Episode 95: Aluminum Foil, Parchment Paper, Wax Paper, and Saran Wrap

We are wrapping our food up in all the things that you find in that one drawer in your kitchen. We're talking about the history and science and design of aluminum foil, parchment paper, wax paper, and plastic wrap, specifically the Saran Wrap brand. You'll never look at those handy kitchen tools the same again.

Let's taco 'bout it!

Photo courtesy of Oscar Soderlund

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Let's taco 'bout it!

• Sharon and Ike had a mid-week date night to the seafood restaurant Slapfish and they both got the Lobster Grinders, which they both liked. By the way, Slapfish has a lemony fry sauce.
• Winter brought in ingredients for a dirty soda called a Diet Yowza. The original drink you can get at Fiiz (or Swig or Thirst or any of those soda jerk places) has pebbled ice, diet Dr. Pepper, a couple pumps of Torani raspberry syrup, a couple pumps of Torani coconut syrup, and whipping cream (not yet whipped). Winter's hack was Torani raspberry syrup and CoffeeMate's Coconut Creme Coffee Creamer.
• There is such a thing as tin foil which was the precursor to aluminum foil, that's why people still call aluminum foil "tin foil".
• If you want to watch how aluminum foil is made, it's fascinating!

• The company Tobler started to wrap their triangular-shaped chocolate Toblerone using the aluminum foil back in 1911. In the US, aluminum foil was used to wrap Lifesavers, candy bars and gum.
• There is a shiny and a dull side of aluminum foil and a lot of people think it matters. It doesn't! It's a myth according to the Reynold's FAQ page, unless you are using the Non-Stick foil. The dull side has the non-stick properties, so put this toward the food.
• There is a difference between parchment paper and wax paper. In a nutshell, parchment paper can have heat applied, while wax paper cannot have heat applied.
• You can get Ruby Snap cookies frozen for later consumption!

Photo courtesy of Brooke Lark

• Have you ever used the French cooking method en papillote? You can see how to do it here.
• According to the American Cheese Society, wax paper is the preferred method for wrapping cheese.
• Wax paper was used for centuries and it was made by coating paper with purified ear wax. That is SO gross! Have you seen this episode of Myth Busters? Ewww gross!
• Why does Saran Wrap not stick as well? The original formula of Saran Wrap, also known as polyvinylidene chloride, was first discovered by the Dow Chemical Company by Ralph Wiley in 1933.
• John Reilly (Ralph Wiley's boss) and Ralph developed the Saran Wrap product for food preservation in 1943.

Photo courtesy of Jason Leung

• In 2004, Fisk Johnson of SC Johnson and Family who owns the Saran Wrap brand now moved away from PVDC, since when it's incinerated, can release toxic chemicals into the environment. The current Saran Wrap is now a polyethylene wrap.
• During our Food Fight segment, we give our ideas to our listener on how to not use paper towels as much in the kitchen. By the way, these IKEA Tekla hand towels are great to have around.

Run Time: 50 minutes

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