Is it safe to use plastic-lined frozen food bags for microwave steaming?

What's actually in it

Frozen food bags are often lined with plastics and chemical coatings designed to withstand cold temperatures. When you put these bags in the microwave, the heat forces these materials to break down. This process causes chemicals to move from the bag directly into your food.

These materials often contain PFAS (a group of chemicals used to resist grease and water) and various plasticizers. These substances are not meant to be heated. When you steam food in the bag, you are essentially cooking your meal in a mixture of migrating chemicals.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Food Chem used high-resolution testing to track how chemicals move from plastic food packaging into food during the cooking process. The researchers confirmed that heating these materials leads to a direct transfer of chemicals into the food you eat.

a 2026 study in Chemosphere highlights the presence of PFAS in consumer food packaging. These chemicals are linked to health risks when they enter the body. Other research, such as a 2026 study in Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, points to the dangers of exposure to plastic-related chemicals like DINP, which can cause liver damage.