Share
Aluminium foil is a most essential product probably in most homes because it is used in baking, cooking, and food preservation. It is useful in wrapping food, putting on baking sheets and even to cover a dish to prevent burning of ingredients in the microwave.
Although aluminium foil benefits culinary enthusiasts, using it incorrectly can have negative consequences or even pose health risks. For safety and the best cooking outcomes, it's essential to know the dos and don'ts of using it. This will ensure your food will remain well prepared, tasty and safe to be consumed by anyone.
Do's:
Use It for Wrapping or Covering Food Items
Wrapping food is one of the main applications of aluminium foil. This way the ingredients remain fresh and contamination is also eliminated. Tightly wrapping a dish with it forms a barrier that keeps moisture at bay, whether you're packing a lunch or preserving leftovers in the fridge. Make sure the shiny side of the aluminium foil is pointing inward towards the food before wrapping it. This makes it easy to retain the moisture and heat as well.
Image Credit: Freepik
Use It for Lining Baking Pans or Trays
A great option for lining baking pans or trays is aluminium foil. When you line your baking pans with foil, not only does your food no longer stick to the pan but you also end up having an easy time cleaning up. This is especially useful when roasting ingredients such as veggies or baking cookies. Cut a piece of the foil big enough to cover the pan's sides and bottom. To guarantee even cooking and get rid of air pockets, press it down firmly. To make the foil even less likely to stick, you can also lightly coat it with cooking spray or oil.
Use It to Create Lids
Aluminium foil can be creatively used as a temporary cover for casseroles or baking dishes. Simply cut off a piece of the foil big enough to cover the top of your dish securely if you don't have a proper lid on hand. This makes it evenly heating and also prevents the food from getting burnt from the bottom as heat as well as steam is enclosed throughout the process of cooking. Make sure the foil is not very firmly wrapped when using it as a cover; this lets some steam out while retaining moisture. This technique is very important when baking lasagna and casseroles, and other meals that require gentle steaming.
Image Credit: Freepik
Don'ts:
Don’t Use It for Reheating Food
Aluminium foil works well for wrapping food before cooking or storing it, however it is not advised for microwave reheating. Due to electromagnetic interference with microwaves, the metal may generate sparks and may harm the microwave oven. Food wrapped in it should be moved to a microwave-safe container before being reheated.
Image Credit: Freepik
Don’t Use It for Roasting Tomatoes
Since tomatoes are naturally acidic, prolonged exposure to aluminium foil may cause a severe reaction. Both the tomatoes and the foil itself may get discoloured and have unpleasant flavours as a result of this response. When roasting tomatoes, use parchment paper or a non-stick baking surface that won't react with acidic foods instead of the foil. You should avoid using it with other acidic ingredients.
Don’t Cover Food Tightly with High Fat or Moisture Content
Tightly wrapping aluminium foil around items with a lot of fat or moisture, like moist casseroles or fatty meats, can cause condensation to form inside the wrap. When reheated, this trapped moisture may result in sogginess and adverse textural effects. To avoid this problem, use the foil to wrap such dishes loosely. This lets steam out while keeping the food safe while it's being cooked or stored.
