As we all know, Saran wrap is also called plastic wrap and cling wrap. However, it is really important to know that can you put saran wrap in the microwave. Many people use Saran Wrap to store their food products conveniently and this wrap is also used to cover food while reheating leftovers in the microwave.

Or is it safe to use it in the microwave? In most cases, YES, you can do this in the microwave, however, there are a lot of important things that you need to know before you place saran wrap inside the microwave. So, read on to learn more. Because you should be entirely sure that your Saran Wrap is safe to microwave.

Well, in this helpful guide, we will explain every fact in detail. So if you are wondering to know that “can you put saran wrap in the microwave”? Then you should stay and read these calmly this guideline.

Saran Wraps and Types of saran wraps

Basically, Saran wrap is a plastic thinner wrap that is used to cover food in containers. It helps to air-tight so that your food remains fresh for a long time. But you should keep in mind that there are 4 different types of saran wraps that can be easily found in the market.

They are differentiated by the material that they are made up of and you must have an idea which type or material is microwavable before purchasing the saran wraps. These four kinds are given below:

1. PVDC Saran wrap

PVDC saran wrap stands for Polyvinylidene Chloride saran wrap that works amazingly at higher temperatures from 140°C to 180°C. Basically, the microwave-safe saran wraps are made up of PVDC that’s means this wrap is completely safe to microwave.

2. PMP Saran wrap

PMP saran wraps stand for Polymethylpentene saran wraps. They are the common kind of saran wraps. Most of the lying kitchen cabinets are probably made up of PMP. And no doubt, they are also ideal and great like PVDC saran wraps to use safely in your microwave.

3. PVC saran wrap

PVC saran wrap is called Polyvinyl Chloride saran wrap. Basically, this saran wrap is suitable only to cover foods at room temperature or lower temperatures. You can cover fruits and vegetables with PVC saran wrap. But it is not a good idea to cover leftover food. And you should also avoid microwaving it.

4. PE Saran wrap

Polythene saran wrap can be found easily at grocery stores. This kind of saran wrap is mainly used to wrap meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and fruits but still, this is not microwave safe. So don’t put it in the microwave and you should always remove this wrap before you put your items in the small microwave.

Can you put Saran Wrap in the microwave?

You must hear that food that has been heated in plastic wraps inside the microwave is harmful and can make the reason of cancer. However, in spite of this rumor, there are still many people who use plastic wraps to heat their leftovers in the microwave. 

But you don’t need to be so concerned about that because According to FDA, all saran wraps come with a “microwave safe” label on them and these saran wraps are heat-resistant, harmless, and non-toxic. The saran wraps will not cause health issues.

The USDA also confirms that you can use saran wrap in the microwave, but you just need to follow the given condition that it doesn’t make contact with your food. We have already mentioned two recommended types of saran wraps that are totally safe so you can go with them.

How to safely use saran wrap inside the microwave?

 There is no doubt, safely using saran wrap inside the microwave is so easy and simple but still, there are some important things to know before using it in the microwave. You must have an idea to safely use saran wrap inside the microwave. A safe way of using saran wrap inside the microwave is given below:

• First of all, you have to take a clean bowl with high sides.
• Next, you have to Place your food inside the bowl and cover it with saran wrap.
• Now you need to Punch some holes in it using a fork or knife.
• You should set your microwave at low or medium heat.
• Next, you have to Heat your food for no more than 2 minutes.

Required precautions while using saran wrap inside a microwave:

It is necessary to take all the precautions before microwaving food covered in saran wrap.

• Before using it, you must have to Check whether the saran wraps you’re using are labeled as microwave-safe or not. If it is microwaveable then you can use it otherwise you should be avoided it.
• There should be some gap between the food and the saran wrap. You should always make sure that the food is not touching the saran wrap, especially the foods that have a high fat content.
• There must be some vent holes so that excess heat can escape.
• Don’t microwave it for more than 5 minutes.
• You should never microwave the saran wrap at high temperatures.

How long can you microwave saran wrap?

Basically, the time duration does matter a lot. You must have an idea about the time and temperature while microwaving the saran wraps. So, we can recommend that the maximum temperature range for heating plastic wraps is 220° F to 250° F, but it is better to set the wraps to lower the temperature up to 150° F. At this temperature, you should heat up the saran-wrapped food for almost 2 minutes. If the temperature is lowered, then you can heat it up for about 20 minutes.

When should you avoid saran wrap heated food?

Never forget that many times when heating leftovers using saran wraps can go wrong. It may happen when the food touches the wrap, or the temperature is not well maintained or may be too high. There is a chance, maybe you have microwaved it for a long time.

So all these conditions can cause the plastic to deform, melt and get into the food. Ingesting or melting plastic is not a good idea, after all, plastic was not made to be eaten. So we must say that always try to avoid these things to do because if melted plastic may include in your food then it is unhealthy for you.

Conclusion

Basically, Saran wraps are plastic wraps that are commonly used in daily routines and in every household. They are easily available at grocery stores. There are different types of saran wrap and you should choose the perfect saran wrap for microwaving. Well, the FDA and USDA standards are suitable to be put inside a microwave while heating food.

You can also use that saran paper which is labeled as microwaveable. Basically, the microwave safe is a guarantee to use it in the microwave. So that’s all you need to know about “can you put saran wrap in the microwave”? We have explained everything in detail above. We hope this article will help you a lot!