Is it safe to use plastic wrap on hot food?

What's actually in it

Plastic wrap is a type of plastic food contact material. These materials are not stable when they come into contact with heat. When you wrap hot food in plastic, you increase the risk of chemicals moving from the wrap into your meal.

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater confirms that substances migrate from plastic food contact materials into food. These materials contain various chemical additives that are not meant to be consumed. Heat speeds up this process, making it easier for these substances to leach into your dinner.

What the research says

The science is clear: plastic is a source of contamination in our food supply. Beyond the chemicals that leak out, plastic materials also shed tiny pieces known as microplastics.

A 2026 study in Sci Total Environ highlights that plastic packaging is a direct source of microplastic contamination. When you use plastic wrap, you risk these particles ending up in your food. Once in the food chain, these plastics can act as carriers for other dangerous substances like heavy metals and PFAS (a group of chemicals that do not break down in the body), according to a 2026 study in J Hazard Mater.

Research consistently shows that plastic is not a safe choice for hot food. Whether it is through chemical leaching or the shedding of microplastics, the evidence from peer-reviewed studies suggests that keeping plastic away from your food is the best way to reduce your exposure to these materials.