Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Preparing and storing food
• Method 2 of 3: Using foil in the household
• Method 3 of 3: Crafts and toys
• Tips
• Warnings

Aluminum foil is widely used in the kitchen for packaging, baking and cooking. But its benefits are not only that: thanks to its shiny appearance and insulating properties, aluminum foil can also be used outside the kitchen. Get creative and you can use a roll of foil for many different purposes!

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Preparing and storing food

1. 1 Use aluminum foil when preparing food. If you are cooking over an open fire or in the oven, you can wrap meats, vegetables, and other foods in aluminum foil to retain moisture and flavor. An added bonus is that you don't have to clean and wash pots and pans - you just need to throw away the foil.
   • Grill fish or vegetables. Add seasoning to raw fish or vegetables, wrap tightly in foil and place on the hot grill rack. When the dish is ready, unfold the foil, place the fish or vegetables on a plate, and discard the foil. The convenience of this method is that nothing needs to be washed and cleaned.
   • Roast your turkey. Place the raw turkey on a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil. This will help keep the meat juicy and will not dry out or burn in a hot oven. Remove the foil an hour before it’s cooked, so that the turkey is fried and covered with a delicious crust.
   • Place heat-resistant aluminum foil on the bottom of the baking sheet. Place the meat and / or vegetables on the foil and add the appropriate sauce. Wrap meat or vegetables tightly around the foil so that it covers all sides. Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven. When the dish is ready, remove it from the oven, unfold the foil and simply discard it. In this way, you do not have to clean and wash the baking sheet.
2. 2 Do not use aluminum foil in the microwave. Like other metals, aluminum reflects electromagnetic waves, which are used in the microwave to heat food. This will cause your food to cook unevenly. In addition, the foil can damage the microwave oven. Remember: do not place metal objects in the microwave!
3. 3 Keep food warm or cold. Aluminum foil is an excellent insulating material: it allows you to keep hot food hot for a long time, and cold food cold. Wrap leftover food or your lunch in foil. Use a separate sheet of thick enough aluminum foil for each dish. Fold the foil into a tent, place the dish in it, and wrap the ends of the foil tightly around it to keep it warm. If you wrap the food tightly enough, it will keep its temperature for several hours.
4. 4 Use aluminum foil to store food. Unlike most other wrapping materials, aluminum foil is virtually impervious to moisture. This means that it is great for keeping food from drying out. In addition, the smell of food does not penetrate through the aluminum foil. Wrap leftover food tightly in aluminum foil so that it does not let in air, and store it in the refrigerator or freezer until you need it again.
   • If you don't have access to a refrigerator or freezer, you can simply wrap your food in aluminum foil to keep it fresh longer. Store food wrapped in foil in a cool, dark and dry place.
   • Aluminum foil retains odors and moisture even better than plastic wrap. Just make sure the wrapper is tight and air-tight! In addition, the foil will protect food from frostburn.
5. 5 Soften brown sugar with foil. Wrap the hardened brown sugar lumps in aluminum foil and place them in an oven preheated to 150 degrees Celsius for 5-10 minutes. As a result, the lumps will melt.

