10 ways to use aluminum foil

The most popular packaging in the food industry combines several qualities: it is flexible, does not rust, preserves the temperature of the food, protects it from oxygen and light… !

1. Very sharp scissors
Before throwing the crumpled aluminum sheets in the trash, use them to sharpen those “blunt” scissors. It’s easy: crush the material and cut it into strips – eight to ten are enough to improve the instrument’s edge.

2. Shoo, drip-drip
Did a leak appear on the roof just over the weekend and the weather promises more rain? Identify broken or cracked tiles and cover the area with aluminum foil, securing the edges tightly to the tiles beside it. As the material is moldable and waterproof, the emergency repair will hold strong for several days.

3. No onion smell
Did you use only part of the seasoning? Wrap the remainder in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and store it in the fridge – the smell will be contained in the wrapper and will not spread to the other foods. Also, the onion will stay fresh and moist for longer.

4. Pass faster!
Cut your ironing time in half with the following trick: place aluminum foil on the ironing board with the shiny side facing up. Cover it with a thin piece of cotton fabric (stretch well and secure to the board with pieces of masking tape, if necessary). As aluminum reflects heat, just by ironing one side of the garment, the other side will also be smooth!

5. More than perfect fit
If the screw and nut are not fitting properly, or if when disassembling and reassembling a piece of furniture or object the washer is missing, the tip is to wrap a piece of aluminum foil close to the head of the screw and screw it in until you get the pressure needed.

6. Even roast
You’ve probably already wrapped meat in aluminum foil to cook it evenly, without drying out any corners. But maybe you don’t know which side of the laminate should be in contact with the food… We’ve found the answer for you: as it is smoother, the shiny part adheres less to the food, preventing the roast’s skin from sticking to the paper.

7. Always clean oven and stove
Before roasting or browning food, cover the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil – any spills from the pan will fall onto the foil. At the end, wait for the oven to cool down, remove the dirty aluminum and throw it away. It also serves as a stove protector when preparing fried foods and sauces: just place the paper on the plate, leaving the flame nozzles free.

8. Well-preserved fruits
If you keep fruits in the fridge to enjoy them fresher, know that this is no longer necessary. Just pack the food in aluminum foil. Even bananas, which spoil quickly outside the refrigerator, will remain tender for longer when stored this way. But make sure you wrap all the fruit, agreed?

9. Improvised sponge
Crumpled aluminum foil is just as efficient as a steel wool sponge to eliminate the leftover food that turns and stirs and sticks to the pans. Put the tip into practice the next time that roast (or maybe a brigadeiro…) doesn’t let go of the bottom of the container.

10. Multipurpose cone
Make a funnel by rolling a double sheet of aluminum into a cone shape. The advantage over the plastic utensil is that you can shape the paper to fit any hole. You can also use the cone when decorating cakes and ice cream – fill it with frosting or whipped cream and press the base, creating the designs.