Have you ever asked yourself, “How thick is aluminum foil’? Though the length and width of aluminum foil are usually shown on the packaging box, the thickness is somewhat hidden. Instead, they just labeled your foil as regular, heavy-duty, or extra heavy-duty.
The more knowledge, the better. You may need more information about the thickness of aluminum foils and their uses. Thereby, let’s get right into this in-depth post for a better understanding!
Aluminum Foil Is Various In Thickness
Aluminum foil is among the handiest kitchen tools nowadays, and they have a surprisingly wide range of thicknesses. You can easily find the standard aluminum foil in the market, along with the heavy-duty and even the extra heavy-duty.
However, there are thinner and thicker aluminum foils that you may haven’t known about, such as the extremely thin foil for decorative purposes or super-thick aluminum foil sheets that are usually used in factories.
Some Methods To Measure The Thickness of Aluminum Foil
If you’re curious about the thickness of the aluminum foil you’re in hand with, you can use micrometers to measure it. And you may be surprised to know how thin it is.
In fact, since aluminum foils are so thin, their measurement unit is usually Mil – a thousandth of an inch, or even micrometer – a millionth of a meter.
In case your micrometer isn’t appropriate to measure the thickness of aluminum foil, you can stack those thin foil in layers, then measure the stack. Then divide the thickness you’ve just got with the number of layers, and you’ll get the approximate thickness of your aluminum foil.
In addition, if you have no micrometer at all, you can calculate the thickness of your aluminum foil by this formula: thickness = mass / (length×width×density).
Keep in mind that the measurement unit has to follow each other in this formula; so it’s only centimeters OR inches, not using them both.
Check out the surprising thinness of aluminum foil with a micrometer.
Watch this video: How thick is aluminum foil
It’s Vital To Pick The Right Rolls
It’s best to pick the suitable aluminum foil for your needs rather than just grab the nearest roll. And as there are many distinctions between aluminum foil and tin foil, careful observations will help you from accidentally choosing the wrong product.
What’s more, aluminum foil is designed in many different thicknesses to serve multiple using purposes; therefore, consider what you’re using it for before purchasing.
Technically, the thickness range of aluminum foil is between 0.006mm (0.24 mils) and 0.2 mm (8 mils). However, the most common rolls used for household purposes are no thinner than 0.016mm (0.63 mils) and no thicker than 0.04mm (1.6 mils) (1).
| Type | Thickness | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | At least 0.63 mils | Baking, storing, serving |
| Heavy-duty | Around 0.95 mils | All uses of the standard version and grilling, lining, covering. |
| Nonstick | Available in both standard and heavy-duty thicknesses | All uses of the standard version with sticky-resistance |
| Extra heavy-duty | Around 1.1 mils to 1.6 mils. | All uses of the heavy-duty version and can replicate other kitchen tools |
Although there are many dissimilarities between heavy-duty and regular aluminum foil, they both have some disadvantages. For some specific uses, you can use other premium types of them, such as nonstick foil and extra heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Since sticky is among the worst things of aluminum foil, you can now look for the nonstick rolls; it has been famous recently and is very easy to find. These rolls offer a silicone coating – which is safe for cooking – on one side to prevent stickiness.
Nonstick aluminum foil is also available in both standard and heavy-duty thicknesses. But if you’re tending to cook large-sized or heavy foods, consider using the extra heavy-duty aluminum foil.
With a thickness of around 1.1 mils to 1.6 mils, extra heavy-duty aluminum foil have perfect heat and tear resistance. You can even use this type of foil to make a replica of other utensils, such as a roasting pan or a cutting board.
However, the standard aluminum foil and the heavy-duty version are the easiest to be found at your local grocery store since they’re the most convenient to use in the kitchen. Let’s skip the chatting and get to know more about these aluminum foils!
The Uses Of Standard Aluminum Foil
Any rolls labeled “aluminum foil” can be assumed as the standard household foil. The thinness of these foils is at least 0.63 in Mil, and they can be used in many food cooking or preparation methods.
