Is Silicone Kitchenware Safe?

Silicone is a flexible, but strong material. This trait renders it beneficial in the kitchen – in the form of muffin pans, spatulas, cupcake liners, and any other utensil that can survive both within an oven and freezer. Its stain-resistance and non-stickiness make it, unlike traditional cookware. The material also comes in a variety of bright and cheerful colors. However, despite these positives, there are also some qualms relating this type of cookware. Let’s find out if the allegations against silicone kitchenware really stack up, but first, we will kick off looking at the compound.

What is Silicone?

It is a human-made rubber produced by bonding oxygen molecules and silicon. This is a combination that isn’t naturally made. Technically, it falls within the rubber domain. But if plastics were to be defined broadly, the material is somewhat a cross between a synthetic plastic polymer and synthetic rubber. Several synthetic molecules get added to the primary oxygen-silicon combination to make multiple silicone varieties – ranging from rubbery solids to liquids. Despite not being biodegradable, silicone can be recycled and turned into other things.

Silicone Benefits In the Kitchen

Food items generally do not append to silicone utensils, which makes cleaning them extremely easy. The following are some of the other benefits:

• Doesn’t retain flavors or odors.
• Is safe to be used in a dishwasher.
• Promotes even distribution of heat.
• Cools quickly.
• Some silicone items can be easily folded for storage purposes.
• When compared to other kitchenware material, such as glass, silicone doesn’t shatter if dropped on a kitchen floor.

Risks and Disadvantages

If we just focus on silicone we can almost assume is not going to do you any harm however the advantages of using silicone in bake-ware is a different story, a story that lacks consistency. Thanks to silicone kitchenware popularity, the market is literally replete with inexpensive and replica products that obviously do not work to the same standard. In other words, its kitchen-related benefits may not apply if the product is not bought from a reliable seller or manufacturer. For instance, the inclusion of added fillers and glues that have the potential to carry odors and chemicals that pose a risk to your health.  Poorly made silicone cookware may also leak out colors and give off a bad odor.

No real conclusive tests…

Silicone usage in the kitchen is a relatively new trend and thus far has officially not been proven dangerous. The FDA hasn’t taken the allegations against silicone too seriously to conduct a specialized study on the subject. Health Canada, a Canadian health agency, states kitchenware silicone doesn’t react with beverages or food. Also, it does not give out hazardous fumes. The agency maintains silicone cookware is safe for usage until it’s not overheated (usually above 250 degrees).

Moreover, some chemical databases also indicate silicone rubber is chemically stable and inert, making it unlikely to leach into or react with gas vapors or food.

Silicone cookware is apparently safe to use. However, people with acute sensitivity to chemicals are recommended to stay away from primary silicone kitchenware and go with kitchen tools (like spatulas) until more detailed and comprehensive research reports surface. Remember we are talking about pure silicone kitchenware without any chemical fillers.

Buying Silicone Kitchenware Safely

When purchasing silicone kitchen equipment, ensure you buy quality utensils not containing any filler. Twisting and pinching a flat portion of the silicone’s surface shouldn’t let a white hue show through, or the primary color losing its sheen. Top-notch silicone doesn’t change throughout. If white color is visible, the product is likely filler-ingested, which would hurt its heat resistance and also result in chemical odors getting transferred to the food while cooking is in progress. We have a wide range of silicone kitchen utensils and welcome you to order and give them the stretch test.