Polyester filling for bowl cozy
 

I've read several articles about how dangerous it is to us polyester filling for a bowl cozy. Of course, I had already made several with polyester filling. So I tried them in my microwave. Went up to 10 minutes with no heat in the cozy at all. Absolutely no heat. I suppose it would burn with food on it, as would cotton. Has anyone had a problem with this? It seems that most of the bad publicity is coming from companies that make cotton batting..... I certainly do not want to gift anything that could be dangerous. Plan to write a disclaimer stating they should not go in microwave for over 5 minutes, should never use with food spilled on them and always stay close by and keep an eye on them.

I certainly appreciate any advice you may have, or experiences with this issue. Thanks

I have one I use for a bowl of ice cream. The purpose of these are for hot or cold bowls. Just like a pot-holder doesn't go in an oven. Hopefully, no one cooks a cozy in the MW! LOL.

I have 2 that I have used for heating food in microwave for several years. They were a gift, so I don't know what kind of filling are in them, but they are wonderful. I take the bowls out of the microwave and put them on the table, so don't need hot pads or anything else to protect my table. Etsy advertises hundreds of them for the same purpose.

I'm thinking that if used with food in the bowl set into a cozy in the microwave the polyester could melt or even catch fire from the heat of the food.
Why not use them outside of the microwave? Heat the bowl and contents and place into the cozy to keep warm and not burn hands. If giving as a gift be sure to tell recipients to use only outside the microwave. I do this all the time.

I made a friend one using all the “right” things. She said it went up in flames even cracking her microwave ceramic carousel! I have no idea why but I never made anymore!!!

I heard so many horror stories with the potato bags that I didn’t try either one.

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I so appreciate your comments. I've made dozens of them and now I'm afraid to gift them, let alone sell them. I've been using them without a problem, but if there is any chance of danger to anyone, I certainly would not give them, unless I tell folks not to put them into the microwave.

I think what I would do with ones already made would be to sew something metallic (like little jingle bells) on the outside where they are very visible, to remind everyone not to put them in the microwave.

they could be great for holding the bowls after taken out of the microwave. I bought myself two pot holders that have rubber strips on one side. i place those toward the hot bowl, hold tight and remove. then set it on a hot pad but could use a bowl cozy if I had one.

Like the idea Dunster had about sewing some kind of trinkets on outside--great reminder !

clever idea, dunster

My neice's cosy caught fire. It was made from 100% cotton everything. But it had food residue on it. We think that is why it caught fire.

I would not sew anything metal onto the cosy because there will be someone somewhere that would still put it in the microwave and cause a worse problem. Maybe one of those signs with a microwave in a circle with a red line thru it sewn into the bottom?? I'm sure there would still be people who would not get the message.

I don't mess around with anything that could cause a fire. The limit I have seen for all cotton cozies is 2 minutes. I never go over that. See sentence 1.

I thought the purpose of them was to put the bowl of food in them, put them in the microwave to heat up the food. The cozy acts as a pot holder so you don't burn your hands. If you can't put them in the microwave than what's the point of using them.

You should not use polyester in the microwave - both melting and a fumes issues. And, check the labeling - some are named cotton but when you look at contents, you will see 10% poly. We make and sell dozens per month and always include a tag saying 'for reheating only, please use only 3 - 5 minutes'. We still have some folks who want a refund after using for 10 minutes and having them get hot! One lady left the pin in and it had 2 burn marks where the pin had been. She said she had removed the pin (?!?) and wanted a refund and yes, we gave it to her and told her to keep the cozy.

I have had a potato baker bag for 10 years and have used it quite abit. Time my potatoes for 6-1/2 minutes and have never had a problem. I have made the microwave bowl holders for 5-6 years now using warm and natural only for the batting inside and have never had any problems but have never warmed anything for longer than 2-3 minutes. They are used for warming and not cooking and one must remember that. I have never heard anyone that I have gifted them to or sold to complaining about any problem but I stress the warming and not cooking aspect.

One of the first ones I made included polyester and it caught on fire. That was before I knew to only use cotton fabric, batting and thread.

WOW....you all are so wonderful!! I appreciate your comments so much. I keep testing and testing in my microwave and the polyester doesn't get even warm. I've gone up to 10 minutes while watching closely.....I feel so sure they will not burn, but still am frightened by the comments that polyester will burn. I've never smelled any fumes either. I'm sure spilled food would burn. Maybe it's best to just tell them not to put it into the microwave, but that is what makes it so great.....Keep the comments coming...Love hearing from you all!!!!

I, too, have made many, many bowls and potato bags. Must use 100% cotton as everyone has said. Make sure batting does not have poly scrim in it. My info on the bowl says to make sure it has been laundered frequently as spills can cause burning. My son had some soda on his counter, and apparently set the bowl on it and when he used it next time, he had a burn (no fire) from the sugar in the pop. Potato bags: let them dry 100% after EACH use and wash them frequently as the starch in the potatoes accumulates and can cause a problem.

I use mine all the time for hot food, but I never put them in the microwave. Really need to wash mine and need to make some more.

I always thought that's how they should be used! When the bowl is too hot to handle, take out of the MW and put in the cozy to eat!

A thought .... re the varying experiences when microwaving with the cozy ...
... could some of the differences be the makeup of the bowl?
Eg. china, pottery, porcelain, etc.


I have several flat soup bowls that I microwave with vegetables, leftovers, etc.
Some of them are too hot to handle without a pot holder.
Some I can handle without needing that pot holder.

Same foods. Same times. I chalk that up to the difference in the china.

So could that be an insight into why the different experiences when using the cozies?

I've been researching the internet for answers and found this at the website of the batting I used. Responses please? Still confused, as I always thought the polyester melted but did not ignite. On the other hand, cotton does ignite. So, thinking the 100% cotton would ignite, but the polyester would melt. Of course, I wouldn't want either to happen. Her is what is on their website: Fairfield’s does not chemically treat its products to prohibit burning. 100% polyester products are flame retardant by nature because they will not burn unless they are in direct contact with a flame. Fairfield products made from, or blended with, natural fibers are not flame retardant, nor have they been treated for flame resistance.

Thanks so much to the response about the type of bowl used to heat food in a cozy. You may have the answer! No just to figure out WHAT bowl to tell folks not to use!!!

Yes, I may have the answer ... but too, I may not.
There is nothing certain at all in what I have said, as being a reliable answer.
And as for what bowl? Sounds too risky to feel safe as to what people will do.
At least for me it is.

With all due respect, do as you want,
but do you really feel you could pass these along to others,
with a clear conscience, after all that has been said here?

I have two of them that a dear friend made for me. I've never thought about putting them in the microwave. I heat my bowl of food and as I get it out of the mw I put it directly into the cozy. No problems.. I love them.