Our advice: Use ceramic or glass cookware for microwaving, and instead of plastic wrap, cover food with an overturned microwave-safe bowl or plate. In the test kitchen, we have found that this retains moisture just as well as plastic wrap, with zero risk.
What can I use instead of cling film? Some alternatives to use instead of cling film are: Beeswax Wrap (or vegan alternatives using soy wax), silicon bowl covers, cloth bowl covers, or glass jars. You could even just cover your food with a plate!
The Best Way to Use Plastic Wrap in the Microwave. The USDA says plastic wrap is actually safe to use in the microwave, as long as it's labeled microwave-safe. More importantly, they recommend that the plastic wrap not touch the actual food.
The FDA says those chemicals aren't dangerous. But your safest bet is to check labels carefully and use only the plastic wrap and covers that are specifically approved for microwaves. Want an easier solution? Cover your food with a ceramic plate or with a piece of biodegradable wax paper or paper towel.
Cover foods with a microwave-safe lid/plastic wrap; leave a small part uncovered to allow steam to escape; avoid direct contact between the food and the plastic wrap during microwaving.
Beeswax wraps are one of the simplest and easiest cling wrap swaps you can make. They come in a range of cute prints and sizes, and all you need to do is rinse them and wipe clean so they're ready to use again. They typically last 12 months if you care for them properly.
Plastics that are numbered 2 and 4 are less toxic than other plastics, given that they are composed of high-density and low- density polyethylene, respectively. Plastic wraps with the number 5 are composed of polypropylene, and are also generally considered safer to use.
Plastic wrap is most often referring to industrial plastic wrap for securing pallets or food-grade plastic wrap. Food plastic wrap, also known as cling film, food wrap, and saran wrap, is a thin plastic film commonly used for sealing and securing food items in containers to keep fresh.
DON'T leave your food uncovered
It's best practice to cover anything you're cooking in your microwave oven anyway, as it will cook quicker and more consistently. Little pockets of moisture can form in your food and when heated these can lead to explosions.
Coles Cling Wrap Super Stretch, 60m. Keep food fresh and protected. Great for reheating food in the microwave or wrapping food for freezer storage.
We're GLAD®. It's BPA Free and microwave safe. The new Cling Wrap has 1.5X* tighter seal for longer lasting food freshness.
Soy wax or parchment paper is a safe and eco-friendly way to save food while keeping flavor and freshness in. Wax paper is perfect for packaging baked goods, produce, and deli items.
Tin Foil
Tin foil is one of the most popular substitutes for plastic wrap when it comes to dough. Tin foil is less expensive than most plastic wrap brands and is also widely available. Tin foil is also easy to use and clean up after use.
"For storage, you can substitute with freezer paper or plastic wrap, for prepping, foil works well, and for baking, parchment is a great substitute."
The bottom line: While there is no evidence to suggest that the newer, reformulated plastic wraps leach harmful compounds into food, keeping the wrap at least 1 inch from food surfaces will eliminate any potential risk.
Our compostable cling film will disintegrate into the natural elements of the environment being 100% compostable, leaving no traces of toxicity in the soil. Furthermore, our cling film can be fully degraded into CO2 and water under proper composting conditions (100% Biodegradable).
It's difficult to make a clear-cut choice between these two wrapping solutions. However, some experts suggest that foil may be slightly better for the environment than plastic, as it can be recycled more easily and requires less energy to produce.
Wrapping food in aluminum foil protects it from both light and oxygen. Foil is also the best material for keeping moisture out of food, so it's great for freezing food.
Food grade materials, such as aluminum foil, heavy freezer-weight plastic bags, heavy plastic wrap and parchment or freezer paper are excellent choices. It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its supermarket wrapping, but this type of wrap is thin and lets air in.
Microwave containers include: plastic, paper and glass. Never put metal or foil items in the microwave. Cover containers with plastic wrap, paper towels, wax paper, or a lid. By covering foods in the microwave, it holds in moisture, helps food cook evenly and prevents food from splattering in the microwave.
Never use plastic storage bags, grocery bags, newspapers or aluminum foil in the microwave. Always read directions on wraps you are going to use in the microwave. Generally, microwave-safe plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags, parchment paper and white microwave-safe paper towels are safe to use.
Most paper towels are microwave-safe. In fact, you can use a paper towel to cover some foods so they don't spit during cooking or reheating. If you do use a paper towel while microwaving, it's best to use shorter intervals so you can check both the food and the paper more frequently.
Silicone microwave cover is a better solution due to its heat resistant feature. It's BPA free and more durable than you think. Worried about plastic microwave covers that could be melted after being used in the microwave for a long time?