Is it really safe to use aluminium foil for cooking? The answer is Yes and No

Is it really safe to use aluminium foil for cooking? The answer is Yes and No

Aluminium foil is commonly used to store cooked food and pack hot breakfast, lunch and dinner. Additionally, to ease cleaning, aluminium foils are also used as liners while cooking food. Though they are considered safe to use at temperatures up to 400 degree Fahrenheit, food safety experts warn that it may involve some risks.

Talking to HuffPost, Darin Detwiler, the chair of the National Environment Health Association's Food Safety Program, USA stated that though aluminium foils can be used for cooking, they may not be completely safe. He noted that acidic foods like tomato, citrus and vinegar might cause aluminium to leach into food, particularly at high temperatures.

Aluminium's exposure

When cooked with aluminum foil at high temperature, small amounts can leach into food if the ingredients are acidic. Though the human body can process aluminium in small amounts, excessive or constant exposure creates health concerns. It was also noted that the aluminium exposure because of the neurotoxicity can cause conditions like Alzheimer.

Using aluminium foil for cooking at moderate or low temperatures for baking, is generally considered safer than high-temperature grilling or broiling. The FDA considers aluminium foil safe for hot food contact but noted it to be a concern with long-term exposure to heat.

How to avoid aluminium leaching?

To reduce the risk of aluminum leaching into the food, line the foil with parchment paper when cooking acidic foods like tomato or vinegar. Alternatively, use the aluminium foil only for non-acidic foods and opt for safer alternatives when high heat is required for cooking. While the amount of aluminium leaching in food is not typically hazardous, it is safer to limit its use.

We can also transfer acidic or salty foods immediately after cooking without letting it on foil for a long period of time and it can avoid causing a metallic taste.