Household items
Aluminium Foil
An opaque metal foil, commonly called 錫紙 in Hong Kong, that must not be used in a microwave oven.
- 繁體中文
- 錫紙
- English
- Aluminium Foil
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Aluminium Foil (錫紙)
- Tagalog
- Aluminum Foil (錫紙)
What is it?
Modern household 錫紙 is normally aluminium foil sold on a roll. Food contact and heating uses must follow the package, appliance and cookware instructions.
How to identify it
Look for an opaque silver metallic sheet that creases easily and a box labelled aluminium foil or aluminum foil.
- Opaque metal foil
- Silver and easily creased
- Package states aluminium or aluminum foil
Common confusion
Cling Film / Baking Paper (Parchment Paper)
Aluminium foil is opaque metal; cling film is clear and flexible; baking paper is opaque food-grade paper.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Wrapping, covering or lining food and containers only as the package permits.
Preparation or handling
Check the oven, cookware and foil instructions. Never place aluminium foil or other metal in a microwave oven.
Storage
Keep clean in the original box, with the cutter protected and away from children.
Helper tip
The Hong Kong name literally says tin paper, but the modern household product is normally aluminium. Confirm the aluminium foil label.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
用錫紙包住，但唔可以放微波爐。The employer wants foil used for wrapping but explicitly forbids putting the metal in a microwave.
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Last reviewed
Sources
- Hong Kong Consumer Council — Online Price Watch household product categories
- Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety — Microwave Cooking and Food Safety
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong Humanum Research Centre — Cantonese Pronunciation Dictionary
- The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong — Jyutping Romanization Scheme