Baking
Are you wondering whether aluminum foil is safe to use in ovens? Indeed, it’s not an uncommon worry to have when it’s your first time using aluminum foil. Simple as this matter may seem, to many people, aluminum foil seems fragile enough that it can catch on fire easily.
However, due to its great heat conductivity, aluminum foil is often used in the oven. So if you can’t tell if you should use wax paper to bake cookies, opt for aluminum foil instead. You can also wrap your bakeware in foil before heating to form a better crust and reduce the baking time.
Another way to utilize aluminum foil in the oven is to wrap your foods; it’s the best method to retain the tenderness and juice inside the packet since aluminum foil is a perfect moisture locker.
Whether foil can go into crockpots might be a common question one might have, especially if they intend to use this to retain their food’s moisture in crockpots. However, after learning about aluminum foil’s main features, you probably already know the answer, right?
Storing
You can use aluminum foil to wrap your food for short-term storage, thanks to its perfect waterproofness. However, you should be cautious during the wrapping not to accidentally make holes on the surface since aluminum foil can be torn easily.
With foods that are sensitive to the surrounding elements like chocolates, aluminum foil wrappers will prevent moisture leaks in or out and the temperature changes. Therefore, their freshness and shape will remain better.
Serving
Aluminum foil is greaseproof; therefore, you can use it to prepare or serve greasy foods if you mind the cleaning.
Especially with meals that serve on hands, such as sandwiches or hot dogs, thin aluminum foil is the best choice if you want to wrap them to prevent your hands from touching the grease or sauces.
Since regular aluminum foil is thinner and much lighter, this is a rare case where it can outweigh the heavy-duty ones. Thanks to their affordability, you can also use them for decorating rather than being wasted on thick foil.
The Uses Of Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil
Around 0.95 mils in thickness, heavy-duty can be considered as a premium version of aluminum foil. It can do almost all the regular foil jobs with a better result, and there’s no other way around.
As the name has suggested, the extra thickness of this foil helps it to withstand heavier duties.
Lining
If the cleaning job stresses you out, you can use foil as a liner on your appliances then toss them afterward. Though both standard and heavy-duty aluminum foil can tolerate high temperatures, the thin ones tend to be melted if you use them on high heat for a long time.
Suppose you’re using regular aluminum foil for lining the tray in order to put less effort into the cleaning job after baking; you’ll end up with a mess of grease and melted foil stuck on the tray.
However, you shouldn’t use aluminum foil to line the bottom of the oven since it can bring many harmful drawbacks, such as damaging the heat elements, uneven baking, or even burning possibility.
If you accidentally melted aluminum foil in the oven, here’s how to clean it.
Watch this video: Remove melted aluminum foil
Grilling
Heavy-duty aluminum foil has a higher heat resistance than regular; therefore, it can work better on open flames. Furthermore, its sturdiness would also help to “crutch” foods better so that it’ll be easier for you to handle your food on the griller.
Many prefer to use aluminum foil in grilling not only because they’re conducting heat better but also lock the liquid better than parchment or butcher paper. Preventing dripping juice onto your heating element will reduce the smoke coming out during the grilling process.
Covering
To prevent your food from exposing too much moisture during the grilling or keep the top parts from being overcooked during the baking, you should use aluminum foil as a lid or a tent to cover your food.
The reason why I recommend heavy-duty instead of standard aluminum foil in this method is because the regular foil is so thin that it tends to be blown away either by heat exposure or a sudden wind.
Check out a simple way to “tent” your baking turkey with aluminum foil!
Watch this video: Tent a Turkey with Reynolds Wrap
The Harmful Consequences You Should Know
Though aluminum foil is a handy cooking tool, overusing it can bring some harmful drawbacks to your health and the environment, and there are even some cases where you shouldn’t use it at all.
Over Consuming Aluminum
Though a certain amount of aluminum is always present in the human body, a high intake of this metal will bring harmful consequences to your health, such as bone and muscle pain in the short term, damaging kidney and brain tissues in the long term.
