Aluminum Foil Retainers
April 13, 2010 at 10:57 pm Chad Upton 11 comments
Aluminum foil is amazing when you think about it.
It’s indispensable in the kitchen and all the good Halloween costumes require it. So, it’s no surprise there are a lot of aluminum foil secrets. For example, most people don’t realize there is a proper use for aluminum foil in the microwave, the FDA even has guidelines for it.
But, there is one aluminum foil secret that everyone needs to know about: the aluminum foil retainers. There are perforated retainer tabs on the side of the aluminum foil box. When pushed in, these tabs hold the roll in place while you unroll it.
Maybe it’s too much to ask, but I wish they pre-pushed these tabs at the factory — I went years without noticing them. Then again, maybe it’s the manufacturer’s inside joke; now that has been foiled.
Broken Secrets | Written By: Chad Upton
Photo: redbell20j
Entry filed under: Around The House, Food and Drink. Tags: aluminum, foil, retainer, tab, tin, tinfoil.
Broken Secrets 
1.
Jojo | April 14, 2010 at 12:03 am
Took me a long time to find these tab thingies also, but they are on saran wrap too, which is light years more helpful than the aluminum foil ones.
2.
Jacquie | April 14, 2010 at 8:06 am
I went straight to my pantry after reading this post… and lo’ and behold!! :o) Thanks
3.
Mr. P | April 14, 2010 at 8:49 am
AMAZING FIND!
Absolutely love the blog and just vote for you in the Webbys!!
4.
Brett | April 14, 2010 at 9:59 am
Already voted for you…and I never knew about those tabs either! Sneaky, sneaky manufacturers!
5.
Beth | April 27, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Well son of a gun!
6.
melissa | April 30, 2010 at 11:07 pm
The Trick is getting people to use them, I always wondered why as a kid why no one pushed in the tabs on the foil, plastic wrap, even freezer paper/wax paper!!!!!! But, if you squish your box in the drawer or pull to hard too many times, they kinda stop working. :-)
7.
melissa | April 30, 2010 at 11:10 pm
PS….. I LOVE <3 your site! :-x :-) Thanks for all the rockin secrets.
8.
Hedy Lukas | April 5, 2011 at 7:24 am
It’s almost embarassing to learn this after so many years of being frustrated with the rolls coming out of the box when you pull…kind of like the manufacturers were just toying with us…thanks so much for sharing this kind of info! Love it.
9.
Why Aluminum Foil is Dull on One Side « Broken Secrets | April 6, 2011 at 2:02 am
[…] you’ve all read Chad’s previous posts about aluminum foil retainers or how to properly use aluminum foil in the microwave. The post about aluminum foil retainers is a […]
10.
chriscp | September 24, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Push ’em in at the factory. Then they get shipped in large trucks to their various destinations where they sit for…who knows how long and little critters could get into the box during that time. Do you really want to open a new roll of aluminum foil and find dead bugs or even live ones in it?
11.
arlene shatkin | January 19, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Never knew that. Amazing all these years I’ve been frustrated by the foil coming out of the box and inevitably I would cut myself on the tear off strip. No more bandages for me. Thanks Melissa got any other hints for me?