Aluminum Myth Debunked

While we are discussing cooking, many use aluminum foil to cover their holiday bird to prevent burning. Myth: aluminum foil and cookware is linked to Alzheimer's Disease.
This myth was repeated often in the late 80s and through the 90s, and even though it has lately not mentioned as often, mainly because it is not true. There are still many people who believe it.

This myth has its roots in research from the 1960s and 1970s that showed elevated levels of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The alarm was sounded, and for years people were warned off of aluminum pots and pans, and aluminum foil to store food.

Since those studies, a great deal of research has been done into what possible connections aluminum may have with Alzheimer's Disease. The results failed to show any substantive link or connection between aluminum and risk for Alzheimer's Disease. Most experts believe any aluminum absorbed by the body is processed by the kidneys and urinated out, and it does not pose a threat for Alzheimer's Disease.

Aluminum Foil Facts

A friend of mine, Jeff was wondering whether to cover pans with the shiny side or dull side of aluminum foil out.

Some background, the difference in appearance between dull and shiny is due to the foil manufacturing process. In the final rolling step, two layers of foil are passed through the rolling mill at the same time. The side coming in contact with the mill's highly polished steel rollers becomes shiny.

It makes no difference which side to use when wrapping, covering, draping, or using as a guard for drips.

However, when using non-stick aluminum foil place the non-stick (dull) side toward the food.

Aluminum foil has the lowest moisture-vapor transfer rate of all wrapping materials and is the most effective in preventing the loss of moisture and vapor from food, especially for long-term food storage or freezing.

Heavy duty aluminum foil is better for wrapping meats and poultry for the freezer, lining roasting pans for easy cleanup, lining the inside of a charcoal barbecue grill to keep it clean, tenting roasted turkey to prevent oven spatters and over-browning, also for making an oven packet for cooking chicken, fish, and vegetables.

Do not use aluminum foil to line the bottom of your oven. Place a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil on the oven rack beneath a pie or casserole. The foil should be only a few inches larger than the baking pan to allow for proper heat circulation.

The argument of shiny side out to reflect heat is a myth as shiny reflects light, not heat. Bottom line, according to Reynolds Aluminum no difference, except appearance. If you like shiny side up do it. If you like dull side up, do it.

Foiling Garden Pests

Cut up small strips of used aluminum foil and mix in with garden soil to keep away aphids and other garden pests.

Reheat Crunchy Fried Foods

Few foods are as good the next day when you reheat them, especially fried foods. If you want to get your french fries or fried chicken crispy again after they spent a night in the refrigerator, wrap them in aluminum foil and stick them in the broiler. The top-down heat on oil-soaked food makes these leftovers become crunchy again.

Tin Foil

Almost no one uses real tin foil these days. The stuff we all call “tin foil” is actually aluminum foil. Originally foil was made of tin, but it gave a tin flavor to whatever it touched. It was heavier than modern aluminum foil.

Aluminum foil began to surpass tin foil after World War II, but it had been available since 1910 when it was first produced by “Dr. Lauber, Neher & Cie.” a Swiss company. Its first use in the US was as a wrapper on Life Savers candy in 1913.
Tin foil was also used to fill cavities in teeth before the 20th century.

Aluminum Foil Tip

Check each end of the foil or plastic wrap box and you will find tabs. Press in the tabs and they hold the roll in place while you pull out the foil.

Debunking the Aluminum Foil Myth

The old myth was that aluminum foil and cookware is linked to Alzheimer's Disease. It has been around since the 1980s

This myth has its roots in research from the 1960s and 1970s that showed elevated levels of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. For years people were warned off of aluminum pots and pans, and even aluminum foil to store food.

Since those studies a great deal of research has been done into what possible connections aluminum may have with Alzheimer's Disease, and failed to show any substantive link or connection between aluminum and risk for Alzheimer's Disease.

Most experts now believe any aluminum absorbed by the body is processed by the kidneys, urinated out, and it does not pose a threat for Alzheimer's Disease.