Unfortunately, aluminum foil has the highest chance to contaminate your foods than other aluminum kitchen tools due to its thinness. In fact, meat wrapped in aluminum foil can increase up to 375% aluminum rate after cooking (2).
The ratio of aluminum is even higher if you are cooking with aluminum foil on high heat or seasonings. Especially with acidic foods, aluminum foil will give a chemical reaction that increases leaching aluminum and alternate the food flavor with a metal taste.
Wasting Aluminum Foil
Unlike other aluminum products that can easily be recycled, the recyclability of aluminum foil is much lower since foods are usually stuck on them. And these wasted foils can last up to 400 years before it’s finally degraded (3).
Did you know that the wasted amount of aluminum each year in the US can build an aircraft?
Therefore, using less aluminum foil not only saves your health but also saves the environment. You can also reuse it several times if you’re able to clean it.
The Possibility Of Burning Or Even Explosion
Aluminum foil can withstand a significantly high temperature, about 1220F, so it’s nearly impossible to burn it. However, when it comes to whether aluminum foil is suitable for microwaves, the answer tends to become a lot more complicated than you may think.
If you put a crumpled aluminum foil in the microwave, no matter if it’s a regular or extra heavy-duty version, you’re facing a high chance of burning the house down.
Moreover, since aluminum is a perfect electric conductor, you might want to be careful using them with electrical kitchen tools. For example, the answer to if you should put aluminum foil in toaster ovens is not an outright no, it doesn’t mean you can do so willy-nilly.
Never put aluminum foil in a microwave to protect yourself and your family.
Watch this video: Microwave Aluminum Foil
What Can You Use To Reduce Aluminum In Daily Life?
If you’re concerned about aluminum, you may notice that aluminum is present in many of your kitchen tools, not just foil. Therefore, it’s impossible and unnecessary to cut all aluminum products from your daily use.
However, there are other utensils that you can consider using instead of aluminum foil for some specific purposes.
Silicone Bakeware
Silicone is a safe material for cooking; therefore, it has been designed into many utensils for multiple uses, such as liners, mats, molds, or bags. Furthermore, these bakewares are nonstick and easy to clean; therefore, it’s considered more affordable than aluminum foil.
One concern some might have about silicone bakewares is whether silicone bakewares can stay on oven racks. While most silicone bakewares have high heat resistance, it’s best that you check the manufacturer’s description carefully to utilize them properly.
Pink Butcher Paper
If you plan to use aluminum foil to test out the ultimate smoker dishes or scrumptious grill recipe, you’d better use pink butcher paper instead. As the name has suggested, this type of paper gives the best result for grilling and smoking meat dishes.
Parchment Paper
Instead of struggling with stick aluminum foil or paying more to get its nonstick version, you can simply use parchment paper. This is also a better option for storing methods since it’s harder to be torn. However, you shouldn’t use parchment paper on the open flames.
Can’t tell parchment paper apart from butcher paper? You can slather some grease on these two papers to tell which is which. If it absorbs grease, it’s butcher paper. If it doesn’t, then it’s parchment paper.
FAQs
At this point, I’m positive that you must have known how to pick the suitable aluminum foil for your needs. If there’s anything still blurring your mind, here are some of the most asked questions to clear it.
Can I use the regular in place of heavy-duty aluminum foil?
No. As mentioned above, heavy-duty can handle all the jobs of regular aluminum foil, but there’s no other way around. However, if you just need some more strength, you can fold the standard foil in half.
Which side of aluminum foil should I use?
You should use the shiny side of it to prevent stickiness. However, it won’t make much difference since the other side is dull due to the manufacturing process, not the coating.
Can I use aluminum foil on a pan?
Yes. But I would recommend using aluminum foil on stainless steel or cast iron pan only. Using it on a nonstick pan may damage the surface and ruin the non-stickiness.
What can I do with the used aluminum foil?
