It's unclear when it started, but households everywhere now keep plastic wrap on hand. It's used for vegetables, for covering leftovers, and especially for fruit. While plastic wrap does help preserve food, using it on some items can be harmful to your health.
Which foods should not be wrapped in plastic wrap?
1. Watermelon
We are used to wrapping fruit in plastic wrap to make it last longer. However, watermelon is an exception. This is because before being covered, the surface of a watermelon has bacteria and microorganisms. If the plastic wrap is not breathable and doesn't allow for fast cooling, it can cause these microbes and bacteria to multiply faster, especially after an anaerobic reaction, which makes the food spoil easily.
2. Radishes, Cucumbers, and Green Beans
According to relevant experimental results, 100 grams of radishes wrapped in plastic wrap and stored for one day lost 3.4 mg of vitamin C. Green beans lost 3.8 mg. After being stored for a day and a night, a cucumber's loss of vitamin C was equivalent to that of 5 apples.
3. Cooked Foods
We often see cooked foods in supermarkets wrapped in plastic wrap, which seems to preserve them, but in reality, it poses a health risk. This is because when these foods come into contact with the plastic wrap, chemical components from the material can volatilize and dissolve into the food. These substances can then enter the human body through the food, causing harm.
How to Choose Plastic Wrap?
In addition to knowing which foods to avoid, you also need to select the right type of plastic wrap for your ingredients to minimize its potential harm.
Currently, there are two main types of plastic wrap on the market. One is regular plastic wrap, suitable for refrigeration. The other is microwave-safe plastic wrap, which can be used for both refrigeration and microwaving. Consumers must pay special attention to distinguish between them. Plastic wrap that is not labeled as microwave-safe should not be used for cooking or heating in the microwave. Even if some plastic wrap claims to be microwave-safe, it should not be used for extended periods to prevent the food's temperature from rising to the point where the wrap melts and sticks to the food.
Furthermore, when using plastic wrap, always leave a 25mm gap between the wrap and the food. This helps prevent the absorption of chemicals from the wrap into the food.