Is Rubbermaid Microwavable?

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Rubbermaid is a brand of household containers that are especially useful in storing and microwaving food. 

Is rubbermaid microwavable? If you own these containers or are planning to buy some, you’re wondering whether they’re microwave safe or not.

The fact that Rubbermaid food containers are plastic creates doubt to whether or not one should reheat them in the microwave. 

This follows a contention as to how safe it is to microwave plastic.

In that regard, we’re going to be looking at whether it’s safe to microwave Rubbermaid. Please read on to answer your question with facts.

Is It Safe to Use Rubbermaid in the Microwave?

Yes, you can use Rubbermaid in the microwave without any problems. According to the manufacturer, you can use Rubbermaid containers for food storage, defrosting, and reheating in the microwave.

Plastic containers are not safe for use in the microwave. But those with zero BPA are absolutely safe to reheat in the microwave. 

Since 2009, Rubbermaid has retained the reputation of manufacturing microwave-safe containers that contain no BPA constituents. But they also give a set of guidelines to follow to reheat food correctly in these containers.

You must follow the safety microwaving guidelines from the manufacturer to reheat your food correctly.

Such considerations follow the lower heat tolerance of plastic’s chemical – BPA. This chemical tends to melt under temperatures beyond 100 degrees Celsius and leach harmful substances into your food.

Even though Rubbermaid is safe to use in the microwave, it is not safe to reheat it beyond 212 degrees F (The boiling point of water). At and beyond the boiling temperatures of water, plastic may not be able to guarantee the safety of your food.

There is a microwave-safe label on Rubbermaid containers that are safe to use in the microwave. The purpose of the label is to assure you that your food will be safe even after microwaving it in a plastic container. 

But you should not reheat them beyond the level indicated by the company’s guidelines because that can lead to:

  • Melting
  • Cracking
  • Deformation

They may also exhibit plasticizers that can put you at risk of severe disorders like cancer.

Rubbermaid has done rigorous testing to determine which of their products are microwave-safe. By following their guidelines on the heating limits, you can safely use your container to store and reheat food for a long time.

Are Rubbermaid Lids Microwave-Safe?

Yes, Rubbermaid lids are 100% microwave-safe. You don’t have to reheat your food in an open container because the lid is equally safe in the microwave.

When microwaving a Rubbermaid container, you should lift the lid slightly to provide ventilation to allow the steam to move away from the container while nuking. This prevents the accumulation of steam, which could lead to an explosion once it’s collected in excess.

After reheating your food in the Rubbermaid container, remove the lid carefully. Failure to do that can result in a serious burn concern after the steam escapes rapidly. 

If you’re lucky, you can get a Rubbermaid container with a vented lid option that alleviates the steam pressure issue. There are a few of those in the Rubbermaid line of kitchenware.

You may as well decide to microwave your food with the lid removed, or with it on while slightly lifted to create a space. Either way, you allow the container to release pressure built up inside the container to prevent it from popping off the lid and exploding the food.

Always keep these safety measures in mind to avoid messing up your meal preparation. It is also worth noting that microwave cleaning isn’t pleasant when food has splattered all over the interior of your microwave.

What You Should Know Before Microwaving Rubbermaid Containers

You should never toss a Rubbermaid container into the microwave on a high setting. Always reread the manufacturer’s guidelines for the safe use of Rubbermaid in the microwave.

Please check the settings on your microwave before tossing these containers to ensure they are in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Before reheating your food in the microwave using a Rubbermaid container, please take note of the following:

  1. Rubbermaid containers are safe to use in the microwave if you stick to temperature-setting recommendations
  2. Confirm the label or a note at the bottom of your Rubbermaid container to find out if it’s microwave-safe. The information verifies that you can use the container in the microwave.
  3. You should avoid heating microwave containers at high temperatures.
  4. High temperatures can make your container melt, warp, or collapse. That may cause health concerns as the chemicals may leach into your food. 
  5. The ideal temperature to reheat food in Rubbermaid containers is at the boiling point of water, 100°C or 212°F.
  6. Cover your Rubbermaid container with the lid while slightly open when nuking to allow air ventilation. Lest the pressure built-up in the container may pop off the lid and splatter food inside the microwave.
  7. Although microwavable glass may not get hot, plastic might.
  8. Use a towel or an oven mitt to get your plastic container out of the oven to avoid getting burned in case it gets hot.

