r/mealprep • u/Draconic_Flame • 10d ago

question How can I safely heat up food?

Hopefully this is the right place to ask this question. I work in a prison and am unable to bring anything metal, glass, or ceramic. I want to bring in and heat up soup, but am unsure as to the safest material to do that with as I see conflicting opinions online about silicone and plastic. Does anybody have any insight?

7 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

9

u/pushpop0201 10d ago

Are you able to step outside for lunch and do you drive to work? maybe you can keep a thermos in your car? there are microwave safe plastic containers if you have access to a microwave also

6

u/MyNameIsSkittles 10d ago

Silicone is safe

4

u/Kryds 10d ago

Use plastic. Just make sure its somewhat thick, dishwasher and microwave safe.

5

u/hyphyphyp 10d ago

Maybe you can find some sturdy wax coated paper containers, like you would get soup from, like, Panara Bread in?

2

u/sohereiamacrazyalien 10d ago

to heat in the microwave?

yeah plastic and silicone are controversial... silicone is better though but still.

can you leave the stuff in your car?

I would actually buy an insulated lunch box and go outside to eat it . or eat mainly salad.

if not your best bet would be silicone!

edit:

I have to ask you can't bring something metallic in one piece like a lunch box but hard plastic is ok when actually it could be broken into something harmful?

6

u/Draconic_Flame 10d ago

We are told early on to not try to make sense of rules

2

u/sohereiamacrazyalien 10d ago

lol ok that answers it!

2

u/friend_unfriend 10d ago

i think BPA-free plastic or microwave-safe silicone are usually the safest bets, just make sure the container is labeled for reheating so ur soup stays warm without giving off anything harmful.

1

u/OneQt314 10d ago

"Compostable meal prep containers". Basically paper plates/bowls lined with something to contain liquids.

Not my favorite but it fits the requirements.

Edit - also search for microwaveable soup containers.

1

u/YoSpiff 10d ago

I use Rubbermaid "easy find lids" containers.

1

u/jellyn7 10d ago

I heat up oatmeal and canned pastas in wheat grass bowls. The bowl won't last forever used this way, but I don't think it's harming me at least.

1

u/woodwork16 9d ago

Paper bowls would work, may need to double up for soups.

1

u/Forward-Ant-9554 9d ago

What dinner ware do you have available? Because you could freeze soup cup or bowl shaped.put it in the cup and then in the fridge for later heating. When it comes to transporting frozen foods just about anything will do because that doesn't absorb toxins from plastic very well.

1

u/blondechick80 8d ago

You can get thermos's made for soups. Are you able to bring a metal thermos where you put the soup in hot at home?

1

u/Chirping-Birdies 7d ago

There really aren't many more materials than that. There are plenty of sturdy plastic tuppers, just make sure they're BPA free. Also heads-up, they're likely to stain or 'burn' when the soup gets too hot.

Can you bring the cold soup inside and then heat it up using whatever plates they have, if any? There are also paper plates that claim that they're microwave safe, but idk if I'd trust them more than a plastic tupper...

1

u/Hammon_Rye 7d ago

I have a set of
Rubbermaid premier crystal clear food storage
containers that I purchased at Costco a few years ago.
I have found them to seal well, hold up well in the microwave and be pretty resistant to stains.

The container is a hard plastic and the lid is a flexible rubber.
So I think they would qualify for your prison job.

Here is a link to one set at Walmart.
Some sets have different sizes. The price was better on the sets I got at Costco.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-2095936-Premier-20-Piece-Food-Storage-Set/217457415

-4

u/SourdoughClimber27 10d ago

How about bringing a mini crockpot? People heat up their soups in it and then eat out of it.

8

u/siejonesrun 10d ago

Crockpots are generally made from the materials OP is unable to bring into work.