Method 2 of 3: Using foil in the household

1. 1 Eliminate static electricity in the tumble dryer. Roll tumble dryers out of aluminum foil to reduce static electricity when tumble dry. Crumple the foil into 2-3 balls about 5 centimeters in diameter. The balls should be tight enough and have a relatively smooth surface so that they do not cling to clothing. This way you can save money on antistatic wipes and avoid the chemicals in these wipes.
   • The same foil balls can be used for months. When the balls start to disintegrate, replace them with new ones.
   • Note that, unlike commercial products, aluminum foil balls do not soften fabric. In addition, they can generate additional noise when the tumble dryer is running. Consider whether these disadvantages pay off in cost savings.
2. 2 Cover the ironing board with aluminum foil. Standard ironing boards are designed to absorb heat and moisture. The aluminum foil will prevent heat and moisture from moving away from the fabric, which will speed up the ironing process. Note, however, that caution should be exercised when doing this, as there is an increased risk of burns.
   • Use this method for fabrics that are difficult to iron. Place the fabric on aluminum foil and hold the iron 3-5 centimeters from the surface. At the same time, constantly press the steam release button. This will quickly smooth out creases.
3. 3 Add shine to tarnished metal objects. Take a bowl and line the inside with aluminum foil. Then fill a bowl with warm water, add 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Place tarnished metal objects in a bowl: jewelry, silver cutlery, coins, and the like. Wait 10 minutes. Then remove the metal objects and dry them.
4. 4 Sharpen your scissors. Take a small sheet of aluminum foil and fold it in 5-6 layers. Then cut it several times with blunt scissors. This will sharpen their blades and extend the life of the scissors.
5. 5 Move heavy furniture with aluminum foil spacers. Before moving a bulky piece of furniture, cut out suitable sized pieces of aluminum foil and slide them under the legs with the dull side to the floor. This makes the furniture easier to slide on the floor.
6. 6 Clean pots and pans. Use crumpled aluminum foil instead of steel wire wool. Rub the utensils with a foil ball to remove dirt and burnt food debris. Standard cleaning agents are usually more effective, but this method may be sufficient. Use aluminum foil to clean various metal surfaces: grill racks, bike parts, and so on.

Method 3 of 3: Crafts and toys

1. 1 Entertain your cat. Unroll enough aluminum foil and use your hands to crumple a ball out of it. Throw it to the cat and watch as it chases after it and grabs it with its teeth. This way you can save on rubber balls. This method is also suitable for kittens, as you can change the size of the ball at your discretion.
   • Place aluminum foil on the sofa to keep animals away. As soon as the animal jumps onto the sofa, there will be a rustle of foil, which will scare him away and make him stay away from the sofa.
2. 2 Use aluminum foil for a variety of crafts. Foil has a shiny appearance and is perfect as a decorative material. In addition, the foil is easy to clean, so it can be used to cover a variety of contaminated surfaces. Let your imagination run wild and think about where you can use aluminum foil.
   • Wrap gifts in decorative foil. Decorative foil comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. This is a pretty cheap and at the same time elegant way to decorate a gift!
   • Use foil in your craft projects instead of paper. Cut patterns and letters out of it. Foil is easy to shape and will add shine to your artwork!
   • Create an original piece of art by painting on foil instead of canvas or paper, or use crumpled foil instead of a brush to get an original texture by painting on a different surface.
   • Mix the paints on the foil. Line the mixing bowl with aluminum foil before pouring paint into the mixing bowl. After use, you simply discard the foil and the container will remain clean!
3. 3 Use foil to build a fire. With the help of aluminum foil, cotton wool and a finger battery, you can start a fire in a matter of minutes. Cut a strip about 10 centimeters long and 1.5 centimeters wide from the aluminum foil. Cut off the center of the strip so that a narrow spot is 2 millimeters wide and about 2 centimeters long. Wrap cotton wool around this narrow section of foil. Then connect the ends of the strip to opposite poles of the AA battery. An electric current will flow through the foil, the bottleneck will heat up, and soon the cotton wool will catch fire.
   • After the cotton wool has burnt out, add brushwood. Make a fire and keep an eye on him.
   • Be careful when handling fire!

Tips

• When using a dispenser box with aluminum foil, it is convenient to place triangular inserts at its ends. They will hold the foil roll in the box.
• Foil usually has a dull and shiny side. If you are using regular foil, this does not matter. However, if you are using non-stick foil, please note that the special coating is usually on the dull side. In this case, place the foil so that the dull side is in contact with the food.

Warnings

• Aluminum foil should not be used in microwave ovens. In the best case, the food warms up unevenly, and in the worst case, a fire can occur.
• Do not store highly acidic foods (various acidic and tart foods, vinegar, tomatoes) in aluminum foil. After a few days, the acid will corrode the foil. As a result, holes will appear in the foil, and small particles of aluminum will get into the food. This "aluminum salt" is generally not harmful if swallowed, but it can impart a metallic taste to food.