No, you shouldn't put lemon in aluminum, especially when cooking or storing for extended periods. The citric acid in lemon reacts with aluminum, causing the aluminum to break down and leach into your food. This results in an unpleasant metallic taste and a grayish discoloration of your food. This reaction is amplified by heat.
Why is this a problem?
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Aluminum Leaching: The acidic nature of lemon juice causes aluminum to dissolve, contaminating the food. This is a concern because aluminum ingestion can have negative health effects. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3)
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Altered Taste and Appearance: Your food will acquire an undesirable metallic taste and a grayish hue due to the aluminum reaction. (Source 1, Source 4)
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Health Concerns: While the level of aluminum leaching might be small in some instances, prolonged exposure to aluminum is linked to health concerns. This is especially true for repeated consumption from aluminum containers in contact with acidic foods. (Source 2, Source 3)
Better Alternatives:
Consider using glass, stainless steel, or food-grade plastic containers for storing or cooking with lemon juice.
Examples of Situations to Avoid:
- Storing lemon water in an aluminum bottle.
- Cooking acidic dishes directly in aluminum foil or pans.
- Leaving lemon juice in contact with aluminum for extended periods.
