there should be a gap of several inches between the food and the plastic wrap.
This advice should be particularly followed when the content of the food is high in fat or oil as most of the contents in the plastic wrap are fat-soluble.
Microwave safe plastic wrap brands
The various microwave safe plastic wrap brands are –
1. Clad cling wrap
It is BPA-free plastic wrap, free from plasticizers making it safe to use in the microwave. It can be used on all surfaces like glass and metal and prevents foul odors from coming out.
When the food is wrapped with this, it prevents air from coming out and the food remains fresh for a long time.
2. First Street Kitchen plastic wrap
This plastic wrap is microwave and freezer safe and can be used for storing any kind of food. It perfectly clings with the food and when stretched, a seal is formed that blocks the air from coming out.
3. E-Zee kitchen plastic wrap
It is a high-quality plastic wrap that works well in a microwave. It can also be used in the freezer and the food packed in it remains fresh for a long time. The most important advantage of E-Zee plastic wrap is that it does not tangle.
4. Saran cling wrap
It is one of the plastic wraps that has been used for decades. It is a versatile cling wrap that can be used to reheat food in the microwave and sticks easily to the food and dish.
It can also be used for storing food items in the freezer and prevents them from freezer burnt due to which food remains fresh for a long time.
5. Presto Kitchen plastic wrap
It is a good-quality plastic wrap that stretches and clings. While baking in the microwave, it is the first choice of most professionals. It clings to the food easily and protects food from other smells.
Is cling wrap the same as saran wrap?
Yes, cling wrap is the same as saran wrap. The plastic wrap which we used to cover the food is called cling wrap and saran wrap is one of the brands of it. There are many other brands in the market just like saran wrap named clad plastic wrap, presto plastic wrap, etc.
Saran wrap became very popular as this was invented a long time back in the year 1949, it was the first cling wrap designed for commercial use. Later in the year 1953, it was sold for household use as well.
People became very fond of using it and thus, most of us call cling wrap as saran wrap.
Saran wrap was first owned by Dow Chemical in which polyvinylidene chloride was used. But later on, due to environmental hazards, the composition of it was changed to polythene in the year 2004.
How long to microwave a potato in plastic wrap?
It takes about 8-10 minutes to microwave a potato in plastic wrap. First, the potato wrapped in plastic wrap has to be cooked for 5 minutes in a microwave, then it has to be flipped and cooked for another 3 minutes.
If there are two or more potatoes, then you should microwave for another 5 minutes to get perfectly cooked potatoes.
While cooking potatoes in the microwave with a plastic wrap, first scrub them in the running tap water and poke them with a fork to help steam escape which will make the potatoes softer.
Now, rub a little olive oil on the potatoes and sprinkle some salt. The potatoes can now be wrapped in plastic wrap and kept in the microwave for cooking.
Conclusion
As discussed above, it is safe to use cling wrap in the microwave while cooking or heating the food but while using it some precautions should be taken. If these are not followed carefully, there can be chances of experiencing health hazards.
Therefore, I would suggest using good-quality plastic wrap which is microwave-safe, and avoid plastic wrap touching the food while microwaving.