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Quick Answer: No, you can’t microwave foam plates due to the materials used in their design. There’s also some confusion where Styrofoam is concerned, which we’ll clear up below…
First things first: Let’s learn more about foam plates…
What Is a Foam Plate?
Those thick, waxy-feeling, super light plates that are sometimes used at parties, work functions and fairs are foam plates.
Sometimes they’re casually referred to as Styrofoam plates, but Styrofoam is a different thing altogether.
Styrofoamis the brand name of a material called closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam.Quite a mouthful, isn’t it?Regular foam plates are frequently made of other types of plastics, making the use of the name “Styrofoam” to describe them inaccurate.
To add even more confusion to the issue, sometimes plates called “foam plates” are actually Styrofoam plates.If your head is spinning, just remember that if you hear “foam plate,” you should assume that it’s not the Styrofoam kind.
The reason it’s not good to mix up Styrofoam and regular foam products is that Styrofoam food and beverage containers are often microwavable while standard foam plates are generally not.
So if you see “foam plates” for sale at the store, you can assume that you shouldn’t put them in the microwave.Even Styrofoam plates need to be clearly labelled as microwave-safe.
If you were to microwave a typical foam product, it could melt, leak chemicals into your food and beverages, ignite or do other things that can put you in danger and wreck your microwave.
Technically, even microwave-safe Styrofoam can leave chemical residues.It’s just supposed to keep from melting.
Interested in learning more about microwaves?Check out our article Best Microwave Toaster Oven Combo.
Related Article: Can You Microwave Chipotle Bowls?
Different Types of Foam Products
Because they’re inexpensive and convenient for functions and outdoor activities, foam products are used quite a bit for everything from picnics to corporate events.
Besides plates, here are some of the foam products you may have seen before:
- Disposable beverage cups
- Bowls
- Food trays
- Party platters
Each of these items should be seen as non-microwavable. Again, if it’s actually Styrofoam, it has a better chance of being microwavable.
A good example of a foam product that can’t be microwaved is the famous Cup Noodles container.It can actually hold boiled water, but the cup itself shouldn’t be heated in the microwave.You’ll see this on standard Cup Noodles instructions.
You Might Also Like: Can You Microwave Coffee Cups?
How Do You Know If a Foam Product Is Microwave Safe or Not?
The most reliable way to know if any foam (or Styrofoam) product is microwavable is to look for a clear indication on the product.
Otherwise, you can get in touch with a company representative and find out that way. The maker of the product is your best resource.
It’s not a good idea to browse the Internet for the answer in lieu of finding out from the company. While you could get the correct answer this way, sometimes people are mistaken.
Remember, foam products are widely considered non-microwavable. It’s more like an outside chance that you’ll come across a microwavable (non-Styrofoam) type.
Labels on Foam Products to Be Aware Of
The label you want to see on an item that will verify its microwavable status is “microwave safe.”
However, there are labels that can tell you that a product is not safe for the microwave. For example, if you check the recycling label and see the number 3, 6 and 7 in it, don’t microwave it.
Similarly, if you see any label that warns against microwaving, be sure to follow it.If there are no labels at all, it’s safest to say that the foam product shouldn’t be microwaved.
Recommended Article: Can You Microwave Cup Noodles?
Bonus Safety Tips
- Even if you have something like a foam cup that holds hot coffee, don’t try to microwave it. It could still melt.
- You should store foam plates in cool places away from heat sources.
- Always transfer your food or drinks to a container you know is microwave-safe if you’re going to heat it up this way.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
