I have heard from many people that plastic containers give off chemicals when heated, which in turn are eaten when you eat leftovers heated up in them. I bought stoneware and glassware (Corningware and Pyrex) today to replace my plastic containers. Am I doing the right thing??
Depending on the plastic, it may contain varying amounts of plasticizer, a chemical used to soften the plastic. These chemicals are endocrine disruptors, act like hormones, etc. Cliffy doesn't have a clue. Heating in plastics is asking for trouble. I'd go pyrex. Whether it melts or not, putting hot food in plastic can cause the plasticizer to leach from the container to the food.
It is hard to get a straight and honest answer about this because there is so much money/industry/lobbying riding on the use of plastics and microwaves. Better safe than sorry, right? I did the same thing and got pyrex when the studies started coming out. Why take avoidable risks? I believe they are also saying that all of this plastics chemical release may have something to do with reproductive problems that have plagued our recent history... Mivrowaves are convenient, but I'm with John B, avoid whenever possible.
No, there is no danger in heating up plastic containers. I hear a lot of silly comments about many different things also. Hell, I know a few people who still believe that microwave ovens are dangerous! Edit: Sorry Jonboy, but it seems to me that although you may have a basic concept of some plastics, you seem to have no concept as to the amount of potential leaching of materials which may occur by simple heating, or the damage that a few released molecules could possibly have on any living being. Obviously if the material melts, it was not being used properly. Even if it did it would not cause any health risk. It would mean that the container would no longer be usable for it's originally intended purpose!
The food is fine. I don't use tupperware for our dogs food. I just open the bag and have a measuring cup. Their food doesn't go bad or stale, and I leave it like that for about 2 wks before it is gone.
