Melamine ware has been with us a long time. It is stable and inert, and it is safe to use as long as it isn't overheated, as in a microwave or on a stove. It should never be used in the oven. Melamine breaks down under heating. The resin decomposes and can (does) pose a health risk if ingested. If it isn't "baked" into significant color change, no problem. The "scare" with melamine is based on the use of melamine powder as a protein source in food additives. What a bad choice! It makes stuff "look" as if it has more food value to chemical tests for content, and, because product was analyzed in this way, it sneaked into the food chain - pet food in particular. (Actually, it technically didn't sneak into the food chain. It was blown by inspection processes. Big difference.) It is poorly and incompletely digested. And it is toxic in more than trace amounts. It should not be included for any reason in anything that is destined to be eaten - by critters with four legs or critters with two. Soap box time. As agribusiness and food production conglomerates search for profits and supply chains become more complex, we leave ourselves open to this kind of (serious) nonsense. And government oversight is thin. Couple that with the ancient mandates on the books regulating food product standards and we could be said to have been asking for it as regards the melamine incidents. Thanks for the kind attention. There are melamine pieces that have been "in the family" for decades, and some are treasured more than the family silver. As they should be. They are also completely safe to use when not heated to significant discoloration. Kudos to the chemists who ideated melamine. A slap on the wrist to someone who carelessly overheats it. And all shame on the food fools that decided it was a good thing to put in anything consumable.
No, it is not safe to steam food in melamine ware. Melamine can release harmful chemicals when exposed to high temperatures, which can occur during steaming. It's best to use materials specifically designed for high-heat cooking, such as stainless steel or heat-resistant glass. Always check the manufacturer's guidelines for safe usage of any cookware.
No, they are made of melmac/melamine which is not microwave-safe.
Yes, biodegradable melamine is safe for compost piles. The most famous use of the organic base in question is in tableware. Production methods make something that is toxic safely biodegradable and compostable.
http://eco-chick.com/2008/09/25/melamine-safe-for-kids/ good link forthis question
Do not microwave melamine. It will absorb the radiation and heat the bowl, plate, etc. and not the food. If it gets hot enough the melamine can become unstable creating bubbles or a break down in structure. Melamine resin will not melt and does have flame retardant properties making it great for many uses except in the microwave. Why then do they use it in kitchen wears? Well its cheap and until the advent of the microwave it served its purpose.
yes.
Yes, you can use a melamine finish on wood. You should sandpaper the surface first then clean it with a brush.
When you purchase melamine dinnerware, make sure you find out whether it is made of 100% melamine. There are a lot of melamine dinnerware manufacturers who use another material called urea-formaldehyde to replace or mix with melamine-formaldehyde to reduce cost. These are inferior quality melamine and it should also be called as imitation products because they are not made of 100% melamine (melamine formaldehyde. 100% melamine tableware are made of purely melamine formaldehye which is guaranteed food safe and able to withstand high temperatures whereas urea-formaldehye is not suitable to for food contact products because they cannot withstand high temperatures. Therefore they can only be used on non-food contact products such as electrical appliances. Therefore, it is not that all melamine dinnerware ares unsafe. It is those inferior quality melamine products (mixed with urea-formaldehyde) that is not safe for manufacturing dinnerware.
Not if the melamine paint is oil (alkyd) based.
You can use a food-safe epoxy adhesive to repair a broken melamine plate. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for application and drying time. However, be cautious as the repaired area may not be as strong as the original plate.
Yes, Corelle and Corning dinnerware are microwave safe because they are made from Vitrelle.
Melamine-wares can be kept in the refrigerator. However, you should not use these items to store foods that are acidic.