Can You Microwave Takeout boxes?

When you want to microwave leftovers or takeout foods in restaurant’s takeout boxes to save washing time, the extra effort is actually worth it.

When you have leftovers from going out at night or have ordered takeout food, takeout boxes or containers are the norm for transporting food. However, when you want to reheat the food the next day, you may ask yourself, "Can the restaurant's takeout boxes be microwave heated?" It may be a difficult decision to figure out whether they can be reheated the next day. Therefore, we have discovered what kind of containers can be used without accidents, and what could lead to small fires in microwave ovens.

Takeout boxes usually come in two types of materials: paper and plastic. Both of these materials are not designed to withstand the high heat of a microwave. 

Though they can container hot food, but can’t withstand the high heat of a microwave. Generally polyethylene（PE） plastic coating on paper can withstand maximum not exceeding 100 ℃， and the safe degree is about 70℃-80℃.And Polypropylene (PP) can withstand -30℃-120℃。While the microwave can reach very high temperature in short time. So, we don’t suggest you put the takeout boxes in microwave to reheating food..

Paper takeout boxes are made of paperboard, which is coated with a layer of polyethylene plastic to hold the food and prevent leaking. When microwaved, the paper may overheat and ignite, especially if it has any metal components or handles that are not microwave-safe. The polyethylene coating may also melt or release harmful chemicals into your food.

It is generally not recommended to put any type of paper takeout box, even those coated with polypropylene (PP) film, in the microwave. While PP is considered a microwave-safe plastic, the thin paper material of the box may overheat and ignite or release harmful chemicals into your food when microwaved.

Plastic takeout boxes are made of thin, flimsy plastic that can melt or deform in the microwave. These plastic containers may also contain harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach into your food and cause health problems.

To avoid these risks, it's best to transfer your takeout food to a microwave-safe container before reheating it in the microwave. Look for containers that are made of microwave-safe materials like glass, ceramic, or plastic labeled "microwave-safe."

It's also important to remove any plastic wrap or paper lids on the takeout container or boxes before transferring the food to another container for reheating in the microwave. This is because these materials can melt or contaminate your food in the microwave.

In summary, the take out boxes are designed to takeout and transfer food but not for reheating food in microwave.When it may be tempting to reuse takeout boxes including Chinese takeout boxes for reheating leftovers, it's not worth the risk. To ensure your safety and the safety of your food, always transfer your food to a microwave-safe container before reheating it in the microwave.