Aluminum foil changed color after wrapping cooked corn
I cooked some corn in boiling water today, and immediately wrapped it in aluminum foil after taking out of water. 5 mins later, I found out the colour of the foil changed, I'm not sure whether the corn is edible... please help
Best Answer
There are two likely causes for this kind of discoloration in foil. Neither makes the corn unsafe to eat.
The more likely cause is that you cooked the corn in heavily salted and/or chlorinated water and it was still damp when you wrapped it up. Salt, chlorides, and moisture react with aluminum and cause it to discolor and eventually corrode.
The second possible cause is the same reaction you get from tomato sauce and foil. Very acid, moist foods like tomato sauce will strip metal ions from foil. Cooked corn is weakly acidic, and could produce similar but lesser corrosion. This is not the likely cause, though, because it would require the wrapped corn to be in contact with a second metal.
In neither case is there any issue with eating the corn, except some possibility it might taste bad. A handful of aluminum ions is harmless to you, as the corn itself natively contains more aluminum molecules than that.
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Quick Answer about "Aluminum foil changed color after wrapping cooked corn"
The more likely cause is that you cooked the corn in heavily salted and/or chlorinated water and it was still damp when you wrapped it up. Salt, chlorides, and moisture react with aluminum and cause it to discolor and eventually corrode. The second possible cause is the same reaction you get from tomato sauce and foil.Why does my aluminium foil change Colour?
That discoloration is aluminum oxide, a harmless substance that is naturally present on the surface of the foil. When the foil comes in contact with moisture, it can accelerate the buildup of aluminum oxide.Does aluminium foil react with food?
Aluminum foil is a common household product that's often used in cooking. Some claim that using aluminum foil in cooking can cause aluminum to seep into your food and put your health at risk. However, others say it's entirely safe to use.Is aluminum foil toxic when heated?
No effects in healthy adults, research shows. While it is true that some aluminum gets into food when cooked in aluminum foil or with aluminum cookware, and that this is enhanced in acidic foods, it is not true this causes any health effects in healthy adults.Is it safe to cover food with aluminum foil in the oven?
Aluminum foil is safe to put in the oven, making it great for lining baking sheets. But it's not recommended to use foil to line the bottom of the oven to catch spills and drips. The best foil uses include: Cooking food on the grill.Why is Aluminum Foil Shiny on One Side But Not the Other?
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