As one of the synthetic polymers, silicone contains bonded silicone and oxygen along with other elements like hydrogen and carbon. It is widely used in the kitchen these days mainly due to its many properties and is formed of flexible, rubber-like plastic.
Yes, silicone is microwave safe and can be used in it without any second thoughts.
It is an amorphous material that is highly absorbent and solvent which does not respond to water. Some other properties of silicone are that it is tasteless, non-toxic, and chemically stable.
Regarding temperature, it can withstand high temperatures of 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit and low temperatures of -65 to -100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Due to these properties, silicone can be safely used in the microwave and does not cause any deformation or leaching of toxic substances.
Since silicone is resistant to high heat and has low toxicity, there are many uses of silicone.
Some of silicone products that are used in day-to-day life are-
Silicone containers
Silicone containers can be used in the microwave to heat food as these are temperature and impact-resistant, non-toxic (BPA-free), odorless, lightweight, long lasting, and easy to clean.
Precautions while using silicone containers
It should have an anti-slip and firm grip feature so that while removing hot things from the microwave, you do not get burned. Also, it should be made of food-grade silicone which is safe for your health.
Silicone Bowls
Silicone bowls can be used conveniently in the microwave as they are lightweight, easy to clean, non-porous, and free of BPS, BPA, and other harmful toxins.
Silicone lids
Silicone lids can also be used in the microwave without any second thoughts. It replaces the use of paper towels in the microwave where the food has to be covered while heating in the microwave.
The silicone lids are easy to clean and some of them are adjustable which can be used on containers, bowls, and pans of any size and shape.
Silicone molds
Silicone molds are non-stick and can be used in the microwave. They are tolerant to both heat and cold and can go directly from the microwave to the fridge.
While using silicone molds for baking, ensure that they are made of high-quality material. If not, there may be an offensive burning smell from these while used in the microwave.
Silicone cups
Silicone cups are used for baking muffins and cupcakes and can be used in the microwave. It is easy to clean and baking can be done conveniently in them.
Silicone bags
Silicone bags are 100% safe in the microwave and do not leach chemicals when reheated. It is dishwasher safe as well and so cleaning is not a problem with it.
How to use silicone egg poachers in microwave?
Using silicone egg poachers in the microwave helps in getting a uniformly round poached egg in very little time.
To use silicone egg poachers in the microwave, follow the instructions:
- Before using the silicone egg poachers, use soapy water to wash it properly and then rinse and dry it well.
- Grease the cups of the egg poachers lightly with butter or oil or use a pan spray.
- Crack the egg into the cup of the egg poacher.
- Prick the yolk with a fork once and the whites many times so that steam is allowed to vent out. This will prevent the egg from exploding out while cooking. Most of the poachers have a double cup design and if you want to make one egg only, fill the other cup with ¾ of water.
- Put a spoon of water on each egg so that while cooking steam is made which keeps the egg moist.
- Close the lid of the poacher or snap it on the base. It entirely depends on the design of the poacher.
- Set the microwave at medium power and run it for 30-45 seconds for one egg and 45-60 seconds for 2 eggs.
- Let the eggs rest in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Once done, eggs can be slid out from the poacher on the plate or toast and served hot.
After using, it is essential to wash the silicone egg poacher with soap and water.
How to use silicone molds for baking in microwave?
To use silicone molds for baking in the microwave, follow the steps:
- Before using a silicone mold, clean it nicely.
- Grease it with little oil, butter, or pan spray.
- Pour the batter into the mold.
- Bake according to the instructions regarding the batter.
- Once done, remove the mold from the microwave. Be careful it can be hot. Always use a mitten or glove while removing it from the microwave.
- Let the silicone mold cool down and then remove the food from it.
- Clean the mold with soap and water, rinse, and dry it.
While using silicone molds in the microwave, you must be careful of some points:
- Always use small molds.
- Check on the temperature as silicone can withstand a maximum temperature of 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Greasing the silicone mold is not necessary but if you do it, food can be taken out of it easily.
- Check the quality of the silicone mold before buying. You should do a pinch test in which first pinch the silicone mold and twist it a little. If while doing this, the color of the mold stays the same, it is 100% silicone mold and you can buy it.
Does silicone melt?
No, silicone does not melt as it does not have a melting point and it remains solid until combustion occurs.
It can withstand a high temperature of about 400-500 degrees Celsius and does not lose its physical properties at this temperature. It has strong covalent bonds between silicone atoms due to which it does not start melting before 1414 degrees Celsius.
There are many varieties of silicone and all of these have different autoignition temperatures based on their hardness and additives.
Even when silicone is heated, it does not become toxic. It is non-biodegradable, and non-recyclable as it contains covalent bonds of silicon-oxygen. These bonds are very strong which requires a lot of heat to get oxidized.
Can silicone be recycled?
Yes, silicone can be recycled many times just like plastics. But it cannot be recycled traditionally as it is a strong material. It has to be sent to a specialized recycling company where it is recycled into oil.
This oil can be used as a playground mulch, or as an industrial lubricant. Since it cannot be recycled easily, many of us throw away silicone when not using it anymore and it remains in the environment for centuries without breaking down.
It does not easily biodegrade or decompose as it is very durable. Due to this, it remains in the landfills but plastic activists consider it a good thing as compared to plastics.
Silicone pieces are majorly in big size which is less likely to be caught in the fish bellies and cause problems in marine life, unlike plastics.
Conclusion
In the above article, we learned a lot many things about silicone and its feature as safe to be used in the microwave. Since it can withstand high temperatures, it can be used in many things and even last longer.
It is safer than plastics with respect to health perspective as harmful toxins are not present in it. Just one thing to keep in mind while buying silicone products is that they should be of high quality and 100% silicone.