What lunch box should I use when bringing lunch to work

In modern society, more and more office workers prepare lunch at home in the morning and then eat it in the office, because this can effectively reduce the time spent on lunch and increase the lunch break time, which can keep them energetic in the afternoon. Not only the type of food that office workers bring has become a problem, but the lunch boxes they choose are also a very big problem. What types of lunch boxes are suitable for office workers to bring their own meals?

How to choose lunch boxes for office workers? A complete guide for office workers to bring their own lunch

1. If you use the lunch box for too long, be careful not to eat the "plastic"

Plastic products also have a shelf life. After the expiration date, the plastic will age, discolor, and become brittle. If you find that the plastic box you are using has turned yellow or is no longer transparent, you should replace it as soon as possible. After a plastic lunch box has been used for a long time, the inside will become uneven, and if a part is missing, it may be eaten by someone.

Consumers must pay attention to the shelf life of plastic products. At the same time, aging plastics may release substances that may be harmful to the human body. As for how long a plastic lunch box can last, it depends on personal usage and cleaning methods. The shelf life of most plastic products is generally around three to five years. If used frequently, it is better to replace it every one to two years.

2. Leftover food can cause cancer

Because some green leafy vegetables contain more nitrates, if they are left for too long after being cooked, the nitrates will be reduced to nitrites under the decomposition of bacteria, which are carcinogenic and cannot be removed by heating.

3. Insufficient heat resistance, plasticizer is easy to release

Each type of plastic has its heat resistance limit. Among the materials used for food, the most heat-resistant is polypropylene (PP), which can withstand 140°C, followed by polyethylene (PE), which can withstand 110°C, while polystyrene (PS) can only withstand up to 90°C.

Currently on the market, plastic lunch boxes for microwave ovens are mainly made of PP or PE. If the temperature exceeds their heat resistance limit, plasticizers may be released. Long-term and excessive intake of plasticizers may damage the liver and kidneys and affect development and growth.

Therefore, you should avoid using high temperature to heat plastic lunch boxes to reheat food for a long time.

Tips for office workers to bring their own lunch

Use the right lunch box

1. Comparison of the pros and cons of various lunch boxes

[Glassware] includes utensils made of borosilicate glass, microcrystalline glass, and titanium oxide crystalline glass. Because of their good microwave penetration, stable physical and chemical properties, and high temperature resistance (up to 500 degrees Celsius or even 1000 degrees Celsius), they are suitable for long-term use in microwave ovens.

Glasses, milk bottles and feeding bottles made of ordinary glass are only suitable for short-term heating in the microwave, about 3 minutes. If heated for a long time, it is easy to crack. Products made of carved glass, tempered glass, and crystal glass are not suitable for use in microwave ovens because they have uneven thickness and will crack when cooking oily foods.

[Ceramic ware] can be divided into heat-resistant ceramics and ordinary ceramics. Pots, plates and other utensils made of heat-resistant ceramics are suitable for long-term use in the microwave, while ordinary ceramic utensils can only be used for short-term heating. It is particularly important to note that ceramic utensils containing gold or silver threads will produce sparks when used in a microwave oven, so they should not be used.

[Plastic Containers] Plastic lunch boxes are often beautiful in appearance and are loved by many office workers. But experts remind that if possible, try not to choose plastic containers. If you want to buy plastic containers, you need to pay attention to the following: Polypropylene (PP), which is the type of plastic with the label code 5, is a more commonly used material for microwave heating and is also the safest.

[Metal utensils] Various utensils made of metal materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, and enamel are not suitable for use in microwave ovens because microwaves cannot penetrate them and the food inside cannot be heated.

[Wooden, paper and other utensils] When wet, these utensils can be used in the microwave for a short time. But if the container dries out over time, it may cause over-burning. Such painted utensils are prohibited from being used in microwave ovens because the paint contains benzene, which will be released by microwave heating and contaminate food.

2. Don’t choose dark lunch boxes

It is relatively safer to use microwave-safe glass or ceramic. Whether it is plastic or glass, it is better to choose transparent ones. Colored products mostly have color oil or other additives added, which is not a good thing after all.

3. Regular replacement

If plastic boxes are frequently exposed to heat and sunlight, the plastic molecules will be easily destroyed, becoming brittle and aged. Therefore, if the plastic box becomes hard, becomes foggy from transparent, deformed or scratched, it should be replaced. If it is put into the microwave again, more harmful substances will be released.

The shelf life of most plastic products is generally around three to five years. If used frequently, they should be replaced once a year.

4. Do not heat high-fat foods

Because the boiling point of oil can easily exceed the heat resistance limit of plastic, and oil, sugar and plasticizers are all organic substances and are miscible, it is best to avoid using plastic boxes to heat foods that contain a lot of fat and high sugar content.

5. Clean thoroughly before use

Before first use, clean thoroughly with dishwashing liquid. However, those who bring their own lunch to work should be careful to avoid using abrasive scouring pads to avoid scratching the plastic box.