Aluminum foil containers are safe to use in the microwave

Aluminum foil containers are safe to use in the microwave

A study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Freising, Germany has established conclusive evidence that foil packaging is safe to use in the microwave. The results dispel the myth that aluminum foil containers are not safe for use in the microwave and demonstrate that consumer concerns about the use of aluminum foil packaging in the microwave are unfounded. In fact, in some cases, consumer convenience has been improved because foil packaging is not only more rigid, but also suitable for double ovenable containers, and the use of foil improves the appearance of food when it is heated in the microwave. For example, studies have found that lasagna noodles have a better visual appearance when heated in the microwave because a brown crust develops on the surface.
Research conducted on behalf of the European Aluminum Foil Association (EAFA) with the support of the Aluminum Foil Container Manufacturers Association (AFCMA) concluded that “Microwave heating of food packaged in foil trays or plastic containers with foil or aluminum laminated lids is entirely feasible. Of the more than 200 food portions heated in foil containers or packaging containing aluminum foil, no hazardous outcomes or oven damage were noted. “The Fraunhofer Institute performed the heating procedure with the microwave oven set to maximum power and there was not a single instance of the microwave oven being damaged or causing danger to the user,” said the study’s authors.
Four kitchen microwaves were used to test foil trays containing tap water, custard, frozen lasagna and minced meat. Plastic cups and plastic trays containing noodle soup and children’s menus, covered with aluminum foil or foil lids, were also tested. The study found some differences in the time it takes to heat the product when comparing aluminum foil containers to plastic trays. Due to variations in heating patterns and depending on the geometry of the tray and the type of food, the heating time for foil packs can sometimes be longer. However, it was observed that “the study also provided some interesting results regarding heating patterns and uniformity of heating. In some cases, they seemed to be better in foil trays.”