Microwave heating of plastic-wrapped food safety
How about microwaving frozen food items like phulkas/rotis tightly wrapped in cling wrap/saran wrap? We have a family member who consistently does that and claims it is safe.
Microwaving frozen phulkas/rotis tightly wrapped in cling film is not the best practice—especially when the plastic is touching the food. USDA guidance says microwave-safe plastic wrap may be used as a loose cover, but it should not touch the food during microwaving. It should also be vented so steam can escape. “Microwave-safe” means the product is suitable for that intended use; it does not mean that absolutely no chemicals or microscopic particles can migrate during heating. With frozen rotis, the cling wrap is tightly pressed against the surface. As the roti heats, steam and hot spots develop directly against the plastic. Heating plastics can increase migration of plastic components, and experimental studies of plastic food packaging have found greater migration during microwave heating. The long-term clinical significance of this exposure is uncertain, but it is easily avoidable.