There are certain everyday kitchen tools we often neglect, and one such tool is aluminium foil. It is versatile and has various uses in the kitchen and beyond. From wrapping a piece of meat while grilling to packing food during our travels, a piece of aluminium foil comes to the rescue quite often. It is undoubtedly convenient, but what we often fail to realise is that certain uses of the foil can be hazardous to health. You read it right! That doesn't mean we are asking you to eliminate this versatile tool from your kitchen, instead, we suggest using it efficiently to enjoy the benefits to the fullest. In this article, we have listed some important pointers that you must keep in mind while using an aluminium foil wrap.
Also Read: Do You Store Your Food In Aluminium Foil? Here's Why You Should Stop
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Is It Safe To Use Aluminium Foil In Cooking?
If you are baking a cake or roasting some vegetables, chances are, you would wrap the food in aluminium foil. But should you be doing that at all? While a set of experts claim that using aluminium foil in cooking can cause aluminium to seep into your food, some say it is absolutely safe to use. Quite confusing, right? Let's help you separate fiction from the facts.
According to the Centre For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), the aluminium in food and water enters your body through the digestive tract and bloodstream, but that also gets released quickly in the form of faeces and urine respectively.
However, a study published in the Journal of Electrochemical Science states that if acidic and salted foods are cooked in aluminium foil at high temperatures, then that might lead to a greater amount of leaching of the mineral. And excess exploitation of minerals could have negative effects on our health.
Considering both factors, we say, using aluminium foil in the kitchen appears to be safe, but one needs to know how to use it effectively. Fret not, we have got you covered.
Also Read: How Does Aluminum Foil Keep The Food Warm? And Is It Safe?
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Here're 5 Dos And Don'ts You Must Remember While Using Aluminium Foil In the Kitchen:
1. Use it as a lid:
You can always use foil wrap to cover your cooked food. This will help retain the moisture and keep the food fresh and hot for long.
2. Don't use it for reheating food:
According to studies, microwaving aluminium foil reflects off the aluminium, which leads to uneven cooking of the food.
3. Don't use it for roasting tomatoes:
Tomato is an acidic fruit which might react to the aluminium on the foil, making the food toxic.
4. Don't use for baking:
Many people often use aluminium foil as an alternative to parchment paper while baking. If you are doing it too, then stop now! Always remember, aluminium is heat conductive, meaning, the part of the batter or dough that gets in direct contact with the foil will absorb more heat than the rest of the part. This might end up burning some portions of your cookies and cakes.
5. Store non-perishable food items:
Aluminium foil is great to lock moisture. Storing non-perishable and dry foods in it may help extend the shelf-life and also lock the moisture to keep it fresh.