Is it dangerous to cover Aluminum Foil on a Stove Top

[magomago]

Kind of super annoying at the moment because they had to rip out the new layer of foil I placed less than a week ago on the Stove top.

A "few years ago", they had someone tell them something about not putting the fil on the stove top. They don't remember WHY not to do it...just that they shouldn't.

I searched online and it seems that there is some discussion about smoking food in aluminum foil on a barbque...but I can't find any other myths beyond those stupid aluminum tin foil hat myths. Even that discussion was marred with 'crazy claims'. I've found lots of arguments against using aluminum because processing bauxite isn't an energy friendly process. I'm not trying to find anything on cooking ON aluminum foil...just looking for things on why I can't cover the stove top with it to make clean ups easier.

Is there any foundation to this, or am I dealing with another stupid old wives tales?

I'm struggling to figure out what the issue is. the Foil is simply Al, Alum Oxide, and probably SOME trace metals. Is it trace metals that burn and do something bad? i'm trying to think "a fucking ionic compound, and pure metal will not melt at the temperatures a stove operates under".

All this information, if I can find some, will go towards pwning this room mate.

 

[FoBoT]

show them this
http://www.pics.bbzzdd.com/bet...eak/rabbit_pancake.jpg

 

[Legendary]

If aluminum has a nonstick coating then burning that can release noxious fumes (same reason you don't leave a nonstick pan on the stove without some sort of liquid, it will burn the nonstick surface)

Other than that,

 

[BassBomb]

Back when we used to have exposed element stove, we had these small aluminum decorative covers that we placed upon the stove. Worked fine (unless that element was hot they burned, and got ruined)

I see no problem with using aluminum foil

 

[funkymatt]

there have been studies on Alzheimers that show high levels of aluminum in the brain, but there doesn't seem to be a correlation to the cause.

 

[JS80]

he's probably thinking microwave

 

[TuxDave]

After my landlord did his yearly apartment inspection I was asked to remove the aluminum foil from my stove tops as a "fire hazard". I had no idea what he's talking about but I did it anyways.

 

[Soundmanred]

Like the poster above said, unless it's the nonstick coated foil, you're simply putting a layer of metal on top of your stove.

 

[tasmanian]

Are you putting the foil under the element in that little bowl?

 

[shopbruin]

My mom did this for years until she got one of those flat top stoves.

 

[FoBoT]

here is the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/a2705.htm

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
Are you putting the foil under the element in that little bowl?

Sounds like it. What's the point? I think I just let whatever falls in burn into carbon and bought new cheap ones at the supermarket at the end of the lease.

 

[Redfraggle]

My question is where are you putting the foil? Also, I agree with PottedMeat. Those things aren't expensive and foil can burn.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

If the burners get hot enough and the pots you cook in press the foil firmly against the burners, you could conceivably melt the foil to the stove.

 

[Spineshank]

Since when does foil melt? Or catch on fire? It will turn black but thats it..and thats from putting it in a fire.............well maybe a stove gets hotter than a fire?

 

[techs]

This may not be related, but when the controversy over the Bradley Fighting Vehichle was going on I remember hearing something about "burning aluminum" giving off toxic gas.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
If the burners get hot enough and the pots you cook in press the foil firmly against the burners, you could conceivably melt the foil to the stove.

People cook with the cover still on?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Originally posted by: Spineshank
Since when does foil melt? Or catch on fire? It will turn black but thats it..and thats from putting it in a fire.............well maybe a stove gets hotter than a fire?

Are you kidding? You can melt an aluminum pan to the stove if left on high heat long enough.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
If the burners get hot enough and the pots you cook in press the foil firmly against the burners, you could conceivably melt the foil to the stove.

People cook with the cover still on?

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
If the burners get hot enough and the pots you cook in press the foil firmly against the burners, you could conceivably melt the foil to the stove.

People cook with the cover still on?

 

[scott916]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
If the burners get hot enough and the pots you cook in press the foil firmly against the burners, you could conceivably melt the foil to the stove.

People cook with the cover still on?

---
What is wrong with you people.
AnandTech Moderator Evadman[/quote]

 

[tasmanian]

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS

Originally posted by: Spineshank
Since when does foil melt? Or catch on fire? It will turn black but thats it..and thats from putting it in a fire.............well maybe a stove gets hotter than a fire?

Are you kidding? You can melt an aluminum pan to the stove if left on high heat long enough.

Yep, I accidentally left a teapot on the stove and when I pulled it off the bottom had melted out.

 

[pray4mojo]

Um dont let the aluminum burn then? I put aluminum over my stove cause its easier to clean but I don't put any where it can get burned. Never had a problem.

 

[magomago]

http://www.lpappliances.com/images/Verona/24SIDE.jpg
Its of this nature, although the layout is different.
I put it in the white area, and around the knobs on the right in case a nasty spill appears I don't touch the burners at all.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If it touches the element it will be a path of less resistence so the electricity will skip the element and go through the foil. Maybe? Don't know.. then again it would do it with metal pans too...

If you put the foil under the element just keep a safe distance from where the element plugs in. That's 240 volts, you don't want that doing a parrallel arc since that will be nasty...