Whether you're wrapping up a sandwich, covering leftovers or using it on the grill, aluminum foil can be reused over and over again. And when you're finished, it can be recycled along side those soda cans.
As a household item, aluminum foil has a multitude of uses, especially in the kitchen. When storing or cooking food, foil keeps the good stuff in and keeps out light, unwanted moisture and bacteria. Just make sure to not wrap acidic foods, such as oranges, lemons or tomatoes as they'll react with the aluminum. And keep it out of the microwave.
Although foil is not made from petroleum, the mining and processing of aluminum is extremely resource intensive. The good news is aluminum foil is 100% recycleable, and recycled aluminum foil uses 95% less energy to produce than foil made from virgin aluminum.
Recycled aluminum foil is available at many major supermarkets these days, but if you can't find it at a store near you it is available online. And before you throw the foil in your recycling bin, make sure to get as much food off of it as possible. Check out the website of your local department of sanitation or recycling service for more information on aluminum recycling in your area.
Amy says: I don't have a microwave and often reheat things in the oven. I'll store my leftovers in the fridge on an oven safe plate/dish covered with foil that way I can just pop it right into the oven when I'm ready, which saves a lot of prep time. To store the foil, I flatten it out, wash it off (as best as I can) and fold it up. I find I don't go through as much foil by reusing it, which makes the $3.99 roll of recycled aluminum foil well worth the price tag.
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