Is it healthy to cook food in aluminium foil?

Gently cooking & storing food 

The advantages of aluminium foil in the kitchen are many and varied. Food can be cooked gently in foil. Whether it's fish, meat or grilled vegetables - thanks to Toppits^® aluminium foil, meals are cooked to perfection and many nutrients are preserved that would be lost if cooked without using the foil.

Aluminium foil is also ideal for storing food: By covering bowls with aluminium foil or wrapping food in it, the food is prevented from drying out and less nutrients are lost. This keeps food fresh for longer and prevents it from being thrown away.

Aluminium foil is a versatile helper that is indispensable in any kitchen. Nevertheless, there are a few points to consider when dealing with this all-round kitchen aid. We explain what they are.

Avoid cooking acidic and salty food in aluminium foil

Acidic and salty foods are a special case when using aluminium foil. If these foods come into contact with aluminium foil, the foil can become visibly discoloured and aluminium may be released from the foil. As a result, slightly more aluminium than usual may pass into the food.

Although aluminium occurs naturally in many foods, too much of it can be unhealthy.

When wrapping and cooking food with aluminium foil, you need to ensure that the food is not salty or acidic. For example, fish in lemon juice should not come into contact with aluminium foil.

When preparing foods such as meat or grilled vegetables, this simply means salting the food after cooking. Doing this is an easy way to avoid possible risks.

Toppits^® cling film is an excellent alternative for storing salty or acidic foods. It keeps even salty and acidic food fresh - without any risk.

How much aluminium can be absorbed without risk? 

But of course, the question remains - How much aluminium can a person absorb without risk?

The European Food Safety Authority recommends that no more than one milligram of aluminium should be ingested per week and per kilogram of body weight. So if you weigh 70 kg, no more than 70 milligrams of aluminium should be ingested.

This amount would only be ingested if  aluminium foil was used with particularly acidic or salty foods, as these substances can release  aluminium from the foil through chemical reaction. If such foods are avoided, no problems arise.

All other foods can be wrapped and cooked in aluminium foil quite safely, as they will not release harmful levels of aluminium from the foil. Therefore, there is nothing to stop you wrapping and cooking delicious food in aluminium foil in the future.