How Do I Know That My Rubbermaid Container Is Microwave-Safe?

Microwave-safe Rubbermaid containers contain information on a logo or at the bottom spectacle showing that they are safe to use in the microwave. To verify if your Rubbermaid container is microwave-safe, you should look for a logo of waves, £5 inside a triangle, or the words micro microwave-safe on the bottom of your container.

If your container is safe for heating food, there’s a microwave-safe logo printed on its label. If not, there might be a symbol of microwave imprint on the symbol of the product to use it safely in the microwave.

In other cases, there might be squiggly lines on the plastic container to indicate that it is microwave-safe. 

There are also instances when the symbol is used variably alongside other symbols including a dish image set below radiation waves. 

All that shows that your container is safe to use in the microwave.

Rubbermaid may imprint any of these symbols on its containers to indicate they are safe to use in the microwave for reheating purposes only. 

What Rubbermaid Products are Microwave-Safe?

Almost all of Rubbermaid’s storage containers are safe to use in the microwave. All Rubbermaid food storage containers are BPA-free.

There is quite a long list of food storage containers made by Rubbermaid. They include:

  • LunchBlox Sandwich Kits
  • Glass Containers with Easy Find Lids
  • TakeAlongs Containers
  • Lock-Its

All these are safe to use in the microwave. But some Rubbermaid products are not microwave-safe. 

Please don’t toss the following containers in your microwave:

  1. The Modular Cereal Containers 
  2. The FreshWorks Produce Savers

But these containers aren’t the typical containers you could microwave. 

So clearly, there are some exceptions to the rule that Rubbermaid food containers are microwave-safe. 

What are the Uses of Rubbermaid Containers?

Considering your various storage needs in the kitchen, you may want to invest in Rubbermaid Food Containers.

They help you pack food and organize your kitchen more easily. They are also perfect food storage containers for your trips.

Below are some uses of Rubbermaid containers:

  1. Storing Foods

The primary use of Rubbermaid containers is tiring food. This includes household basics like salt, sugar, flour, to even pasta, rice, cereal, and oatmeal.

They also help your food last for a longer time without going bad. Many people buy these containers for this reason.

  1. Storing Liquids

You can use Rubbermaid containers to store liquids besides storing solid foods. There are many types of drinks you can store in these containers ranging from soups and broths to beverages like smoothies or coffee.

  1. For Lunches

Rubbermaid makes perfect lunchboxes for those who want to carry lunch for themselves. They are leak-proof, lightweight, and have a convenient design.

  1. For Meal Prepping

Meal prepping is one of the most recent uses of Rubbermaid containers. Meal prep implies preparing meals for the day or even an entire week ahead.

People who may find this practice helpful include;

  • Trainers for specific events
  • Busy working people who want to plan their time more effectively
  • People who must stick to a strict diet for particular reasons

You can also try them if you’re trying a new weight-loss diet, or when you want to make sure you have healthy meals every night weekly.

  1. Controlling Portion Sizes

You can also use Rubbermaid containers to control portion sizes. You may decide to prepare a meal and keep it within one container to ensure you’re taking the same amount each time.

This is popular among people following a particular diet or trying to maintain a healthy weight.

  1. Saving Leftovers

Is there excess stew and salad tonight? Store them in Rubbermaid containers so they will remain fresh until the next mealtime.

Wrapping Up

Rubbermaid containers are completely microwave-safe. But there are guidelines to follow to prevent them from melting or warping.

With the instructions above, you can use your Rubbermaid to reheat food and store it fresh for long.

Please use the guidelines to check whether your Rubbermaid container is safe to use in the microwave before tossing it in.

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