I was originally going to write this about R. J. Reynolds, the big cigarette manufacturer out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina (whose two biggest-selling brands for years were Winston and Salem). The more I thought about it, I realized that one of the most ubiquitous products in kitchens all over the US was Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil…
As it turns out, Richard S. Reynolds, who started the whole Reynolds Wrap thing, was R. J.’s nephew. Small world. Reynolds Wrap, at least the consumer version of it, has only been around since 1947, and it made Reynolds the second-biggest manufacturer of aluminum foil in the US and third-largest in the world. Alcoa (Aluminum Company of America) was the largest, and in the early 2000’s they bought Reynolds.
Aluminum foil in general and Reynolds Wrap in particular is really versatile: you can wrap food in it, cook in it, cover serving dishes for easy transport to pot-luck suppers, wrap presents with it. Kind of like this commercial says…
Again, I think I was just finding excuses for putting commercials into posts…and speaking of commercials, they also make plastic wrap, which home economists Betty and Pat will demonstrate:
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
When I was a kid we wrapped presents with aluminum foil and used it for all kinds of art projects. It’s very pretty, but it tastes awful even if you get just a tiny piece in your food.
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Get some on a filling and it can do serious damage. Thank heaven most of my teeth are capped…
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Now that I think of it, I felt the foil on my uncapped teeth yesterday. Good thing.
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Well, I cannot say I remember the first commercial, but I do remember the second one. Dang, ya know these commercials really insult our intelligence don’t you think? Who are they selling to adults or children… duh!!! Anyway, one more day John sure went by fast don’t cha think? I do. I’m surprise I got through this with some of these letters… hahahaha Yesterday was a beautiful day and today cold, wet, and dreary! Sign of the times I guess! Have a nice day my friend! hugs
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I suppose they all insult our intelligence to one degree or another. Maybe I’m not watching TV at the right times, but you never see commercials ike these anymore.
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I use Reynolds foil… I prefer that brand. I’ve tried others and they don’t seem to hold up as well. I also use Reynolds brand wax paper, but that’ mainly because it’s the only wax paper I can find!
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I don’t think people use waxed paper as much as they used to. There used to be several brands.
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I know Reynolds for its freezer paper! Very useful for quilting, I bought several rolls in Canada ;))
Y is for Young
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They have a whole line of wrapping solutions. I like that…
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I just call it tin foil too since I generally buy whatever is cheapest. Although my mom got some from the dollar store that was so thin it was almost useless.
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We don’t use a lot of aluminum foil, so we buy the good stuff. I’ve bought some that was practically worthless, it was so thin.
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I remember using Reynolds wrap to cover books when I was in school. Don’t remember why I used it, maybe didn’t have any paper bags at the time. Another way I used this product was to make balls so my cats would play with them.
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Cat toys! Of course! Mom used to buy clear Con-Tact paper to cover our books.
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Reynold’s Wrap definitely has multiple uses.
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Very useful stuff. The best place to mix epoxy.
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I just call it tin foil but I know Reynolds is on the side. That middle commercial made me cringe a bit with the mink coat..ichhh.
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It was the times. What can I say?
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Definitely good for cooking! And for leftovers :)
The Multicolored Diary
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And for wrapping around rabbit-ears TV antennas to improve reception!
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