Protection and Deflection

• At first blush it would seem that plastic wrap is a better choice for insulating your food or beverages, since aluminum transfers heat very efficiently. That's ideal for cookware, where you want heat to penetrate quickly, but counter-productive when you're trying to keep warmth out. Plastic, in contrast, is a poor conductor of heat. However, other factors are at play. Aluminum foil forms a reflective surface, which impedes the transfer of heat from the surrounding atmosphere. Unless your food or beverage is sitting directly on a hot surface -- and it shouldn't be -- aluminum is the better choice.

Real-World Use

• In real-life situations, a single layer of plastic or aluminum isn't going to be much help. Double- or triple-wrapping your food or drink is more effective, because the air trapped between the layers also acts as an insulator. Better yet, combine both aluminum and plastic. Wrap your item tightly in aluminum foil to reflect cold inward, then add a layer or two of plastic to slow heat transfer; then, add another layer of foil to deflect incoming heat.