If you’re able to clean the used aluminum foil, you can then try to smoothen it and reuse it multiple times. Even with the tattered ones, you can use them for other purposes, such as sharpening scissors.
Are tin foil and aluminum foil the same thing?
No. However, you’re making no mistake to call them by the wrong name since tin foil was obsoleted after World War 2 and replaced by aluminum foil.
The Bottom Line: Think Twice Before Purchasing
After reading this article, you can see that there are multiple thicknesses of aluminum foil for each specific use. Depending on the cooking method and the food you’re about to cook, you can always choose the appropriate roll instead of just picking the nearest one.
However, keep in mind that overusing aluminum foil is not good for your health or the environment. Try to seek out substitutes for it if you’re able to.
Are you satisfied with the information? Share this article with your beloved people so that they can determine what their needs are before purchasing a new aluminum foil.
Don’t forget to let me and other readers know about your experiences with aluminum foil in the comment section! I’m positive that you might have some useful tips to share.
References
- En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Aluminium foil – Wikipedia.
- PMC, E., 2021. Europe PMC.
- Zone, T., Guide, R., Service, H., Recycling, C., and Trash, W., 2021.
Table of Contents
- Aluminum Foil Is Various In Thickness
- Some Methods To Measure The Thickness of Aluminum Foil
- It’s Vital To Pick The Right Rolls
- The Uses Of Standard Aluminum Foil
- Baking
- Storing
- Serving
- The Uses Of Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil
- Lining
- Grilling
- Covering
- The Harmful Consequences You Should Know
- Over Consuming Aluminum
- Wasting Aluminum Foil
- The Possibility Of Burning Or Even Explosion
- What Can You Use To Reduce Aluminum In Daily Life?
- Silicone Bakeware
- Pink Butcher Paper
- Parchment Paper
- FAQs
- The Bottom Line: Think Twice Before Purchasing
- References
FAQs
How Thick Is Aluminum Foil? Choosing The Right Roll 2023? ›
Most standard duty aluminum foil rolls are economical foil rolls for commercial and home aluminum foil use, its length is between 75 and 250 feet long and has varying widths. Its thickness ranges between 0.0004 to 0.0007 Mils. Which at best is slightly over or one half of a mil in thickness.
How thick is aluminium foil roll? ›Freshee Aluminium Foil is available in wide variety to select from like 10 m, 20 m 25 m, 99 m and 72 m with different thickness of 11 microns, 15 microns and 18 microns as per your requirement.
What is the thickness of standard foil? ›Regular aluminum foil, also called standard household or standard duty foil, will typically be around 0.63 mils thick. Some thicker aluminum foils or extra heavy-duty household foils can be up to 0.94 mils thick.
How thick is food grade aluminium foil? ›Food Grade Aluminium Foil, Packaging Type: Roll, Thickness: 15-20 Microns.
How thick is Reynolds heavy duty aluminum foil? ›| Length | Width | Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 15.2 m (50') | 45.7 cm (18") | 23.62 µm (0.93 mil) |
| Clearance . Act quickly! These items have limited quantity and availability | ||
Aluminum Foil Thickness
Foil is often referred to using general terms like "standard" and "heavy duty." These terms can be measured in gauge (thickness) too, just like plastic or sheet metal. Naturally, the heavier the gauge, the thicker and more puncture and tear resistant the foil is.
While heavy duty foil used in a home is usually 0.024 mm (0.94 mils), commercial heavy duty aluminum foil is 0.08 mm, or 80 microns thick.
Which aluminum foil is best? ›- 1 Reynolds Wrap 75 Sq.Ft Aluminum Foil.
- 2 Members Mark Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil.
- 3 CHAMPS Standard Aluminum Foil.
- 4 Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil.
- 5 Glad Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil, 40 Square Feet.
Indian Standards IS- 15392 is the BIS ISI for Aluminium Foil.
How wide is a standard roll of aluminum foil? ›Materials: Aluminum Length: 500 ft Width: 18" Packing Type: Box.
