Aluminum Foil Is Magic

Aluminum foil. What a miraculous invention. It was really an invention as much as an evolution, like most everything we have. Aluminum foil is the descendant of tin foil. That's another story, or you can look it up. Aluminum foil came about using the same manufacturing processes as tin foil. Today, it is used for much more than getting better reception on your TV or protecting yourself from cosmic rays and brain-invading aliens.

What I have learned in my years of puttering around in the kitchen is that it is great for preserving produce and fruits in the fridge.

More and more, the stores don't want to sell me two stalks of celery for dinner; I have to buy a massive bunch of the stuff. And, I'm guessing everyone knows that celery after two or three days in the crisper drawer turn into limp noodles on its way to becoming a slimy awful mess.

I went looking for a process of freezing celery, and you can do that. One site recommended wrapping it in foil before freezing. I thought, what the hell. How long might it last in that crisper drawer in foil. To my amazement, I have kept celery crisp and fresh for a week or more wrapped tightly in foil. Tightly is kind of the key.

Air, the stuff we can't survive without, turns out to be the villain of storing  food, and certainly of open wine bottles. Oxidation is the process of evil when it comes to food. So, do wrap it tightly and close the ends tight. So far, I've kept celery, corn on the cob, cucumbers and zucchini fresh for days and days. Oh, it's not recommended for acidic foods.

And, it's Eco friendly. Foil is totally recyclable (rinse it first - they don't really want a tablespoon of grease, bones, and other foods in their ovens). Make a nice big ball of foil and then recycle.