Aluminum Foil: A Mainstay of Brightness and Versatility

Since its introduction in the early 1900s, aluminum foil has been used for a variety of purposes: components for electronics such as televisions and computers, medicine bag liners, insulation, decorations, and, most notably, its use in food production and storage.

To make the foil, the aluminum sheet is passed through a rolling mill until it reaches the desired thickness. Two aluminum sheets are rolled together at the same time and then separated into individual sheets, which is why one side is shiny and the other is matte. Despite their different appearances, the glossy and matte sides of the foil provide the same insulation.

Tin was originally used to make products, but it imparts a unique taste to food. Aluminum, on the other hand, doesn't leave a bitter aftertaste and is cheaper and more durable.

Because aluminum foil is strong and malleable, it helps keep food away from light, oxygen, and moisture. This helps prolong the quality of food and facilitates safe storage. Avoid using aluminum foil with acidic foods as it will affect the flavor and the acidity may corrode the foil.

Using aluminum foil as a covering, such as lining bakeware and pans, can make cleanup easier and preserve the quality of your pans. Some brands of foil now come with a nonstick coating, which is especially handy for sticky or tacky foods. Covering delicate dishes such as meat, fish or pie crust with aluminum foil can help prevent drying out or excessive browning.

For microwave cooking, it is not recommended to completely cover food with foil. However, very small amounts of foil can be used to prevent overcooking of certain areas of food, such as chicken wings or drumsticks. Be sure to check your owner's manual to see if aluminum foil can be used in your microwave.

Production of single-use aluminum containers exploded in the 1950s and 60s as televised dinner parties became popular. Today, foil pie plates, party plates, and bakeware are ubiquitous for transporting and heating food in and out of the home or for entertaining.

Aluminum foil comes in different thicknesses, each with its own best uses:

Standard is thin and best for wrapping or covering lighter foods or for low-temperature applications.

Heavy duty is suitable for lining baking sheets or trays, moderate heating, and frozen storage. Food should be wrapped in plastic wrap or freezer paper before wrapping in an extra layer of heavy-duty foil to avoid altering the taste and texture of the food.

Extra heavy-duty, the thickest option, can withstand high temperatures and is ideal for wrapping heavier foods such as large cuts of meat.

Although aluminum is recyclable, most recycling centers do not accept aluminum foil because it is often soiled or damaged. To reduce waste, foil that is clean and in good condition (non-porous) can be reused to cover or wrap food stored at home. Wash foil with soap and warm water, dry and reuse. If the foil is too damaged, ball it up and use it as a scrubber for pots and pans (not for non-stick cookware). Foil can be used for sharpening scissors (cutting folded paper six to eight times) or reducing static cling (crumple up clean foil and toss it in the dryer with wet clothes).

The benefits and applications of aluminum foil have been introduced above. If you want to buy aluminum foil, please contact us.

PENGYUAN is a professional custom heat insulation aluminum foil manufacturer. We have 3 vacuum coating machines and 8 PE extrusion coating production lines, guided by the 6S management system. As the largest extruder coating base in China, the company has obtained ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001 production standards for the whole system. We are committed to becoming an advanced provider of energy-saving new materials and solutions.