What is the difference between aluminum foil and heavy duty aluminum foil? ›
More About Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil
As the name implies, this type of foil is thicker and sturdier than regular aluminum foil. It's tough enough to stand up to high heat, heavy food items, and long-term storage in the freezer. Because of the extra thickness, it's also a better choice for campfire packets.
Aluminium foils are used in three different types of packaging: rigid, semi-rigid and flexible packaging.
How thick is aluminium foil packaging? ›The aluminium foil usually has a thickness of 25-28micron.
How thick is 36 gauge aluminum foil? ›Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil is 98.5% aluminum. The balance is made up of other elements: primarily iron and silicon. These are added to give the strength and puncture resistance obtained only in the alloy used in Reynolds Wrap® household foil.
What is a substitute for heavy duty aluminum foil? ›- Silicone food covers.
- Glass containers.
- Plastic Tupperware.
- Fabric food covers/reusable cloths.
- Stainless steel food storage containers.
- Muslin cloth.
- Beeswax wrap.
Approximately 193,000 atoms thick.
This is a fairly rough estimate, from classroom data.
Aluminum foils are broadly classified into regular or standard duty foil and heavy duty foil. Just like plastic or metal sheets, aluminum foil too comes in varying thicknesses and widths. However, heavy-duty foil is thicker and is resistant to wear, tear, and puncture.
Does the side of aluminum foil matter? ›Quite simply, it doesn't matter. Since the exact same material makes up both sides, they will perform precisely the same way. The only difference is aesthetic. So feel free to work both ways.
What thickness of aluminum is equal to steel? ›Equivalent stiffness substitution
It can be seen from equation (27) that the thickness of aluminum tube should be three times as thick as steel tube to satisfy the equivalent stiffness design.
Which side of aluminum foil gets hotter? ›
The shiny side gets its texture from the rolling process and not from any special coating applied to it. This is why both sides are equally capable of keeping heat, as they are made of the same material.
Is the matte side or shiny side of aluminum foil better? ›According to Reynold's Kitchen, the difference in appearance between the two sides of aluminum foil is simply a result of manufacturing and serves no real purpose. Meaning, whether you are cooking your food with the shiny side up or the dull side up, you're doing it right.
Does the brand of aluminum foil matter? ›"Regardless of the side, both sides do the same job cooking, freezing and storing food," Mike Mazza, marketing director for Reynolds Wrap explained to TODAY. The only time it does matter is if you specifically buy non-stick foil.
What is the minimum thickness of aluminum foil? ›Technically, the thickness range of aluminum foil is between 0.006mm (0.24 mils) and 0.2 mm (8 mils). However, the most common rolls used for household purposes are no thinner than 0.016mm (0.63 mils) and no thicker than 0.04mm (1.6 mils) (1).
Why put aluminum foil on door knobs? ›Protection Against Intruders
If someone tries to enter your home while you are inside, they might try to pick the lock or use a credit card to open the door. However, if you have wrapped the doorknob in aluminum foil, it will be much more difficult for them to gain entry.
It is important to know that the gauge thicknesses also vary depending on the type of sheet metal being referenced. Take for instance 12-gauge thickness across the material types listed below; stainless steel is 0.105″ thick, aluminum is 0.080″, copper is 0.108″, and brass is 0.081″.
How wide is Reynolds wrap aluminum foil? ›Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil Heavy Duty 18 Inch Wide.
What are the sizes of Aluminium foils? ›Aluminium Foil, Size: 73mm And 96mm.
How wide is Reynolds aluminum foil? ›Reynolds 633 500' Length x 24" Width, Extra Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil Roll.
Is Reynolds wrap and aluminum foil the same thing? ›Now, when we talk about aluminum foil, you know we're talking about Reynolds Wrap! They've been in kitchens for 70+ years, and it's no surprise why. This cooking assistant has received a color-coded packaging makeover, and it's about to make shopping so much easier.
Are all aluminum foils the same? ›
Aluminium foil has no one side that is superior to the other, and either can be used for the same purpose. The reason the two sides are different is because of the manufacturing process called tilling.
