# Aluminum foil in broth ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564 "2011-01-22T14:56:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/1 "2011-01-22T14:56:06Z")
… I mean what’s the worst thing that can happen? I have some frozen chicken parts, and the foil is really wedged in there. They were meant to be unwrapped, chisel a few pieces free, then re-wrapped the rest to return to the freezer, and thaw a few. Or maybe just patiently thaw the mass overnight, then unwrapped. But I too impatient for that right now. So I just plopped the semi-unwrapped block of frozen boned chicken thighs into simmering water. The foil will be free, soon enough. Is this bad in any way? We used to use aluminum cookware (maybe I still do?) Is aluminum foil boiled in chicken both bad, for some reason? ---
**Author:** ![OldnCrinkly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OldnCrinkly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldnCrinkly)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/2 "2011-01-22T15:05:07Z")
I don’t think it would be unsafe in any way. But I would be careful to fish out any small bits. Biting on a piece of foil would ruin any meal for me. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/3 "2011-01-22T15:08:13Z")
I don’t think you’re in any danger. AFAIK boiling aluminum foil is not going to cause it to leach chemicals or anything. It’s certainly not going to melt. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/4 "2011-01-22T15:09:05Z")
Acidic foods like tomato sauce tend to break down the foil, but that’s not the case here. Agreed, though, you have to make sure there aren’t any torn bits in there. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/5 "2011-01-22T15:20:34Z")
Is small amounts of aluminum safe to ingest? Because that’s the only problem I can see. AFAIK aluminum is pretty inert, but I’m likely wrong. And when I mean small amounts, I mean little bits of foil that might have torn off the main chunk and you can’t quit fish out. I’m quite certain the temp is too low for any to melt or chemicals to leach off into the water. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/6 "2011-01-22T15:27:36Z")
Biting down on even a small piece of foil produces horrible results - so be sure to COMPLETELY remove all the foil after it’s freed from the frozen mass and you’ll be good to go ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/7 "2011-01-22T15:34:41Z")
> [@Barking\_Dog](#): > > Is small amounts of aluminum safe to ingest? Because that’s the only problem I can see. AFAIK aluminum is pretty inert, but I’m likely wrong. And when I mean small amounts, I mean little bits of foil that might have torn off the main chunk and you can’t quit fish out. I’m quite certain the temp is too low for any to melt or chemicals to leach off into the water. Meh. I’ve consumed small pieces of foil while hastily chomping down on a burrito or stuck to the bottom of some food to no ill effects. I think he’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-foil-in-broth/568564/8 "2011-01-22T15:39:53Z")
Thanks guys. It’s just two hard frozen boneless chicken thighs I’m making stock out of. I got the big chunks of foil out, and there won’t be little bits left over. i do know that tiny bits of foil produce a horrible electrochemical reaction with people’s dental fillings, so I will strain carefully.