Is silicone bakeware safe as far as fumes/leeching/etc.?
Silicone is supposed to be completely inert – it’s non-reactive, and withstands very high heat, which is why you can get potholders and trivets made out of it now. There’s a reason this stuff is used for breast implants (yes, I know, it’s not the SAME stuff, but the principal is the same). Inert means just that – inert. It shouldn’t outgas, react with anything, or break down in any way, even up to high heat (up to its temperature tolerance, which varies by composition, but is always very high). That said, Teflon was supposed to be the same deal, and there are also manufacturing considerations to evaluate. Was a strange machine oil or other substance used in the product’s manufacture? Has it been exposed to anything since then? We never know these things. Now, I’m NOT trying to alarm you. I have no reason to believe there’s any real risk here. In addition, ANYTHING (glass, stainless steel, etc.) could have this issue. Still, I always wonder about the things we don’t know today, that we’
