Can you put aluminium foil in a toaster? Is it a safe practice for both you and your toaster if either of you are subjected to it? Let’s take a closer look into this and see what conclusion we can come up with.
You can use aluminium foil to wrap a melted cheese or other sandwich that you want to toast. Aluminium is able to withstand temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius without releasing toxins into your food. Just make sure that you avoid putting acidic food in it because it causes toxins to leach out of the aluminium foil.
Aluminium foil is common in many kitchens around the world because of its versatility and many other advantages. Its uses include lining pans, wrapping food while cooking and wrapping it to maintain freshness.
It has many qualities which have made it a staple in many kitchens. In this article, we are going to look into whether one of these uses can be in a toaster. A lot of people do it but we want to see whether or not this is a good practice.
Can You Use Aluminium Foil in a Toaster?
Based on its qualities, you can definitely use aluminium foil in a toaster. It is able to withstand the high temperatures in the toaster and you are able to make your toast with few causes for concern and we will address these concerns later on in this article.
Can Aluminium Foil Conduct Electricity?
Aluminium is a good conductor of electricity and since aluminium foil is at least 92% aluminium that means that it’s a god conductor of electricity.
It is such a good conductor that countries like India use it for their overhead power lines. Because of this ability to conduct electricity, aluminium foil should be used with some level of caution when toasting food in a toaster.
This is because of the way that an electric toaster is made. Let me dig deeper into this in the next point.
The Dangers of Putting Aluminium Foil in Your Toaster
A toaster has electric coils which heat up when an electric current is passed through it thereby producing enough heat to toast your food.
These coils carry a live current in them and can shock or electrocute you if you were to touch then directly or through a conductive material such as aluminium and metal objects like a fork.
It’s basically the same mechanism as your stove element but the major difference is that the elements on your stove have a layer of insulation plus metal casing meaning there is no risk of electric shock or electrocution.
The heating elements in a toaster though are exposed and carry a live current in them.
When you wrap your toast in aluminium foil and it happens to touch these coils, electricity will pass through it and if you happen to touch it at this point, you can get a shock.
This will not happen every time but in cases where the foil touches the elements. In that regard, you need to avoid overly packing your toaster if you are going to go ahead and use aluminium foil in a toaster.
The wiring in some houses, especially old ones, will still transmit electrical current to the toaster even though the toaster itself may be switched off. To avoid any accidents, you need to not only switch off the toaster at the mains but to unplug it before taking out your aluminium wrapped food from the toaster.
Food Toasted in Aluminium Foil Can Get Really Hot
Another reason for caution is that aluminium is also a really good conductor of heat. In this respect, you must be careful when taking your toast out of the toaster.
You need to use mittens or tongs to pull it out. If you are using metal tongs without insulated handles, make sure to switch the power off by unplugging the mains first. Another good alternative is to use none conductive rubber gloves.
Damage to Your Toaster
This possible danger is to a limited degree but there is also the chance that your toaster may get damaged. When aluminium foil comes into contact with a heating element, it will cause a spark.
This spark can start a fire or cause some damage to your element. If this goes on for a long enough time, you will end up damaging your toaster.
Conclusion on can you put foil in a toaster
So, after all this, what is our conclusion? You definitely can use aluminium foil in your toaster to make those tasty sandwiches but you need to take the necessary precautions to make sure that there is no risk to your health or your toaster.
If you are going to toast with aluminium foil often, a good alternative would be to get a small toaster oven. These are better suited for use with aluminium foil and you immediately kill a lot of the risks associated with using a normal toaster.
Although it’s a little more expensive than your ordinary toaster, it will prove a worthwhile investment especially if you consider the number of toasters you will avoid buying over the years.