Health & Life

Using aluminum foil when cooking these 3 types of foods is just like inviting illness into your body

Silver foil is a convenient product that is widely used in cooking. However, there are 3 items that should not be used with silver foil, which not everyone knows.

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8 December, 2023

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3 Foods Not to Wrap in Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil is a widely used product in cooking, both in households and restaurants. Before 1945, aluminum foil was made of tin. Then, it was improved and aluminum became the material of choice due to its affordability, durability, and lack of odor compared to tin. This is why aluminum foil is sometimes still referred to as tin foil or aluminum leaf. The name aluminum foil is derived from its color.

Aluminum foil is used to wrap food during cooking and for food preservation. It has the ability to withstand high temperatures, is resistant to wear and tear, prevents food from sticking to containers, and protects cooking utensils (especially ovens and air fryers) from grease and food stains. Aluminum foil is also used to retain heat and moisture in food, preventing oil and water from spilling during the cooking process. However, most people use it based on intuition without really knowing which foods can be used with aluminum foil and which ones cannot.

There are 3 types of foods that are not suitable to be used with aluminum foil:

– Vinegar, lemon.

– Tomatoes (including tomato paste).

– Sauces, alcoholic foods.

The reason is that these foods are usually acidic, have the ability to corrode aluminum foil, and dissolve aluminum ions during heat processing. This not only affects the taste of the food, but also has the potential to harm health. If the food is only wrapped for preservation without heating, the acid in the food can still react with aluminum foil, causing the food to deteriorate and spoil faster.

Aluminum is a highly reactive metal that can react with various foods. When the body is exposed to aluminum-contaminated food, it cannot be digested and accumulates in organs such as the liver, kidneys, bones, and even the brain tissue of humans.

When people are exposed to aluminum, they may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain and fatigue. In severe cases, it can affect the nervous system.

When cooking, it is advisable to fully cook the ingredients first, remove the food from the aluminum foil, and then add acidic condiments such as vinegar, lemon, tomato paste, etc. If you want to use it for food preservation, you can wrap the food with a layer of paper first and then use aluminum foil to wrap it on the outside.

Notes when using aluminum foil:

In addition to avoiding the use of aluminum foil with the above-mentioned foods, you need to pay attention to some other issues.

Aluminum foil has one shiny side and one dull side. Aluminum foil manufacturers say that using either side does not affect the cooking and food preservation efficiency.

This difference in appearance is due to the packaging process. Aluminum foil has to go through a rolling machine and only one side is polished more than the other. In terms of thermal conductivity, heat retention, insulation, or susceptibility to scratches and corrosion when exposed to food, both sides are the same.

In addition to acidic foods, you should not use aluminum foil to wrap metal objects. When two metal objects come into contact with each other, they can cause electrolytic reactions, making the aluminum foil easy to break or ignite, as well as causing many other consequences.

Do not use aluminum foil when cooking in a microwave oven. Microwave ovens use electrical energy to heat food. If aluminum foil is used in this device, it can generate electric sparks.