Can You Put Hot Food on Melamine Plates?

Today, people are more likely to go for practical dinnerware than high-quality dinnerware. The reason for this is that high-quality plates, like those made of ceramic, are usually expensive.

While they are safer to use, they are more subject to breakage. Does this mean that melamine plates are better because they are practical?

In this article, I will answer the question of whether it is okay to put hot food on melamine-based plates.

You will also learn more about melamine, including whether it is harmful to your health, the reasons why people are using it for both hot and cold items, where to utilize it, how expensive it is, and so much more.

Let’s get into it.

An In-Depth Explanation of Melamine

For starters, melamine plates are made out of hard plastic. It is an organic industrial compound manufactured by mixing melamine resin with hardening materials.

As a result, melamine plates can withstand the struggles of everyday usage.

What most people love about melamine-based plates is how practical they are, especially given that other dinnerware materials are more expensive than those made from hard plastic.

Melamine is very hard to break. However, when it is treated very harshly, there have been cases of chipping around the edges of melamine dishware.

The good news is that if thrown, melamine will not break. It is different from traditional china or porcelain dinnerware.

Generally, it is much more resilient than any other traditional material.

Melamine dinnerware has a much smaller replacement rate than china because of its sturdy nature.

As a result, you can save a lot of money in the long run. Melamine, for example, has average replacement levels of around 10 to 20%.

Meanwhile, China has a replacement rate of between 50 and 150%.

This information only means that melamine is fairly resilient to scissors, forks, and other utensils.

Search for more performance versions with a strengthened rim and foot.

Is Melamine Harmful to One’s Health?

According to studies, melamine does not transfer from melamine-formaldehyde plates into most foods.

In tests, the only measured migration came from three out of 19 commercially available cups and plates in acidic foods and under high temperatures.

In normal situations, the melamine transfer would be lower than 10 parts of melamine per every billion parts of juice.

It shows a melamine level of about 250 times less than what the FDA approves as acceptable to be contained by foods.

On the other hand, the formula for children is different: 2,500 parts per billion.

Therefore, we are below the risk level. Highly acidic foods are also a small percentage of our diet, so melamine may be less than 1 part per billion.

However, when melamine plates come into contact with hot food, the amount of melamine that may transfer to the food may increase.

This means that melamine-based plates must not be heated or hold hot food.

For those who heat their food using melamine-based containers, it is best to use ceramic or other kinds of microwave-safe cookware instead.

Products that can be contaminated by melamine above the amounts indicated in the risk assessment of the FDA can harm people with health conditions.

Melamine poisoning symptoms include irritability, menstrual fluid, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, and/or high blood pressure.

Reasons Why People Use Melamine Plates for Hot and Cold Uses

Melamine is an insulator and not a conductor.

This ensures that while it will maintain temperatures longer than other plastic types, it will take a long time to adjust to the material’s temperature.

For this reason, melamine stays cool to the touch when you serve hot foods because the food is not hot enough to affect the temperature of the plate.

This is an advantage for those who are serving the food because they can avoid any heat coming in contact with their skin.

This advantage is all thanks to the heat-resistant attributes of melamine.

However, behind the benefits of melamine-based plates are possible health risks due to melamine contamination.

To prevent any health detriments, keep melamine plates only for warm and cold foods.

Where to Use Melamine Plates?

Melamine is a popular choice for a range of commercial environments, such as dining halls, facilities, daycare centers, and assisted living communities, due to its robust and lightweight structure.

However, in more luxurious restaurants, you can find designer melamine dinnerware that looks just like handcrafted ceramic.

Also, the low probability of breakage makes melamine plates an ideal choice for restaurants that are serving poolside or beachside appetizers.

Nowadays, you can find melamine dinnerware everywhere, from bistros to barbecue shacks.

It fits the decor of almost any foodservice establishment. The resilience of melamine makes it perfect for use in a variety of outdoor or high-density activities.

Are Melamine Plates Expensive?

You can find a wide selection of melamine plate brands at different prices. Many of these brands offer very affordable products that will satisfy your thrifty side.

While investing in good ceramic plates is worthwhile for safer dining, melamine plates can save you a lot of money. Also, melamine plates are incredibly durable.

As a result, you no longer need to worry about breaking ceramic plates every then and now.

Isn’t that a win-win situation for those who are opting for a more practical dining solution?

Conclusion

In summary, melamine-based plates are not threatening to one’s health if used in the right way.

You can use them for serving cold and relatively hot foods; however, keep them away from microwaves.

Heating such material can lead to food contamination because melamine plates may excrete substances that can mix into your food.

Be smart when using these practical dinnerware options to make the most of your money without risking your and your family’s health.