Why not to use aluminum foil? ›Don't use aluminum foil to store leftovers.
Foil is not airtight, meaning no matter how tightly you wrap it, some air will get in. This allows bacteria to grow faster. Instead, store leftovers in airtight storage containers or food storage bags.
Aluminium foil is 8 times thinner than a banknote and yet it provides perfect protection against light, liquid and bacteria. It is thanks to these properties the shelf life for many type of groceries packaged in materials that include aluminium foil often exceeds 12 months.
How many microns is thick aluminium foil? ›Solimo aluminium foils are quality tested in India's leading laboratories to ensure that the net weight, thickness and length of the product are as claimed. Thus this 1kg aluminium foil is assured to be 1kg in net weight with 18 micron thickness.
Which is thicker 16 or 18 gauge aluminum? ›So for instance, if you are looking at an 18 gauge vs. a 16 gauge, then the 16 gauge would be thicker (and therefore, more durable) than the 18 gauge. With an 18 gauge, you're looking at a thickness of 0.0478 inches whereas the 16 gauge comes in at 0.0598 inches.
How thick is 18 gauge aluminum in inches? ›There are several different gauge systems used today, with specific gauge designations used for specific metal types. For example, in one gauge system, 18 gauge steel measures 0.0478 inches thick, but 18 gauge aluminum is 0.0403 inches thick.
Which is better aluminium foil or silver foil? ›As such, silver foils are generally more expensive than aluminium foils due to the cost of raw materials involved in producing them. However, their superior electrical conductivity makes them ideal for specialized cookware applications where even heating is required (such as baking dishes).
Why you shouldn t wrap your food in aluminium foil before cooking it? ›Aluminium is significantly more likely to leach into food, and at higher levels, in acidic and liquid food solutions like lemon and tomato juice than in those containing alcohol or salt. Leaching levels climb even more when spice is added to food that's cooked in aluminium foil.
Which is better plastic wrap or aluminum foil? ›Aluminum foil keeps food colder than plastic wrap when food is removed from the refrigerator or freezer. In both cases, food must be wrapped tightly with no holes. Aluminum foil is also better for keeping in oxygen and moisture.
What is the diameter of aluminium foil roll? ›Aluminium foil is widely sold into the consumer market, often in rolls of 500 mm (20 in) width and several metres in length. Aluminium foil is also used for barbecuing delicate foods. As with all metallic items, aluminium foil reacts to being placed in a microwave oven.
How thick is aluminium foil microns? ›
Light Gauge Foil will be available in the range from 6.35 micron upwards to 15 Microns. Widths can vary as per market requirements.
How do you measure roll diameter? ›Using a ruler, measure from side to side the face of the paper that your printer prints on. This measurement is the paper width. The second important measurement is the roll diameter. To measure the diameter of the roll, use your ruler to measure through the center roll from one side to the other.
What is roll diameter? ›Roll diameter is a measure of the diameter of the circle created when a material of a certain thickness is rolled into a cylindrical shape. The thicker and longer the material, the greater the roll diameter will be.
What are the specs of aluminum foil? ›The thickness is 0.012-0.03mm, the width is 300-500mm, the length is 8-50m/roll, wound on a paper core with a certain strength, the alloy is mainly 8011 aluminum alloy with annealed state.
Which Micron aluminium foil is best? ›BB Home Aluminium Foil is made with high-quality pure aluminum and is perfect for everyday uses. This aluminum foil has a uniform thickness that helps keep the food safe, fresh and aromatic. It helps keep the food odorless and long-lasting.
How many microns should aluminium foil be? ›Solimo aluminium foils are quality tested in India's leading laboratories to ensure that the net weight, thickness and length of the product are as claimed. Thus this 1kg aluminium foil is assured to be 1kg in net weight with 18 micron thickness.
What is the price of 10 micron aluminium foil? ›Price Range : 250 To 260 Rs/kilogram. Need More Variants ?