Clever uses for aluminium foil
Versatile, inexpensive and recyclable, aluminium foil is a kitchen essential all over the world.
If you only use it for cooking, however, you’re missing a trick – aluminium foil can be used to do everything from clean to protect or polish.
Here are a few of our favourite clever uses for aluminium foil – share yours in the comments below!
Soften brown sugar
Brown sugar makes deliciously soft cakes and cookies, but can quickly harden after its first use. Instead of throwing it away, try this instead – wrap a hardened brick of brown sugar in aluminium foil and place in an oven set to 150C for five minutes.
Scrub pots and pans
Aluminium foil makes cleaning cast iron pans, Pyrex dishes and regular pots and pans quick and simple. Ball a piece of aluminium foil then use it to scrub pots and pans until any tough-to-remove food is gone.
Improve your radiators
During winter, give your radiators a boost by placing a sheet of thick aluminium foil over a piece of cardboard with the shiny side facing outward. Place this behind the radiator – heat will bounce off the foil into the room rather than absorb through the wall.
Sharpen scissors
Quickly sharpen your dull scissors by taking a clean piece of foil and folding into several layers. Cut through them about a dozen times to sharpen again.
Move furniture
Make moving furniture over a smooth floor easier by placing a small square of aluminium foil, dull side down. You’ll be able to slide furniture with ease, saving you from hurting your back trying to lift it.
Make ironing quicker
Like radiators, much of the heat of the iron is absorbed by the ironing board itself while doing its job. Place a piece of aluminium foil – shiny side up – underneath your ironing board. The heat will reflect off the foil back through the clothing, smoothing it quicker.
Polish silverware
Quickly restore shine to your silverware with this simple trick. Line a glass bowl with aluminium foil shiny side facing upwards. Add two teaspoons of salt and bicarbonate of soda, then fill the bowl with hot water. Dip your silverware in and leave for roughly five minutes. Remove, dry and see cutlery restored to shine.
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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