How to Reheat Styrofoam
Styrofoam, a brand of polystyrene, is a plastic that is often used in the food industry to insulate warm foods and for food storage. Takeout food containers, egg cartons, and disposable dishware are typical polystyrene products. Styrofoam may appear hard and rigid, but it can break easily to expose a foam core. Since Styrofoam is a plastic product, it is sensitive to heat. While the Harvard Medical School suggests that some Styrofoam may be microwaved, caution must be used because it may melt or release chemicals that may enter your food.
Instructions
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Check your container to be sure that it is Styrofoam. Plastics classified as polystyrene or Styrofoam are marked with a number 6 or the letters "PS." Styrofoam products tend to be white in color and rigid.
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Inspect the container for a microwave-safe label. The package may contain the words "microwave safe" or display a symbol that looks like a microwave. Also check your Styrofoam to ensure that it is not cracked or broken, which can render the container unusable.
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Heat your food in the Styrofoam if your Styrofoam container is marked as safe for microwave use. To avoid overheating the plastic, keep an eye on the food and heat for the least amount of time until the desired temperature is reached. If the container starts to deform, remove it from the microwave.
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Tips & Warnings
While an unlabeled polystyrene plastic may still be safe to use in the microwave, it has not been tested for microwave use, according to Plastics Info and Harvard Medical School. Using an unlabeled Styrofoam container in the microwave may result in plastic melting onto the food or chemicals leaching from the container into the food. Instead, reheat food in a glass or ceramic container to be safe.
