Aluminium foil is one of those things that is easy to find in almost every kitchen drawer, and while most of us use it only to reach for it to cover leftover food, wrap food for children’s school tiffins and office lunches, we hardly think that it could also be used for something more meaningful.This versatile kitchen find is thin, low-cost, moisture-proof, and odour-proof, and can be easily moulded into whichever shape we need, be it a cone, a bowl, or a cover.The next time you are using aluminium foil, do not throw away even the used parts, as they can be washed and put to some interesting applications, judiciously.Here are some interesting applications of aluminium foil:
Pot scrubber that helps to remove tough spots and dirt
If you have a pot with burnt-on food that is stuck on the walls and you have difficulty removing it, aluminium can be just the right choice to help you work through the problem.For this, try to mould clean, washed, used aluminium foil into a ball by crumbing and try to scrub the surface away. The texture is rough enough to remove baked-on grease and caked residue without scratching most cookware, and it works quite effectively even on grills covered in stubborn char. It is like a free, disposable scouring pad you already have lying around, and once it’s done its job, you can just toss it out.
Silver polisher
Tarnished silverware doesn’t need a store-bought polish if you have aluminium foil to the rescue. For this, line a pan with foil, fill it with hot water, and add a little baking soda or salt. Submerge the tarnished pieces so they touch the foil. Within minutes, a chemical reaction removes the tarnish from the silverware and transfers onto the foil instead, leaving your silver looking noticeably brighter with barely any scrubbing needed.
Quick funnel
If you don’t have a funnel handy when you need to pour oil, spices, or liquid into a narrow-necked bottle, aluminium foil is the right option. For this, use a piece of used, cleaned, and dried foil, fold a double layer into a cone shape, and you have an instant, disposable funnel. It holds its shape well enough for quick kitchen tasks, costs nothing extra, and you can shape it to fit almost any opening. Once you’re done, just rinse it, flatten it out, and it’s ready to be reused again.
Keep fruits fresh by covering them right
Aluminium foil can help fruits stay fresh for longer. For this, start by wrapping the stem end of bananas in foil. This hack helps because it helps to slow down the release of ethylene gas, which increases the process of ripening of the fruit. This increases their shelf life, so they last a few extra days without getting spoilt.This can also work for other fruits, loosely wrapped, including cut fruits like apples, melons, or papayas in foil before refrigerating; this works the same way, and helps to keep out air and moisture, keeping them fresh and firm instead of drying out or turning mushy.
