People prefer to store their chipotle bowls in the fridge rather than throwing them away.
These bowls are full of rice, beans, protein, grilled veggies, and a dip of guacamole. The ingredients may vary, depending on the type of combination you opt for. However, the overall ingredients make the chipotle bowl a healthy and nutritious choice.
Now that you have an ample amount of meal left, a question arises: “Are chipotle bowls microwave safe?
It is suggested that chipotle bowls are safe to microwave without an aluminum lid. Although use a microwave-safe container to reheat the meal.
Make sure to check the bottom of the chipotle bowl for the label “microwave-safe”. If there is not any such label, then the product (bowl) is not tested.
Let’s get further with this article and see if chipotle bowls are safe to microwave or not. But we should first know what exactly a chipotle bowl is.
What is a chipotle bowl?
Chipotle bowl is a burrito bowl that contains a combination of different ingredients. Mainly, rice, beans and veggies are used to spice up your dining table. All of it is offered in a container.
One serving of chipotle bowl is big enough for a single person to finish it. This being the reason, people save it in the fridge to munch on later as a snack. Hence, concerning people whether it is safe to reheat them or not.
As per Food and Drug Administration, Chipotle bowls are considered safe to use as they are mainly made with fibres.
Types of chipotle bowls
The microwave-ability of a chipotle bowl might vary, depending on the material they are composed of. Some of the chipotle bowls are made up of plastic. While others can use metal with an aluminum lid and foil.
It is not a smart decision to microwave a plastic condiment without knowing its limitations. As some of the chipotle bowls are surface coated with wax. This lining can melt during the heat.
It is best to transfer your leftover portion to ceramic bowls.
Although, aluminum foil can be microwaved but in certain conditions. It is unsafe to microwave-used aluminum foil as it can create sparks and start a fire in your house.
How do you heat up a chipotle bowl?
The leftovers can be kept in a fridge in order to maintain their freshness. Avoid storing and reheating unsafe food. If you want to heat up a chipotle bowl, then below are mentioned two general methods for you:
Using a microwave
When it is a quick snack time then the microwave can be a quick and easy way to heat up a chipotle bowl. You can heat up chipotle bowl in a microwave by removing lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole from the top. These ingredients heat up instantly and release excessive moisture which can make this meal soggy.
Put the whole meal, without the above-mentioned ingredients, into the microwave-safe plate or container. Reheat it for a maximum of 1 minute on medium heat.
Stir with a spoon evenly so that each ingredient heats up. Other than that, you can also increase the heating time to make sure that each ingredient has reached the temperature of 165℉ or 74℃.
After heating all of those ingredients, add up lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole to your chipotle and enjoy!
Using an oven
Using an oven for reheating could be time taking and difficult. Yet it provides the best result. Start it by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Remove lettuce and sour cream as usual. Transfer all the other ingredients to an oven-safe dish and cover the dish using aluminum foil.
After heating all of the content, add sour cream and sprinkle lettuce!
Are chipotle bowls safe?
When you are reheating your food in the microwave in certain containers, there can be a chance for you to get exposed to toxic chemicals. As you know that most fatty acids are highly susceptible to chemicals (absorption of chemicals becomes easier).
Chemical absorption from the container can be based on:
- The duration in which the container stays in the microwave.
- The quantity of food that you will intake from the container.
- The quantity of food that you will heat in this container.
How do you know if a chipotle container is safe to heat?
Are chipotle bowls microwavable? It completely depends on the type of container you are using to heat up your meal.
To know if the bowl to be heated is safe or not, check the product label for any related statement.
If there isn’t any such label on the product, then you can go check the company’s website. Chipotle can email you about the safe handling of their products.
The last option for you is to consider that container unsafe for heating.
The safest way to microwave chipotle paper bowl is to transfer the content into the ceramic bowl before microwaving it. It might be time taking but will serve your health in the end.
Things to know before heating a chipotle bowl
As mentioned above chipotle bowls are made up of compostable materials. Yet it does not allow you to directly put the container inside the microwave devoid of health concerns.
It is important for you to always transfer the chipotle bowl contents to a microwave-safe dish to avoid cross-contamination.
Below are few precautions that could be helpful for your health:
- Don’t leave your chipotle bowl at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Instead, keep it in the fridge to maintain its freshness and consume within 2 days.
- Don’t forget to carry out the necessary research regarding the container.
- Don’t microwave a chipotle bowl with the lid on, especially the one used in the chipotle bowl (the aluminum foil).
- To protect the meal from splatters, cover the container with microwave-safe wax paper, towel, or microwave cover.
- Separate the veggies or toppings like lettuce or sour cream from the chipotle bowl before heating. Place them on a meal after microwaving.
What does science say about it?
According to scientific studies, chipotle bowls or Sweetgreen bowls come with a toxic compound “PFAS”. Different companies have known to create these since the ’40s and are also found in the environment as well as human bodies.
Chipotle bowls are coated with wax or plastic lining that is known to have an amount of fluorine. The poly-fluoroalkyl substances like PFAS compounds are non-biodegradable and work in the holding of hot and greasy products in the container.
Exposure to these chemicals can cause serious health problems in the human body. These health problems can be cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental issues. PFAS are found in the wrappers and covers of fast food and the bags of microwave popcorn too.
These compounds do not break down easily. Your body can be exposed to these compounds in different ways like:
- Fast-food packaging.
- Equipment of food processing.
- Contaminated soil and water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harmful to put a chipotle bowl in the microwave?
Make sure to remove the aluminum lid present on the chipotle bowl before heating it. Metals should be avoided in the case of microwaving. For these reasons, chipotle bowls should be considered unsafe to heat in the microwave.
Is it possible to reheat the chipotle bowl with sour cream?
Sour cream and other toppings like lettuce and guacamole can release moisture during the heat. Therefore, these ingredients should be removed before microwaving the chipotle bowl contents. However, you can add them back once your meal is ready.
How to reheat a chipotle bowl in an oven?
Remove the toppings as usual from your chipotle bowl. Preheat the oven to 360 degrees. Transfer contents to an oven-safe dish and cover it with wax paper or a towel.
Conclusion
Chipotle bowls are certainly a famous and healthy dish for everyone. If you have been heating chipotle bowls, then you might continue doing it but with some cautions. Although, if you have major health concerns you can consider transferring your meal to a ceramics bowl or microwave-safe dish before heating.
You should think of a chipotle bowl to be microwave friendly in any way. Still, make sure to transfer your contents to a microwave-safe dish to safely heat up each ingredient to an internal temperature of 165℉ or 74℃.
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