While many plastic food storage containers are advertised as “microwave-safe,” this designation just means that they have been proven not to melt, explode, or otherwise become damaged in the microwave. It doesn’t mean that they are safe from a health perspective. In fact, just like other plastics, “they will break down and release their chemical constituents into the foods and beverages that are stored in them”—a process that “can be accelerated when plastics are heated.” Such chemicals have been linked to neurological disorders, increased risk of cancers and metabolic diseases, and more.