“Is silicone safe to use?” It’s a question I get ALL the time when we talk about replacing kitchen items that are plastic or contain harmful toxins. The one thing about replacing kitchen products and kitchen items, is that it completely defeats the purpose of making a switch if you don’t make the right switch.
This is exactly why I get so many questions asking is silicone safe. My gut instinct was always yes, but once i had someone ask me that question, I realized that I didn’t actually know WHY it was safer than plastic. And of course, because I want ALL the scientific research to back up a decision, I thought it would be best to start out on the right foot and research the topic thoroughly.
As always, I’m sharing my research and information with you so that you can also make an educated, informed decision on whether silicone is safe for your home. So if you’ve ever asked “Is silicone safe?”, this blog post is for you.
WHAT IS SILICONE?
Silicone, not to be confused with silicon, is made of silica, which is a natural element. It’s similar to sand consistency and it’s one of the most abundant elements in the earth’s crust. The silica is heated to a high temperature and it’s combined with oxygen and other elements like carbon and hydrogen.
Silicone is a type of rubber and pure silicone can also be recycled. However, this is ONLY when using pure silicone, which is the best product to buy anyhow. This is a point that can’t be forgotten when you’re trying to determine “is silicone safe.” (STUDY)
It has a low toxicity and a high heat resistance. Which means in answer to the question, “Is silicone safe?”In general, silicone is a safe product. However, as I’ll talk about later on in this post, not all silicone is produced or made the same.
WHY IS SILICONE SAFE AND BETTER THAN PLASTIC?
First off, it’s important to understand what harm plastic can cause when it comes in contact with our food. Food contains plasticizers, phthalates, BPA and BPS, all of which are harmful to our bodies and our health. These components of plastic disrupt the endocrine system and stay in our bloodstream for long periods of time.
Plastic is also MORE harmful when it is heated, scratched and next to acidic food. These three circumstances allow the plastic to leach into our food at a faster rate, affecting our bodies more severely. (STUDY)
When researching “is silicone safe for home use and kitchen use”, I found that while not all silicone products are manufactured the same, they are in general, safer than plastic.
Silicone is made from naturally occurring elements within the earth in its purest form. Pure silicone has no known health effects at this time, however it has not been as widely tested as plastic.
Overall, I would give silicone a thumbs up, but again, you have to make sure you’re finding a pure grade silicone or a food grade silicone in order to make sure the product has no chemical fillers or byproducts. These chemical fillers and byproducts that can be added to silicone can contain harmful materials that affect our bodies.
NOT ALL SILICONE IS PRODUCED THE SAME
Some silicone is made inexpensively, and therefore fillers of plastic polymer are added in order to keep their cost down. When plastic polymers and other fillers are added, it means the silicone product is not as safe to use and can leach toxins into food. There is a theory of using a “pinch test” to check the integrity of a silicone product, however it’s not foolproof.
Essentially you pinch and stretch the silicone, it is not supposed to turn white. If it does, it means the silicone is not pure. Personally, I think pure silicone matters when it comes to food storage and long term food contact (like dishes, bottle nipples and storage bags). An item like an oven mitt is something else that isn’t heated with food is less of a concern.
Platinum Silicone is another type of silicone that is safer than low grade alternatives. Platinum silicone is a type of silicone that uses the precious metal platinum. It’s an ideal silicone for anything coming into contact with food.
When you’re wondering, “Is silicone safe for food?”, looking for a food grade silicone is your best bet. Food grade silicone is a type of silicone that does not contain any fillers or byproducts, making it safer to use with food. Food grade silicone also doesn’t contain any phthalates, BPAs, BPS or any sort of plastic.
HOW TO USE SILICONE KITCHEN ITEMS
Dishwashing: Silicone is generally dishwasher safe, however, if you start to see white spots appear on your silicone, it should probably just be hand washed. I generally hand wash my silicone storage bags, which are a less dense silicone. Utensils that are silicone are more dense and wash very well in the dishwasher.
Heating: Most silicone can be heated to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, this is why silicone bakeware is so popular. Silicone baking mats are another great example of a silicone that can be heated very hot.
Check with the item you purchased and follow the instructions for heating to make sure you’re not heating something you shouldn’t.
Time To Replace: If your silicone items are getting scratches or white spots, it’s probably time to start thinking about replacing them. Generally, if you hand wash them and follow the instructions that came with your product, they hold up really well for a kitchen item.
Recycle: Most silicone items can be recycled. You’ll want to check for the code on the storage bag or kitchen item to make sure, but in general, they’re completely recyclable. This makes them a really great option for a sustainable kitchen item.
MY FAVORITE SILICONE PRODUCTS TO REPLACE PLASTIC
This is an excellent post which I can hardly wait to share. I have replaced all my plastic kitchen tools with food-grade silicone. This disturbed my husband. Now he can read for himself. I receive your newsletter routinely and appreciate your efforts to educate others. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Maxx! I’m glad this was helpful!!