Most people don’t eat their meals the moment they’re served or delivered; they reheat them in the microwave. As a restaurant, your team spends countless hours perfecting the flavours. Now, reheating food in a microwave is a risky task. If the customer has microwave-friendly containers, your dish stays intact; fresh taste, proper texture, no leaks, no warping.
But what if the user doesn’t have it? If you pack food in low-grade plastic containers that aren’t truly microwave-safe, the lid can warp, the box can melt, and the food can lose its flavour, moisture, and appeal.
That’s why the demand for microwaveable plastic containers is increasing in UK households. People are looking for time-efficient options that let them heat, eat, and store food without hassle or transferring meals into another dish. As a restaurant, if you are thinking about switching to microwave-safe containers, then this is the buying guide you need to make the right move.
What are Microwave Containers?
Microwave-safe containers are specifically engineered to withstand heat generated during microwave use without leaching hazardous chemicals into the food. Plastic and plant fibres are used to build the containers.
Plastic-based microwave containers are made from specially formulated plastics (PP and CPET) that remain stable at high temperatures. These plastics are free from harmful additives like BPA and phthalates, reducing the risk of chemical migration into food.
When it comes to plant fibre-based containers, they are made from biodegradable materials like wood, bamboo, reeds, and sugarcane. These containers can also withstand temperatures ranging from -20℃ to 110℃, so they can handle microwave heat without breaking down or absorbing moisture.
Types of Materials that are Microwave Safe
Not all types of materials are microwave safe. Glass, ceramics, and porcelain are some of the materials that can handle microwave heat, but they are expensive. For restaurants and food businesses that fulfill takeaway orders, microwave-safe plastic and plant-based fibre containers are the most practical choice. So, let’s at look at some of the materials:
1. Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer which has a melting point between 130°C and 171°C. Thus, it can withstand microwave heating without deforming or releasing chemicals. PP is chemically inert, resistant to oils, acids, and alkaline foods, and is naturally BPA-free. Its flexibility and impact resistance properties make them perfect material for takeaway containers, meal prep boxes, and reusable microwave dishes.
2. Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate (PC) is a high-strength thermoplastic known for its durability and glass-like transparency. It can handle temperatures up to around 115°C, but traditional PCs may contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), which raises safety concerns when heated. For this reason, only BPA-free and microwave-certified PC products are considered safe for food use.
3. Crystallised Polyethylene Terephthalate (CPET)
Crystallised Polyethylene Terephthalate (CPET) is a heat-resistant, crystallized variation of PET. It is engineered to tolerate temperatures up to 220°C, making it suitable for both microwaves and conventional ovens. CPET maintains rigidity when heated and offers excellent resistance to oils, sauces, and moisture.
4. Bagasse
If you are looking for eco-friendly containers that are microwave safe, then Bagasse is a suitable material. Bagasse (sugarcane pulp) is made from the fibrous residue left after sugarcane juice extraction. It comes with a food-grade, water-resistant coating. These containers can typically withstand microwave temperatures up to 120°C-150°C for short durations. They provide good thermal insulation, do not release toxic compounds, and maintain structural integrity when reheating moist or oily foods.
All these materials are lightweight, affordable, and designed to tolerate reheating temperatures without melting, warping, or releasing harmful chemicals during microwave use.
Microwave Box Containers Shapes
When it comes to shape, microwave-safe containers are available in a variety of shapes. As per your needs, you can choose the one as per your needs. Let’s look at some common shapes that are widely used across the industry:
Rectangular tray
Rectangular trays have a flat base and straight sides. This allows for even heat distribution during reheating and makes them efficient for storing both solid and semi-liquid food, like lasagna, pasta bakes, grilled chickens or fish with sides, roasted vegetables or mixed platters.
Round containers
Round microwave-safe containers are ideal for foods that need moisture retention or even heat circulation, such as soups, curries, noodles, pasta, gravies, and rice-based meals. The absence of sharp edges minimizes cold spots during reheating, making temperature distribution more uniform.
Clamshell containers
Clamshell containers are hinged, one-piece units where the base and lid are connected by a fold. They are suitable for burgers, wraps, sandwiches, rice dishes, and quick-service meals due to their ease of use and secure closure.
Lidded boxes
Lidded boxes come in rectangular, square, or occasionally round forms and consist of a detachable lid that either snaps on, slides, or seals over the base. These containers are typically leak-resistant and designed with ventilation features to release steam while reheating. They are used for full meals, bulk portions, desserts, biryanis, and refrigerated leftovers.
Compartment/multi-chamber containers
Multichamber microwave-safe containers are designed with two or more sections to keep different meal components separate. Each compartment is engineered to allow even reheating without spillage across sections. This prevents flavour crossover and preserves texture, like, rice and curry, or sides and mains, remain in their own areas.
These microwave box containers are widely used in diet meals, corporate lunches, bento boxes, and plated meal deliveries.
Microwave Food Packaging Supplies Sizes
The microwave containers are available in different sizes. The right choice depends upon food quantity served, business requirements, and availability at your food supplier. Regardless, here are some common sizes that are available:
Important Thing to Keep in Mind
It is essential to understand that every food packaging container suitable to hold hot food is not microwave-safe. For instance, aluminium food containers are mostly used to pack hot food as it has good heat retention properties. However, they cannot be used in microwaves.
Microwaves work by exciting water molecules, and metals like aluminium reflect these waves instead of absorbing them. This reflection can cause arcing (sparks), overheating, or even fire if the aluminium is crumpled, has sharp edges, or touches the microwave walls.
Whenever you buy any plastic container for packing takeaway food in your establishment, confirm with the supplier that it is microwave safe. Microwave-safe containers have a sign at the bottom that looks like a microwave with some wavy lines on it. If the container has #5 mentioned on it, then it represents Polypropylene, which is considered microwave safe.
Here is what the signs could look like:
Conclusion
When you are purchasing microwave food packaging supplies, it is important to look beyond size. Material, heat tolerance, sealing options, and food type also matters to ensure that the container meets customers expectations: safe-reheating, fresh food, and neat and clean, no leaks or spills.
At Food Packaging Direct, we have a range of microwave-safe containers in different sizes and shapes, with or without lids. With bulk orders, you can get containers at a discounted price, leading to cost savings. Explore our collection and place an order today.