Is it safe to wrap a hot burrito in foil for to-go?
Use caution. A short foil wrap is common, but acidic or salty hot food should not sit in foil for long.
What's actually in it
Foil is aluminum. A hot burrito often has salsa, salt, beans, meat, and cheese. That mix gives you heat, moisture, salt, acid, and fat in contact with foil.
A short wrap on the way home is not a crisis. The better habit is to avoid using foil as hot food storage.
What the research says
A 2020 study in Int J Environ Res Public Health cooked beef, chicken, and fish wrapped in commercial aluminum foil. The study found aluminum leaching was not negligible and that seasoning affected aluminum transfer.
A 2023 study in Food Chem studied chemicals from baking paper and aluminum foil using fatty and acidic food simulants. The authors found migration from food-contact materials and called for more monitoring, especially for organophosphate esters.
For takeout, unwrap the burrito when you can and move it to a plate or glass container. At home, reheat food on a plate or in glass, not wrapped in foil.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Quantification of the Aluminum Content Leached into Foods Baked Using Aluminum Foil. | Int J Environ Res Public Health | 2020 |
| Occurrence and migration study of chemicals from baking paper and aluminium foil. | Food Chem | 2023 |