Cornbread melts aluminum foil?

6 years ago

I put some heavy duty aluminum foil from Wal-mart on some room temp cornbread which I cooked in an iron skillet and the next morning I noticed holes in the aluminum foil and it melted on the cornbread? Anyone know way my cornbread would melt metal?

Featured Answer

annie1992

6 years ago

Well, I'm not a scientist, but I know that aluminum is a fairly reactive metal. That's why I don't cook jam in an aluminum kettle, and all the recipes say to use a "non-reactive pan".

When aluminum foil comes into contact with salt, vinegar, acidic foods or even spicy foods, it can dissolve, leaving those little dark spots on your food and even creating tiny holes in the foil.

The Food Safety Site online also says that if aluminum comes into contact with a dissimilar metal in the presence of any moisture (was the cornbread pan metal?) it will create an "electrolytic reaction" which will dissolve the foil.

It also says that the bits of foil do not harm the food and can simply be removed to improve the appearance of the food, so you can save your cornbread!

Annie

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Comments (16)

catfishhoward
Original Author
6 years ago
I never thought about the foil reacting with the iron skillet, the foil was touching the pan so that could make since. Oh, ya I eat the corn bread.
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Olychick
6 years ago
I always put a piece of parchment paper between aluminum foil (which I rarely use) and any food.
catfishhoward thanked Olychick
CA Kate z9
6 years ago
wow! I've never heard of this. I guess it's true that one is never too old to learn.
lindac92
6 years ago
I have had foil 'melt" many times touching things like tomato sauce and lasagna....but regularly wrap leftover pizza in foil and no problems....wonder if ther wer bits of salt on the corn bread?
Nancy 6b
6 years ago
Probably nothing to do with it, but don't you think the quality of aluminum foil is not as good as it once was? I now buy only heavy duty because the regular seems so flimsy. Some off brands of heavy duty don't even seem to be really heavy duty.
catfishhoward thanked Nancy 6b
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
6 years ago
Years ago I had a melt/acid eating holes incident very dramatic. Since then, 20 yrs now, I rarely use foil but when I do, always a parchment layer when in contact with food.

You could do a test. Lay foil in a glass casserole and add acidic ingredients like ketchup, Diet Coke, a slice of lemon....etc.
catfishhoward thanked sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
party_music50
6 years ago
yikes! Happy to say that I've never seen that happen.
User
6 years ago
Did you use buttermilk to make your cornbread? It probably reacted to the acid in the buttermilk.
catfishhoward
Original Author
6 years ago
Nancy, It was Heavy Duty Wal-mart Great Value.

Sherry, It was a premix Marie Callender's Honey Butter cornbread and muffin mix.

sleevendog I just rapped some left over cornbread in some foil with out it touching the iron skillet so I'll see if the foil melts out of the iron skillet.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
Along w/ acidic things like buttermilk being a factor, baking powder also contains an acid (tartaric), doesn't it? Check the box ingredients list: I've a hunch there might be citric acid in there too.

I also use either waxed paper or parchment to create a barrier between foods and foil when wrapping or covering things for storage, but only if the foil will be in direct contact w/ those foods.
catfishhoward
Original Author
6 years ago
carolb_w_fl the ingredients.
Compumom
6 years ago
THat's too weird! I've never heard of a reaction like that either. I'm now using way less aluminum foil than I once did. I use lots of parchment and an occasional silpat to cook on. I bought glass left over containers and use those most of the time. Live and learn, eh?
catfishhoward thanked Compumom
2ManyDiversions
6 years ago
Now that you mention it, I remember I used to make the Jiffy corn muffin mix (eons ago) and I think I remember foil melting into it just like that, little dots of it.

I use foil to cover some items for the fridge and freezer, but always put parchment, wax paper, or plastic bag/wrap before the foil.
catfishhoward thanked 2ManyDiversions
User
6 years ago
This is what I use now to cover everything. It clings so much better than the other brands. I get at Publix, but you can buy at Costco. You can also order it from Walmart.

https://www.publix.com/pd/stretch-tite-plastic-food-wrap-premium-250-square-feet/RIO-PCI-116607

I only use aluminum foil for cooking on the grill and covering baked potatoes after they are done.
catfishhoward thanked User
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
I see 3 instances of the word 'acid' in that ingredients list.

And honey is slightly acidic too, I understand
catfishhoward thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b

Cornbread melts aluminum foil?

annie1992

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catfishhoward
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Cornbread melts aluminum foil?

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