The Secrets of Cling Film: Unveiling the "Character Traits" of Different MaterialsThe kitchen, the heart of our daily meals, safeguards our family's health. Every time we prepare dinner for our loved ones, we habitually grab cling film, wrapping up leftover food, hoping they'll shine in the next delicious meal
The Secrets of Cling Film: Unveiling the "Character Traits" of Different Materials
The kitchen, the heart of our daily meals, safeguards our family's health. Every time we prepare dinner for our loved ones, we habitually grab cling film, wrapping up leftover food, hoping they'll shine in the next delicious meal. But have you ever wondered if this seemingly ordinary cling film truly acts as a safe barrier for our food, as we wish it would?
The market is overflowing with cling films of various materials, leaving us overwhelmed. Some are known for their safety, others for their preservation capabilities, and some even boast about being environmentally friendly, striving to claim their place on the cling film stage. However, do you truly understand them? What hidden secrets do they hold, and how can we make the right choices to better protect our family's health?
The "Family" Members of Cling Film: Different Materials, Different Personalities
Cling film might seem simple, but it actually holds a wealth of knowledge. They are not all made from the same material; different materials have different "personalities," exhibiting diverse performance in terms of preservation effectiveness, heat resistance, and safety.
PE (Polyethylene) Cling Film: The "Popular King" with a Friendly Demeanor
PE cling film is like a friendly neighborhood boy, the "popular king" of the cling film world. It's safe and non-toxic, and its price is friendly to the pocket, making it the first choice for many families. Whether it's leftover meals or fresh fruits and vegetables, PE cling film tackles them all effortlessly.
However, the "popular king" does have its own little quirks. PE cling film has poor heat resistance. As soon as the temperature exceeds 110, it becomes fragile and could even release harmful substances, contaminating food. Therefore, it should never be used for microwave heating.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Cling Film: The Once-Dominant "Leader of the Pack"
PVC cling film once reigned supreme in the cling film market due to its high transparency, excellent stretchability, and low price. However, its production requires the use of plasticizers, which are double-edged swords. While they grant PVC cling film superb performance, they also sow the seeds of safety concerns.
The "toxic cling film" incident of a few years ago is still fresh in our minds. Some unscrupulous merchants, driven by profit greed, added DEHA, a plasticizer explicitly banned by the country, to PVC cling film. Once ingested, this plasticizer can disrupt the endocrine system and even increase the risk of certain diseases.
Although the country's regulations on cling film are constantly strengthening, for the sake of our family's health, it's recommended to prioritize PE cling film and use PVC cling film cautiously. After all, health is our most valuable asset.
PVDC (Polyvinylidene Chloride) Cling Film: The All-Round Manager, the "Ceiling" of the Cling Film World
If you yearn for the ultimate preservation experience, PVDC cling film is an absolute must-have. It's like an all-round manager, adored by all, excelling in barrier properties, preservation capabilities, and heat resistance, truly the "ceiling" of the cling film world.
PVDC cling film boasts exceptional "freshness locking" power. It effectively blocks out air and moisture, keeping food in its prime condition. What's even more astounding is its ability to withstand temperatures up to 140. Even when placed in the microwave, it remains unfazed. It's truly a "kitchen marvel."
However, the "all-round manager" also has its "little pride." Due to the higher production cost of PVDC, its price is also significantly higher than PE and PVC cling film. If you're not a stickler for extreme preservation results or have a limited budget, PE cling film is more than enough to meet your daily needs.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) Cling Film: The Environmental Guardian, the "Darling" of the New Era
In recent years, with the rise of environmental awareness, PLA cling film has emerged as a rising star in the cling film world. It's like an environmental guardian, advocating for "green, safe, and biodegradable," quickly gaining a loyal fanbase.
Unlike traditional plastic cling film, PLA cling film's raw materials come from corn and other plant starch. After use, it can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature, leaving no environmental pollution, truly embodying "taken from nature, returned to nature."
However, the price of environmental friendliness is often a higher cost. The production process of PLA cling film is more complex, and its price is relatively higher as well. If you're willing to contribute to environmental protection, PLA cling film is undoubtedly your ideal choice.
How to Choose and Use Cling Film: Keep Your Eyes Open, Build a "Safety Barrier"
After understanding the "character traits" of different cling film materials, you should have a clearer understanding of how to choose cling film.
When selecting cling film, we must first keep our eyes wide open and thoroughly examine the labels. Reputable cling film producers will clearly indicate the material, production date, expiry date, and usage precautions on the packaging. Choosing cling film from reputable manufacturers is like securing "safety insurance" for your food.
Besides looking at the labels, we can also touch the cling film to sense its "texture." PE cling film feels quite soft and easily stretches; PVC cling film feels harder and less flexible.
After selecting your preferred cling film, we must learn how to use it correctly to maximize its effectiveness and safeguard our health.
When using cling film, we should avoid direct contact with food, especially those with high oil content. This is because cling film may release harmful substances at high temperatures, contaminating food and jeopardizing our health.
Also, avoid placing cling film in a microwave or oven for heating. Cling film has limited heat resistance. If the temperature is too high, it may melt and deform, or even release harmful substances.
We should store cling film in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. Cling film exposed to sunlight can easily age, affecting its lifespan.
"Film" preservation might seem simple, but it actually involves a lot of knowledge. I hope this article has given you a more comprehensive understanding of cling film, helped you learn how to choose and use it effectively, and allowed this small piece of cling film to become a guardian of our healthy lives!
How do you usually choose and use cling film? Feel free to share your experiences and opinions in the comments!
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