If you've ever shopped for a silicone food container, baby product, baking mat or kitchen tool, you've probably seen the words "platinum silicone."
It sounds premium.
It also sounds a little mysterious.
Is there actually platinum in the silicone? Is platinum silicone safer? Is it different from regular food-grade silicone? And does any of this really matter when your food is going into the container?
The short answer is: platinum silicone refers to the way the silicone is cured, and that can matter. But "platinum" alone isn't enough to tell you whether a finished food-storage product is high quality or appropriate for food contact.
The quick answer
Platinum silicone is silicone that uses a platinum catalyst during the curing process that turns the material into a finished silicone rubber.
Platinum curing is widely used in high-quality silicone products, including food-contact applications. But it isn't a food-safety certification by itself. The formulation, manufacturing process, finished-product testing and intended use still matter.
Platinum silicone vs. other silicone at a glance
| Question | Platinum-cured silicone | Peroxide-cured silicone |
|---|---|---|
| How is it cured? | Uses a platinum catalyst in an addition-curing process | Uses organic peroxide crosslinking agents |
| Can it be used for food contact? | Yes, when the formulation and finished product meet applicable requirements | Yes, certain properly manufactured formulations can also meet food-contact requirements |
| Does "platinum" mean certified safe? | No. It describes the curing system | No. The curing system alone does not establish finished-product safety |
| Why do manufacturers use it? | Fast curing, strong finished properties and suitability for demanding applications | Established manufacturing process that can be used for many silicone products |
| What should consumers focus on? | Food-contact suitability, meaningful testing, temperature guidance, manufacturer transparency and the quality of the finished product | |
First, what does it mean to "cure" silicone?
Raw silicone doesn't start out looking like the flexible spatula, baking mold or food container in your kitchen.
During manufacturing, silicone polymers are crosslinked, or cured, to create the solid, elastic material we recognize as silicone rubber.
There are different ways to make that reaction happen.
Two you may encounter in silicone products are peroxide curing and platinum-addition curing.
So what exactly is platinum silicone?
"Platinum silicone" is the common consumer-friendly term for silicone that has been cured using a platinum catalyst.
One component of the silicone system contains the platinum catalyst. When the components are combined under the right manufacturing conditions, the catalyst helps trigger the crosslinking reaction that turns the material into its finished rubber form.
The platinum isn't there because your container needs to be fancy.
It has a job in the manufacturing chemistry.
Is platinum silicone better than peroxide-cured silicone?
This is where marketing can get ahead of the facts.
It would be easy for me to tell you:
Platinum = good.
Everything else = bad.
But that's not accurate.
Platinum curing offers manufacturing advantages, and major silicone manufacturers use it for demanding food-contact and medical applications.
But properly manufactured peroxide-cured silicone can also be suitable for food-contact applications.
Germany's BfR Recommendation XV for silicones, for example, includes permitted conditions for both certain peroxide crosslinking agents and platinum catalysts in silicone elastomers.
The curing method matters, but the finished product matters more.
Why is platinum curing popular for higher-quality silicone products?
Platinum-addition curing has some useful manufacturing characteristics.
Silicone manufacturer Elkem notes that platinum-cured systems cure quickly, can provide strong mechanical properties and are used in silicone products designed to comply with food-contact and medical requirements.
Liquid silicone rubber, commonly called LSR, typically uses a platinum-addition curing system.
Those characteristics help explain why platinum-cured silicone is common in applications where consistency, durability and manufacturing control matter.
Source: Elkem Silicones, silicone rubber and liquid silicone rubber technical information.
Does platinum silicone mean there are no additives or fillers?
No.
This is another important distinction.
"Platinum cured" tells you about the curing system. It doesn't give you the entire recipe for the finished silicone product.
Silicone formulations can contain reinforcing materials, pigments and other ingredients needed to create the desired strength, color, hardness or performance.
That doesn't automatically make them bad. It simply means that platinum silicone isn't synonymous with "100% pure silicone and absolutely nothing else."
Is platinum silicone automatically food safe?
No.
Platinum curing is one piece of the puzzle.
Food-contact suitability depends on the materials in the finished product, how it was manufactured and whether it performs appropriately under its intended conditions of use.
In the United States, the FDA evaluates food-contact substances based on the specific substance, its intended use and the conditions under which it contacts food.
That can include evaluating how much of a substance is expected to migrate into food under those conditions.
Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration, regulation of food-contact substances.
Wondering how silicone compares with plastic?
The material name isn't the whole story. We looked at silicone and plastic food containers, including heat, microplastics, food-contact standards and where each material makes sense.
Read: Is Silicone Safer Than Plastic for Food Storage? →Where does LFGB fit into all of this?
You've probably also seen "LFGB" mentioned when comparing silicone food products.
LFGB is the abbreviation commonly used for Germany's Food and Feed Code.
Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, or BfR, publishes recommendations that are used to assess materials that don't have their own fully harmonized material-specific rules, including silicone.
