The Temperature Limits Of Your Favourite Food Containers

“Is this food container safe for hot foods?” or “Can you put this food container inside the fridge or a microwave?” are the kinds of questions you may often ask yourself when packaging takeaway foods. The response to these questions will help you determine what materials you should use in packing certain kinds of foods to eliminate the possibility of chaotic accidents during transport.

There are actually different materials used for making disposable food packaging, and each of them comes with its respective temperature limit. Temperature limit basically refers to the range of temperature in which food is safe to store and consume. Read on to find out the temperature limits of some of the most widely used food packaging materials in the market.

1. PET Plastic

Disposable plastic food containers are known for being leak-resistant, rigid, and extremely durable. As a matter of fact, they can take a couple of bumps in the road while still keeping your foods intact and protected. Plastic containers come in different types, but the most common one is the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container.

PET containers are usually durable, clear, and not easily punctured, so they can protect your meals from outside contamination. However, when exposed to high temperatures, PET containers can leach the antimony or contaminant into your foods. Meanwhile, cold foods like salads are 100% safe to be packaged and stored in PET containers. For PET plastic containers, the temperature limit is up to 48 degrees Celsius.

2. Paper

A lot of business owners opt to use paper food containers because they are available in a range of colours that can match the colour scheme of their brand or establishment. Some paper containers for restaurants even come with a grease-resistant lining that inhibits oils from soaking through and making a mess.

Paper food containers generally retain heat well, but they do not have the ability to keep your food warm for a long period of time. When making use of paper containers, it is best to always check if they are microwave safe. For instance, paper containers that have a PE liner are not microwave-safe, while those with a PP liner are. Essentially, the temperature limits of paper containers depend on the type of lining they have.

3. Aluminium

What is best about aluminium food containers is that they allow prepacked meals to be reheated in the oven. Moreover, they are often used for packaging a large number of foods for takeaway or catering events. Caterers prefer aluminium containers because they find it convenient to cook foods in the oven and then simply take them out for serving all in the same container.

In addition, aluminium food containers are absolutely flexible and grease resistant. Therefore, they make great for packaging and storing hefty dishes. Aluminium containers are typically used for storing meals in the fridge or freezer and for packaging both hot and cold foods. Their temperature limits are between -28 degrees Celsius to 204 degrees Celsius.

4. Bagasse

Bagasse is a commercially biodegradable and compostable material made from sugarcane pulp. As such, it makes the perfect food packaging option for eco-friendly restaurants. Bagasse food containers are naturally resistant to grease and have the ability to retain the heat of your foods to a certain extent.

This eco-friendly material can endure a wide range of temperatures, so you can basically package and store any type of meal in a bagasse food container. You can use it to package both hot and cold foods, store meals in the fridge or freezer, and reheat dishes in the microwave. The bagasse temperature limits are around -25 degrees Celsius to 220 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion

Temperature limits are an important factor to consider when choosing a food packaging material for your food business or event. Different materials come with different temperature limits. By knowing the temperature limits of your favourite food containers, you can have a better and more informed choice as to the food packaging material that best suits your needs.

If you are looking for the best disposable food containers in Singapore that can improve the quality and presentation of your food products, Supply Smiths is the supplier you can count on! No matter if you are looking for a plastic container box for food or perhaps even a plastic jar in Singapore, we offer a wide array of premium food packaging materials.

To learn more about our high-quality yet affordable food packaging products, feel free to browse our extensive collection today.