Is it safe to use aluminum foil with hot food?
Use it less for hot, wet, salty, or marinated food. Aluminum foil can transfer aluminum into some foods during baking.
What is actually in it
Aluminum foil is thin aluminum metal. It is useful, but it is not inert in every food situation. Heat, moisture, salt, and marinade can increase transfer into food.
A hot sandwich wrapped for a few minutes is not the same as baking marinated fish in foil. Still, hot food contact is a good place to choose a better default.
What the research says
A 2019 Food Science & Nutrition study tested 11 foods baked in aluminum foil, with and without marinade.
The study found aluminum contamination during baking in foil. The biggest increases were in marinated salmon, mackerel, and duck breast. The authors also said leakage did not happen the same way in every food.
The measured levels were not described as alarming for everyone. The authors said the increases can matter more for smaller children and for people with certain health conditions.
What to do instead
Use stainless steel, glass, or uncoated parchment when food is hot, wet, salty, or acidic. For wrapping a hot sandwich, let it cool first or use a stainless container.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum contamination of food during culinary preparation: Case study with aluminum foil and consumers' preferences. | Food Sci Nutr | 2019 |