Packaging - Alufoil And Microwaves

In this article we're going to discuss a form of packaging that was once thought to be unsafe for microwaves. We're talking about alufoil.

One of the biggest problems with microwave ovens is that there are only certain things that you can put in them. Not included in those things are metal and aluminium foil. So packaged products that contain either of these substances can't be used in microwave ovens. Also, if you wrap up your leftovers in aluminium foil you can forget about just popping them into a microwave until you've taken the food out of the foil and put it in something that was microwave safe. At least until now.

Recent tests show conclusively that the myth of alufoil not being microwave safe is just that, a myth. Conclusive evidence that aluminium foil packaging can be used safely in microwave ovens was established by a study from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Freising, Germany.

The results of this study show that consumer fears of putting an aluminium foil packaged product in the microwave are totally without any basis in fact. As a matter of fact, evidence shows that alufoil packs are more rigid which makes it more useful for duel use heating in both conventional ovens and in microwaves. Also, the use of alufoil enhances the appearance of the food in the microwave when heating it up. For example, when heating something like lasagne in a microwave using alufoil, a brown crust actually appeared on the surface of the lasagne, something that isn't supposed to happen in microwave ovens unless they have a duel microwave and convection setting.

The test itself was conducted on behalf of the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) with support by the United States Aluminium Foil Container Manufacturers Association (AFCMA) and concluded that, and I quote their finding, "Microwave heating of food packaged in aluminium foil trays or in plastic containers with aluminium foil or aluminium laminated lids is perfectly viable."

In the test, no hazardous results or damage to microwave ovens were found in more than 200 portions of various foods that were heated in aluminium foil containers or packs that contained aluminium foil. The author of the study, Thomas Pfeiffer, said "The Fraunhofer Institute conducted the heating procedures with the microwave ovens set at maximum power and there was not a single case of damage to the microwave ovens or danger to the users."

The study did find that when heating foods in aluminium foil packages or packs with aluminium file, the heating times of the various foods did differ slightly. In most cases the heating times were longer than when heating using what are considered microwaveable safe materials.

However, the study also showed that heating uniformity appeared to be better for the foods heated in aluminium foil packaging, meaning that the food had fewer "cold" spots than when using other materials.

While this study is encouraging, it is also very new. It is not suggested that you test your microwave with aluminium foil just yet until an official statement from microwave manufacturers is released.

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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Packaging

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