Close
Photo:
Getty Images
Let’s set the scene: You’ve just finished cooking and enjoying dinner, and you’re ready to clean up and finally relax after a long, busy day. You place your leftovers in a dish, and grab the roll of aluminum foil from a drawer. Just as you go to pull a fresh, smooth sheet for securing tomorrow’s lunch, you feel the unmistakable, uneven pull of the aluminum foil roll.
You know instantly that there’s no going back. You have two choices: Keep the roll, destined to tear off increasingly uneven sheets and irritating scraps and strips; or just toss it. And neither of these options are helpful or economical.
We’ve all been there, right? Well, fear no more! It took 20 years of friendship, but I recently learned a life-changing tip from my friend for fixing a seemingly doomed roll of uneven aluminum foil. You don’t need any tools, special skills, or even a pair of scissors. All you need is the aluminum foil itself.
Reynolds Just Settled the Debate: Should You Use Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper for Baking?
How to Fix Uneven Aluminum Foil
I was recently at my friend’s house for dinner, and as we were cleaning up together, I found myself in the situation described above. Upon tearing the sheet that, in my mind, ruined the rest of the aluminum foil, I promised my friend I would buy her a new roll and that she should just cut her losses with this now rugged one. She laughed, walked over, and proceeded to return the roll to its original state in less than one minute.
All she did was tear off a small piece of foil from the roll, scrunch it into a small, tight ball, and then gently scrape it horizontally along the tattered portion of foil on the roll. In mere seconds, the tangled sections began to come off the roll with no resistance or additional tearing at all. The roll was once again even, and order was restored. I stood there, in awe, that it took her 20 years to share this game-changing knowledge.
The 2-Ingredient Appetizer I Beg My Friend to Bring to Parties
Why It Works
This may sound like a magic trick, but there’s pure science behind this hack. Similar to the abrasion that comes with using sandpaper to shave away layers on paint or stained wood, the rigid spots on the ball of foil catch the edges of the tattered pieces on the roll, causing them to lift from the roll and easily cut away.
More Aluminum Foil Tips
- 7 Things You Should Never Do with Aluminum Foil
- Reynolds Settles the Debate: What Is Each Side of the Aluminum Foil For?
- Read This Before Cooking with Aluminum Foil
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!
Other
Submit
