It's unclear when it started, but now almost every household has plastic wrap on hand. It's used for vegetables, for covering leftovers, and of course, for fruit. Although plastic wrap can indeed keep food fresh, using it on some foods 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 or permeable, and the temperature drops slowly, it will cause these microorganisms or 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, after 100 grams of radishes wrapped in plastic wrap are stored for one day, their vitamin C content decreases by 3.4 mg, and green beans by 3.8 mg. After being stored for a day and a night, the amount of vitamin C lost in a cucumber is equivalent to that in 5 apples.
3. Cooked foods
We often see cooked foods in supermarkets wrapped in plastic wrap, which seems to preserve the food, but in reality, it poses a health hazard. This is because after these foods come into contact with the plastic wrap, chemical components in the wrap material can volatilize and dissolve into the food, and then enter the human body through the food, causing harm.
How to choose plastic wrap?
In addition to identifying the foods, you also need to choose the right plastic wrap for your ingredients to minimize its potential harm.
Currently, there are two main types of plastic wrap on the market: one is ordinary plastic wrap, suitable for refrigeration; the other is microwave-safe plastic wrap, which can be used for both refrigeration and microwaving. Consumers should pay special attention to distinguish between the two. Plastic wrap that is not labeled as microwave-safe should not be used for cooking or heating in a microwave. Even if some plastic wrap claims to be microwave-safe, it should not be used for too long to prevent the food's temperature from rising and causing the wrap to melt and stick to the food.
Moreover, when using plastic wrap, always leave a 25mm gap between the wrap and the food. This helps prevent chemicals in the plastic wrap from being absorbed by the food.