SaveComments We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Credit: Joe Lingeman Aluminum foil is endlessly versatile. You can use it to wrap up leftovers, cover a bowl that needs to be stashed in the fridge for a bit, line a baking sheet, clean a pan, and more. Of course, you already know this. That’s why you, most likely, have a box or three in a kitchen drawer right now. While foil is a great thing to keep around, there are a few things you shouldn’t do with it. Some sources will warn against cooking food in foil. We do it sometimes, though. And so this story is about things you should definitely never do. Here are five things to skip when it comes to your roll of aluminum foil. 1. Don’t put it in the microwave.This one’s probably the most obvious, but a little reminder can’t hurt — never, under any circumstances, put anything with foil on it in the microwave. Unlike paper or glass, electromagnetic waves can’t pass through metal, so they bounce off — which could result in sparks and flames that could damage your oven or, worse, start fires. Credit: Eric Kleinberg; Food Stylist: Kristina Vanni 2. Don’t bake cookies on it.While you can use foil to line a baking sheet for, say, crisping up bacon in the oven, it’s not the best liner for your sheet pan if you’re making cookies. Lining your cookie sheet with aluminum foil can cause the bottom of your cookies to cook faster, ultimately resulting in uneven bake. Instead, use parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, or a really good nonstick spray. 3. Don’t line the bottom of your oven with it.In theory, lining the bottom of your oven with aluminum foil as a catch-all for pesky drips and spills sounds like a good idea. In practice, it’s not. Even the folks at Reynolds Wrap say it’s a bad idea: “To avoid possible heat damage to your oven, we do not recommend using aluminum foil to line the bottom of your oven.” Instead, Reynolds says to use a piece of their Heavy Duty foil on the rack below whatever you’re baking. (Pull off a length that’s a little longer than the pan you’re using.) Note: They said rack — not the bottom of the oven. This will allow for proper heat circulation and catch any drips. 4. Don’t use it for acidic foods.Acidic foods (like tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tart fruits) can interact with the aluminum and, after a few days, erode the foil. For these foods, you’re better off using plastic wrap or or even glass containers. Also: If you’re wrapping food up with foil, it’s best for a temporary solution, as a foil-wrapped burrito is not airtight. 5. Don’t toss it after one use.Aluminum foil can totally be reused if it’s clean enough and not too crumpled. (You can even hand-wash it or put it in the dishwasher on the top rack.) Why not get some extra milage out of the stuff? Also, aluminum foil can almost always be recycled. Check with your town or recycling provider and then do your part. Want More?Get the Kitchn Daily in your inbox. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication. Cooking and baking with aluminum foil is fast and convenient, and makes cleanup a cinch, but are there health risks?Americans have been using aluminum foil for over 100 years, since it was first used to wrap Life Savers, candy bars, and gum. For many years up to today, we’ve mostly used it in our kitchens, to bake fish or roast vegetables on the barbecue, to line baking pans, and to trap steam when cooking. And experts have expressed concern about just how much of it we’re using, with studies even warning that it could have some seriously harmful health effects. Do those warnings have any merit? For more facts about aluminum foil, here’s why it has a shiny and a dull side. Potential dangers of aluminum foilAccording to research, some of the foil used in cooking, baking, and grilling leaches into your food, which can pose health problems over time. Scientists have been looking at the potential threat that overexposure to aluminum may have on human health for years. For example, researchers have found high concentrations of aluminum in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also found that high aluminum intake may be linked to a reduction in the growth rate of human cells, and may be potentially harmful for patients with bone diseases or renal impairment. It depends on the food and the temperatureResearch has generally found that a couple of factors make aluminum more likely to leach into your food. One of these is the temperature: The higher the temperature you’re cooking at, the more conducive the environment is for aluminum to enter your food, an Electrochem. Sci. study found. The acidity of the food is another major factor. According to Amber Adams, founder of Kitchens Ready, “If you’re cooking acidic foods like tomatoes or vinegar-based marinades, this can break down the foil and leach even more aluminum into your food.” Check out these 45 uses for aluminum foil you never knew about. So, should you be concerned?In all honesty, you’re probably safe, as long as you’re not over-using aluminum foil in your cooking. “For the majority of people, this shouldn’t be a problem, as the amount of aluminum that is pulled into the food during the cooking process is very immaterial,” says Adams. Just keep moderation in mind. “You wouldn’t want to cook these types of [acidic] foods on foil many days out of the week,” she adds. “If you’re cooking acidic foods on foil on occasion, this is not a problem.” But you shouldn’t ignore the issue completely, Adams says. “If you’re at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, you may want to limit cooking with foil as there has been a link shown between the disease and high amounts of aluminum in a person’s diet.” Watch out for the amount of salt and spice you add to the food as well; high amounts of those things can contribute to aluminum leaching as well. Check out these other cooking mistakes that ruin your food. Aluminum foil alternativesThere are multiple ways to cut back on your use of aluminum foil since it certainly can’t hurt. Adams has a suggestion: “For me personally, I have switched almost exclusively to cooking on parchment paper as much as possible. We cook at home most days of the week, so I think it’s safer for our family. However, if I’m out of baking paper, I don’t worry about using foil on occasion.” For grilling veggies, you can get a stainless steel grilling basket, or even reusable skewers. Use a glass pan when roasting veggies in the oven; use a stainless steel cookie sheet under baking potatoes as opposed to aluminum foil to catch the mess; and even try replacing foil with banana leaves when wrapping foods for baking! And one thing you should never do is wrap your leftovers in foil—here’s why. Sources:
Popular Videosⓘ Is it safe to cook with aluminum foil in the oven?Aluminum foil is a thinly rolled sheet of aluminum that's claimed its place as a common kitchen staple. Not only is it safe to cook with aluminum foil in the oven, but cooking with aluminum foil can help transmit heat readily and make cleanup easier.
Can you use aluminum foil in the oven instead of parchment paper?4. Aluminum Foil with Oil: Good for Baking, Especially at Hotter Temperatures. Aluminum foil with oil is another good substitute for parchment paper. As with a greased baking sheet, the fat may subtly impact the way your food cooks.
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Can i use aluminum foil in oven
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