It is generally believed that plastic items do not go in the oven. But there is plastic kitchenware made up of a special plastic known as pp5 (polypropylene 5) which can be specially made for the oven.
This is an excellent and convenient development since it was always a hassle to transfer food from a plastic container to ovenware before placing it in the oven. And now you may wonder up to what extent pp5 is oven safe.
It is mostly oven safe, but there have been cases where the plastic may melt or contaminate the food at high temperatures. Overall, you can safely use it in low-temperature settings.
What is pp5?
Pp5 is a plastic used to make kitchenware safe in a microwave oven. Its complete form is Polypropylene 5. This is the only plastic that can be safely used in the microwave oven. It is heat resistant, and after a session in the microwave oven, it remains durable.
It may also feel cool to touch directly out of the oven. But you should remember that not all pp5 materials are oven safe; only the containers that have the Oven-safe logo can be safely used in the oven. Besides this, pp5 is also used to make plastic cups, sauce holders, and medicine storage utensils.
Is the pp5 oven safe?
Most plastics are not safe to use in the oven. They tend to melt down and deform. And in the process, contaminate the food with plastic.
But pp5 is different. It has heat and cold resistance that ensures its usefulness in the oven and the freezer. And if you use oven-safe pp5 containers, there is no risk of plastic contamination in the food.
Yes, it can quickly be concluded that pp5 is oven safe. If you decide to get pp5 containers for storing foods, ensure they have the oven-safe logo, as not all pp5 materials have adequate heat resistance.
How to safely microwave pp5 plastic?
Even though a pp5-made container is entirely safe to use in a microwave oven, there are many effective ways of using them that can extend its lifetime. One such way immediately comes to mind is using low to medium heat in the oven when pp5 plastic is in.
That way, the plastic won’t undergo the rapid temperature change that can hamper its structural integrity. And while you are at it, ensure you don’t heat the plastic for a long time. Over time after many uses, the pp5 plastic may be full of cracks or scratches. When it goes to that level, you should replace them.
What suitable alternative materials to use in the oven besides pp5?
While pp5 plastic containers may be a great option to store foods and heat them in the microwave, tons of other materials are equally good, if not better.
Glass is one such material that can safely be used in the oven. They heat up quickly and are easy to clean. Ceramic items are also very safe to use in the oven. They are commonly used in the kitchen and are non-toxic. You can also use silicone; that material is lightweight and easy to carry and use. They are durable as well.
FAQ:
Q. Is the pp5 dishwasher safe?
Not all plastic is safe to use in a dishwasher. And many safe plastics may not be marked as dishwasher safe.
One of the most common fears of running plastics through the dishwasher is the scratches and wear and tear. Luckily, pp5-made plastic containers and items are safe in the dishwasher. They are safe to use in the top rack as well.
It is best to place them on the top shelf of the dishwasher as the heating element is in the bottom, and that heat may cause the plastic item to deform. Hence, you can safely use pp5-made plastic containers in the dishwasher.
Q. Is pp5 freezer safe?
All plastics have a rating for the lowest temperature it can handle. Below that particular rating, the plastic may become very brittle and easily crack or break. Most plastics below freezing temperature are brittle.
So, if you want to refrigerate something in your pp5 container, then handle it carefully. One of the main reasons that plastic containers deform or break is sudden temperature change. It would help if you never put any plastic container from the fridge into the oven without letting it return to room temperature first.
So, if you handle things carefully, then pp5 can be safely used in the freezer.
Conclusion:
You should remember that not all plastics are microwave safe. If you plan on getting pp5 plastic containers for storing and heating your food in the microwave, you should label them or keep them separate from your regular plastic containers. If you liked this article, then be sure to read another!
