The temperature of food that can be stored in paper bowls is constrained by various factors.
Firstly, the main component of paper bowls is pulp, which can withstand a certain temperature. However, in order to make the paper bowl waterproof, there is usually a layer of plastic coating inside the paper bowl, usually polyethylene (PE). The thermal stability of this plastic coating determines the maximum temperature that the paper bowl can withstand.
Ordinary paper bowls may start to have problems when containing food with temperatures exceeding 60-80 degrees Celsius. Because in this temperature range, the plastic coating may gradually soften and its structure begins to change. If the temperature rises further, approaching or exceeding 100 degrees Celsius, such as when holding freshly cooked hot soup or oil, there is a higher risk that the plastic coating will release harmful substances. These harmful substances may include some plasticizers or small molecule compounds produced by plastic decomposition.
Moreover, when the temperature is too high, the paper structure of the paper bowl itself will also be affected. High temperature may cause rapid evaporation of moisture in the paper, making it dry and brittle, thereby reducing the strength of the paper bowl. If the strength of the paper bowl decreases, it is prone to breakage, causing food to spill and resulting in accidental situations such as burns.
However, some high-end paper bowls that have been specially designed and processed may be able to withstand higher temperatures. For example, some use high-temperature resistant coatings or composite materials that can withstand temperatures close to 120-130 degrees Celsius. This type of paper bowl usually indicates the temperature range of the food it can hold in the product description, and users can refer to this information when using it.
In daily use, for safety and health reasons, it is best to avoid using paper bowls to hold food that is too hot. If you really need to serve hot food, you can first cool the food slightly or choose to use ceramic, glass, or other containers that are more heat-resistant to ensure that there are no health risks or container damage caused by the high temperature of the paper bowl.