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6 Common Mistakes When Using Plastic Wrap That Harm Your Health

6 Common Mistakes When Using Plastic Wrap: Are You Aware of the Negative Impact on Your Health? Let's delve into this insightful article to uncover these mistakes and safeguard our well-being.

Administrator

10 July, 2024

It’s common to use plastic wrap to store food, but you may be making some mistakes without realizing it. Don’t worry, this article will point out these common mistakes and provide guidance on how to use plastic wrap safely and effectively.

1Common Mistakes When Using Plastic Wrap That Can Affect Your Health

Leaving Plastic Wrap on When Reheating Food

Always remove plastic wrap before reheating food

Plastic wrap can contain chemicals such as and DEHA, which can be harmful to your health when heated. These chemicals can melt and mix with your food, potentially causing cancer. Always check the box your plastic wrap came in to see if it’s safe for microwave use.

Using Low-Quality Plastic Wrap

Buy your plastic wrap from a reputable source with clear origins

Low-quality plastic wrap often contains additives and plasticizers like DEHP and cadmium, which are potential carcinogens. To ensure your safety, purchase plastic wrap from reputable sources that clearly state the product’s origin.

No Space Between Food and Plastic Wrap

Leave a gap of at least 2.5cm between food and plastic wrap

The ideal space between your food and the plastic wrap is at least 2.5cm. Alternatively, you can place your food in glass containers with high walls and then use plastic wrap to cover the container, ensuring a safe distance.

Using Plastic Wrap on Hot, Oily Food

Avoid using plastic wrap on hot, oily food

Using plastic wrap on hot, oily food can be harmful to your health. The heat and oil can cause the chemicals in the plastic wrap to melt and mix with your food, posing a health risk.

Storing Carrots, Cucumbers, and Yardlong Beans in Plastic Wrap

Do not store carrots, cucumbers, and yardlong beans in plastic wrap

Storing carrots, cucumbers, and yardlong beans in plastic wrap can reduce their vitamin C content. It’s best to avoid using plastic wrap for these types of produce.

Storing Cooked Food in Plastic Wrap

Allow cooked food to cool before storing it in plastic wrap

After cooking, let your food cool down before wrapping it in plastic wrap. If you wrap hot food, the chemicals from the plastic can seep into your meal, affecting your health.

2How to Properly Use Plastic Wrap

Tips for using plastic wrap safely and effectively

Use plastic wrap with a clear origin and safety confirmation from relevant authorities.
Store plastic wrap in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources.
Before wrapping food, ensure it is dry.
Use PE plastic wrap for cooked food and PVC wrap for raw food.

How to Differentiate Between PE and PVC Plastic Wrap:

PE Plastic Wrap: Transparent white, stretchy, less sticky to the touch, easy to separate when in contact, burns easily with a flame, and doesn’t produce a strong odor when burned.
PVC Plastic Wrap: Ivory or light yellow, less stretchy, sticky to the touch, difficult to separate when in contact, hard to burn, produces a strong odor when burned.

This article has highlighted some common mistakes when using plastic wrap and provided guidance on how to use it safely. We hope you found this information helpful and will avoid these mistakes in the future.

Frequently asked questions

There are several errors people often make when utilizing plastic wrap. These include heating food with the plastic wrap still on, using it to cover hot food, reusing plastic wrap, storing acidic or fatty foods, and directly touching food. These practices can release toxic chemicals, affect food taste and quality, and pose health risks.

Heating food with plastic wrap can cause toxic chemicals like plasticizers and bisphenol A (BPA) to leach into the food. These chemicals are harmful to our health and have been linked to various issues, including endocrine disruption and increased cancer risk.

Plastic wrap can alter the taste and texture of food. It can trap moisture, making food soggy and affecting its freshness. Additionally, the chemicals in plastic wrap can sometimes impart an unpleasant odor or taste to the food.

Reusing plastic wrap increases the risk of bacterial growth, which can cause food poisoning. Also, as plastic wrap is often used and discarded, it can pick up dirt and germs, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria that can contaminate food and lead to health issues.

Acidic and fatty foods can react with the chemicals in plastic wrap, causing them to leach into the food. This can not only affect the taste but also potentially harm your health. These chemicals have been linked to issues like obesity and heart disease.

There are several alternatives to plastic wrap that are safer and more environmentally friendly. These include reusable silicone lids or covers, beeswax wraps, glass containers with lids, and reusable cloth bags. These options help reduce plastic waste and potential chemical leaching.