Platinum Cured Silicone
Cured using platinum instead of peroxide, resulting in zero toxic off-gassing.
The Truth About Silicone: Is It Really 100% Non-Toxic?
Silicone is the darling of the eco-friendly baby movement, but not all silicone is created equal. We explore siloxanes and curing methods.
R
By Renee, R3 Founder
Environmental Toxins Analyst
Updated June 2026
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The quick answer
Silicone is vastly safer than petroleum-based plastics because it does not contain estrogen-mimicking bisphenols (like BPA) or phthalates. However, cheap, low-grade silicone can contain fillers and chemical byproducts called siloxanes that can leach when heated or exposed to high-fat foods. To guarantee safety, you must strictly buy "Medical-Grade" or "Platinum-Cured" silicone, passing the "pinch test" to ensure purity.
In this guide:Platinum Cured Silicone
Editor's note. This review distinguishes between peroxide-cured and platinum-cured siloxanes.
01
The Pinch Test
How do you know if your expensive silicone baby plate is pure? You pinch it.
Take a thick piece of the silicone, pinch it tightly, and twist. If the color remains consistent, you likely have high-quality pure silicone. If the pinched area turns white, the manufacturer used cheap plastic fillers to bulk up the product and save money. Those plastic fillers can leach exactly the chemicals you were trying to avoid by buying silicone in the first place.
Pinch a thick piece of the silicone tightly and twist: if the color remains consistent, you likely have high-quality pure silicone; if the pinched area turns white, the manufacturer used cheap plastic fillers.
In short
- Pure silicone maintains its color when pinched.
- White creases indicate cheap plastic fillers.
- Fillers compromise the heat-stability of the material.
The bottom line
Silicone is an excellent, heat-stable alternative to plastic, but you must be a discerning buyer. Look explicitly for Medical-Grade, LFGB-certified (the ultra-strict European standard), or Platinum-Cured silicone.
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about toxicology: plastics, answered by our research team.
QDoes silicone retain smells?
Yes, pure silicone can occasionally retain soap odors. To remove them, boil the silicone for 10 minutes or bake it at 250°F for 20 minutes to off-gas the trapped oils.