Is it safe to use foil or parchment paper for cooking?

Many reports say that using foil in food processing can cause cancer .

When using an oil-free fryer to grill meat, fish. many families have the habit of wrapping food in a layer of foil . Reason: Aluminum foil makes cleaning the pot easier after cooking; helps keep water from food from flowing out; Or it can help food cook faster.

However, there is information that silver is a metal, so using foil in cooking will cause unhealthy consequences. Can even cause cancer. So how true is this?

Should we use foil while cooking food?

Is it safe to use foil or parchment paper for cooking?

Responding to the question "whether foil is safe to use when cooking", Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh (Institute of Biotechnology and Food, Hanoi University of Science and Technology) affirmed: It is safe . Unlike what many people think, foil is actually aluminum foil . Foil is thin, light, and cheap, so it is very convenient to use to wrap or wrap food before processing. The expert said that the raw material used to produce banknotes is aluminum (Al) of very high purity . Thanks to this, it is possible to create very thin aluminum films.

The aluminum foil layer has the advantage of good heat conductivity, helping food to cook evenly and be more delicious. Since ancient times, aluminum pots have been used for cooking, and aluminum foil has the same effect. Therefore, there is no way that using foil for cooking causes cancer.

Although there has been research showing that aluminum material can cause neurotoxicity in mice. However, expert Turhan S of Ondokuz Mayis University (Türkiye) said: The amount of aluminum alone from aluminum foil does not pose a risk to users' health when cooking food.

The US CDC also said that  the amount of aluminum from aluminum foil does not pose a risk to users' health when cooking.

If families do not want to use aluminum foil to wrap food, they can use wax paper instead. This type of paper has been coated with a layer of silicon to withstand heat.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh said, wax paper is also known as wax paper. Paper is coated with a layer of silicon to withstand heat, often used in baking, cooking and is safe in food processing. However, the expert notes that parchment paper should only be used at a maximum temperature of about 250 degrees Celsius.

Besides, families should not eat fried or grilled foods too often. Instead, the processing method of steaming, boiling. is more recommended by experts. Every day's menu also needs to provide a full range of substances such as fiber, starch, lipids, vitamins and minerals, and protein.

People should not use foil to wrap acidic foods.

A few notes when using foil in food processing

1. Do not let grease spill on the paper, causing the food to burn or burn. At this time, the food is both not delicious and harmful to health.
2. Do not wrap food too tightly in foil, as it will cause the food to cook unevenly.
3. Foil should not be recycled. Because after each use, foil can burn or tear.
4. You should choose a good, thick type of baking foil.
5. Foil should not be put in the microwave. Because the foil will cause sparks when cooking in the microwave.
6. Do not use foil to line the bottom of the oven because it may damage the oven.
7. It's best for people not to use foil to wrap acidic foods. Because according to experts, acids in food can react with aluminum foil. This not only makes the food taste less delicious, but also creates conditions for aluminum ions to enter the body faster and more. Not only does it affect the taste of food, but it is also toxic to the body. Even if they are only wrapped for preservation and not heated, they can cause a chemical reaction that spoils, rots, and molds the food faster.

Basically, it's best not to use foil for microwaved dishes. Because conventional microwave ovens use electrical energy to heat food, when using foil in the microwave, sparks will be emitted. However, if you use a microwave with a grill mode, you can use it with the following 4 conditions that need to be met as set forth by the US Food and Drug Administration:

1. Use new and smooth foil. Wrinkles may cause sparks.
2. Wrap the edges of the foil carefully, securing it to the plastic wrap.
3. The foil covers no more than 1/4 of the food.
4. Keep the foil at least 2.5cm away from the oven wall.

Circumstances where foil is prohibited in the microwave include: having a metal rack or metal turntable inside the microwave, having oven instructions indicating that it should not be used, seeing sparks when inserted microwave oven.

In addition, do not abuse the lining of foil on the bottom of the oven . Instead, you should use a baking tray and cover the tray with foil to protect the oven and be safer. Overuse of aluminum foil can also cause the non-stick layer of the air fryer to be quickly damaged, making it difficult for food to cook evenly due to the heating mechanism from the bottom up.

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