BfR Recommendation XV specifically addresses silicones used in food-contact products.
And this is where the distinction becomes useful:
"Platinum cured" describes how silicone was made. Food-contact testing helps tell you how the finished material performs.
BfR's silicone recommendation doesn't merely say, "Use platinum silicone and you're done."
It sets conditions around silicone elastomers, permitted manufacturing substances and limits for certain components in finished products.
For example, the recommendation sets limits on volatile organic and extractable components from finished silicone elastomers.
Source: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Recommendation XV: Silicones.
Is LFGB the same thing as platinum silicone?
No, and this is probably the easiest way to remember the difference:
Platinum silicone: tells you about the silicone's curing process.
LFGB/BfR food-contact testing or compliance: tells you something about how the material or finished product has been evaluated against food-contact requirements.
I would much rather see both meaningful material information and meaningful food-contact testing than rely on one impressive-sounding phrase on a product listing.
What should you actually look for when buying silicone food storage?
Unless you work in materials science, you probably don't want to read a silicone chemistry textbook every time you buy a container.
I don't think you should have to.
1. Find out what kind of silicone it is
If the company calls it platinum silicone, platinum-cured silicone or liquid silicone rubber, it should be able to explain what that means.
2. Look for food-contact testing or compliance information
"Food grade" by itself doesn't tell you much about the testing behind the finished product. Look for specific food-contact standards or test information.
3. Check the temperature limits
Don't assume that every silicone item is suitable for every oven, microwave, freezer or dishwasher temperature simply because it is silicone.
4. Look for transparency
Can the company tell you where the material comes from? What type of silicone it uses? How the product was tested? What it was designed to do?
5. Remember that material quality isn't the only thing that matters
A container also needs to function well enough that you'll actually use it. The best material in the world doesn't help much if the product leaks, takes up too much space or never leaves your kitchen cabinet.
Why I chose platinum silicone for BYOB
I spent about three years developing BYOB before it ever reached customers.
And silicone wasn't just a cosmetic material choice.
The entire idea depended on creating a container that could collapse small enough to keep with you, expand when you had restaurant leftovers, survive repeated washing and still feel like something I wanted touching my family's food.
BYOB uses LFGB-certified platinum silicone sourced from Elkem.
I chose to invest in the material because the product wasn't meant to be used once and forgotten.
It's supposed to go into your car or bag, come into restaurants with you, hold tonight's dinner, go through the dishwasher and do it all over again.
Shopping for a collapsible food container?
Material is only one part of the decision. We compared five collapsible food containers by design, portability, use case and value.
Compare the Top 5 Collapsible Food Containers →Frequently asked questions about platinum silicone
What is platinum silicone?
Platinum silicone is silicone that uses a platinum catalyst during curing, the manufacturing process that crosslinks silicone polymers into a finished silicone rubber.
Is platinum silicone food safe?
Platinum-cured silicone can be suitable for food-contact products, but "platinum cured" alone is not a food-safety certification. The finished product's formulation, manufacturing, testing, intended use and applicable food-contact requirements still matter.
Is platinum silicone better than regular silicone?
Platinum curing offers useful manufacturing and performance advantages and is commonly used in higher-specification silicone applications. However, other properly manufactured silicone formulations can also be suitable for food contact. Compare the finished product, not just the curing label.
Is platinum silicone the same as LFGB silicone?
No. Platinum describes a curing method. LFGB refers to Germany's food and feed legal framework, while BfR publishes specific recommendations used in assessing materials such as silicone for food-contact applications.
Does platinum silicone contain platinum?
Platinum compounds are used as catalysts during the curing process. The term does not mean the product contains pieces of metallic platinum. Food-contact requirements can place conditions and limits on substances used in the finished silicone material.
Is all food-grade silicone platinum cured?
No. Silicone can use different curing systems. Platinum-cured silicone is common in food-contact applications, but properly manufactured silicone using other permitted curing systems may also be suitable for food contact.
How can I tell if a silicone container is good quality?
Look for clear information about the silicone material, food-contact testing or compliance, temperature limits, intended use and the manufacturer. Be cautious of products that make broad safety claims without explaining what those claims are based on.
The part I want you to remember
Platinum silicone can be a sign that a manufacturer made a thoughtful material choice.
It just shouldn't be the only question you ask.
Ask what it's made from. Ask how it was tested. Ask how you're supposed to use it.
Because when we're talking about something that repeatedly touches our food, I think knowing a little more than "it's silicone" is worth it.
Meet BYOB
BYOB is a reusable collapsible food container made with LFGB-certified platinum silicone. It folds down small enough to keep with you, then expands when it's time to bring restaurant leftovers home.
Shop BYOBSources:
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Recommendation XV: Silicones.
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Recommendations on Food Contact Materials.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Food Packaging & Other Substances that Come in Contact with Food.
Elkem Silicones, silicone rubber and liquid silicone rubber technical information.
Bring Your Own Box,
Rachel
