Tin foil

Tin foil, funnily enough, is made out of aluminium. In the early part of the 20th-century foil made from tin, the big problem was it gave whatever it touched the strong ‘tinny’ taste.

Thankfully aluminium foil was invented. Not only was it cheaper to produce but it was lighter, completely non-corrosive and it didn’t leave food tasting like a tin can. Today all the kitchen foil we use is made out of aluminium but most of still refer to it as tinfoil! Why? There is no definitive answer to that question – our guess is the force of habit.

Tin foil is pliable and can be bent or wrapped around objects. You can use it to keep food fresh in the fridge or to line a baking tray before roasting food in the oven. Tin foil doesn’t just come in rolls, you can buy; plates, trays, dishes and food containers.

Never put tin foil in a microwave, they can heat up very quickly and even cause a fire.

Clean tinfoil is completely recyclable, however, it is important to remember it will not be recycled if covered in food. A good alternative for keeping for fresh in the fridge are beeswax wraps. They are reusable and are a more sustainable option.