Why is aluminium foil used for wrapping food

Aluminium foil used for wrapping food is made of flattened metal aluminum. It is mainly used for cooking, holding food in the kitchen, or for making materials that can be easily cleaned. The aluminum foil has the characteristics of smooth surface, light weight, good light-shielding property, non-corrosion, non-toxicity, easy processing, and the like, and can be combined with paper and plastic to form a composite flexible packaging material. Because of the aluminum content inside, it also has good oil resistance and softness. Compared to plastic bags, aluminum foil bags are nontoxic and smell free. They are absolutely green and environmentally friendly products that meet the national health standards.

Aluminium foil used for wrapping food has good opacity. The surface of the aluminum foil bag generally has anti-gloss properties and does not absorb light. It is made in multiple layers to protect the food from light.

Aluminum food foil also has strong insulation. Excellent barrier ability of aluminum foil can extend the shelf life of wrapped food effectively, because it can prevent oxygen from entering the food bag (common plastic is difficult to prevent the slow penetration of oxygen). That’s why most of the soft cans are made of aluminum foil. In particular, after the aluminum foil is combined with plastic and paper, the shielding property of the aluminum foil is integrated with the strength of the paper and the heat sealing property of the plastic, thereby further improving the shielding performance for water vapor, air, ultraviolet rays and bacteria which are necessary as packaging materials. This greatly expands the application market of aluminum foil. Aluminium foil used for wrapping food keeps food sufficiently isolated from the outside, such as light, moisture, gas and so on, and eventually extends the food’s shelf life.

Aluminum foil used for wrapping food is also featured by good thermal conductivity. Foods packaged in aluminum foil in the market are generally heatable and shelf-stable. Most of the aluminum foil is shiny on one side and dull on the other. Food foils can be wrapped on both sides of the foil. It is usually recommended to wrap the shiny surface to enhance heat transfer.