Aluminum foil is considered hazardous to health and is also a controversial product from an ecological point of view. Here you can find out which alternatives to aluminum foil exist.
What are the alternatives to aluminum foil?
When using aluminum foil, one should differentiate between cold and warm application. In the cold application, for example, aluminum foil for wrapping as packaging material used and to keep food fresh longer. Often sandwiches are wrapped in the film. The following are particularly suitable for storing food Reusable products better that can be used more often:
- Lunch boxes
- Screw glasses
- Cheese bell
- Baking, parchment or sandwich paper
- Cloths made of natural materials
The latter can be made of beeswax, hemp fibers or cotton, for example. The advantage: you can easily use them after use wipe and reuse. For example, a plate is also suitable for covering bowls. If you can't get around a film, you should rather use cling film: This is made from petroleum, but has a better environmental balance than aluminum foil.
Heat-resistant alternatives to aluminum foil
Especially in the summer when grilling, aluminum foil is often used because it is heat-resistant. But there are better alternatives here too:
- Grill trays or grill baskets made of stainless steel
- dried vegetable leaves (e.g. corn or banana leaves)
- Grill board or grill plank
- Grill skewers or grill grids
- Cast iron pan
If you place a cast iron pan on the grill, you have to consider that it will take a little longer to prepare the food. Grill paper is especially suitable for meat and fish as it ensures a smoky aroma. For example, if you want to cover a cake in the oven, baking paper is a good alternative to aluminum foil.
Why do you need alternatives to aluminum foil?
Aluminum foil is controversial from both a health and environmental point of view. Aluminum is suspected of promoting diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer's. Because the substance reacts with acid and salt, you should alkaline, acidic and salty foods under no circumstances come into contact with aluminum foil. You should also do without aluminum in the deodorant, there are now numerous deodorants without aluminum.
Another aspect is the ecological consequences. Forest is often cut down in the producing countries (including Australia, China, Guinea, Brazil, India) to mine aluminum or the raw material bauxite. In addition, the process for extracting aluminum very energy consuming and has no relation to the short-term useful life of aluminum foil in the kitchen.
In addition, red mud is produced as a waste product in aluminum production. This is highly toxic because it contains many chemicals and is used in some countries headed uncontrollably into lakes and rivers. This is not only devastating for nature, but also damages the health of the people living there. It is therefore advisable to look for an alternative to aluminum foil in the future and to avoid the product as much as possible. In this video from W like knowledge the relationships are clearly explained:
Video tip: That's why you shouldn't use aluminum foil on the grill