Plastic wrap is incredibly helpful when you need to create an airtight seal on food or when you’re covering a plate of leftovers for later. There are, however, some times when you should forget the plastic wrap and grab an alternative. First, never use plastic wrap with high heat because it can melt at temperatures higher than 220º F. That means not using it in an air fryer, toaster oven, slow cooker, oven, or even on the stove-top. You can use plastic wrap in the microwave if you follow a few simple rules. Only buy plastic wrap that’s marked “microwave safe,” make sure it doesn’t come in contact with the food, and make sure to vent the wrap so steam can escape. Finally, never use plastic wrap for freezer food storage. If you wrap meat in plastic wrap alone before freezing, you’ll have an excellent airtight seal, but the meat will likely suffer from freezer burn. To solve this, use a second layer of protection, like aluminum foil or a Ziploc freezer bag.
