Can you store opened canned food in the refrigerator?

While aluminum foil is typically meant for cooking, it’s actually a very versatile product. However, one TikToker left viewers divided with the way she uses aluminum foil.

In a video that’s garnered over 1.9 million views, @latingenx72 admits she knows she’s been using aluminum foil wrong her entire life. In the clip, she stands in front of an open can of Goya tomato sauce. She grabs a piece of aluminum foil and covers the can with it so she can store it in the fridge.

“Who said you can’t just cover the can and put it in the fridge? Mind your own business,” she captioned the video.

@latingenx72 Who said you can’t just cover the can and put it in the fridge?!? Mind your own business 🤣🤣🤣 #fyp #adulthumor #alumunium #foil #mexicanbelike #mexicans #tomatoesauce #coverit #cook #nodishes #funnymemes #hacks ♬ Not Like Us – Instrumental Reprod. by 2legitjay – BrokenHartedMan187

In the comments, viewers reacted with shock and were warned not to leave food in cans after opening them.

“Uh, she’s asking for botulism by keeping it in the can,” someone said.

“My mom always told me not to keep food in cans in the fridge,” wrote another.

Others sided with the TikTokker, saying they store their food this way too and have never had any issues.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life and it’s turned out great,” one user noted.

“Wait, no one told me you couldn’t do this, lol, I’ve been doing it for years,” a second commented.

“My face when I read the comments about why you shouldn’t do this lol I’m tired of doing things wrong,” joked a third.

The Daily Dot reached out to @latingenx72 via a TikTok comment and direct message.

What is botulism?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), botulism is a “serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves. Botulism causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.” However, the disease is extremely rare, with fewer than 1,000 cases reported each year in the U.S.

According to the CDC, there are five main types of botulism, one of which is foodborne botulism. Foodborne botulism is the type you would get if food was improperly “canned, preserved, or fermented.” “Improperly canned, preserved, or fermented foods at home can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin,” the CDC reports.

Even store-bought foods are at risk of being contaminated with botulinum toxin, although this is less common.

Is it safe to store cans wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator?

The USDA says that “unused portions of canned food may be stored in the refrigerator, but to maintain optimum quality and flavor, transfer the unused portion to a food-grade glass or plastic container. Use within 4 days.”

However, opened cans, even if sealed with foil, are not always effective at keeping air out. They are still at risk of growing bacteria, leading to foodborne illnesses such as botulism. So for optimum quality and safety, it is best not to store food in their cans.

But there are even more unconventional uses for aluminum foil in the kitchen.

Freezing food

Aluminum foil seals in air and moisture, which helps protect food from freezer burn. To do this, seal the food tightly in aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer. Food protected with aluminum foil only has a shelf life of six months if properly wrapped. Freezer-burned food has a dull appearance and contains ice crystals. “Meat often turns a gray-brown color and may appear tough or leathery, while fruits and vegetables are noticeably dry and shriveled,” Whirlpool says.

Storing the cake base

Have you ever baked a homemade pie and taken it out of the oven to find the crust is burnt? Aluminum foil can prevent pie crust from getting too brown. All you need to do is turn the foil into a ring. To do this, fold a square sheet of foil, cut it into a circle large enough to cover the pie, fold the sheet over the edges, and slide it into the oven. When the pie is almost done baking (about 20 minutes left), safely remove the foil before returning it to the oven.

Sharpening scissors

This may sound strange, but aluminum foil is great for sharpening scissors. Instead of throwing away your dull scissors, tear off a sheet of aluminum and get to work. To do this, tear off a sheet of aluminum and fold it a few times. Then, use the scissors to cut the foil into 12 strips. If the scissors still aren’t sharp enough, keep cutting strips until the blades are sharp enough. According to Popular Mechanics, this process will remove rust or dirt from the blades. However, this won’t work on damaged or overly dull scissors.

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