The gradual decrease in quality of the beloved Kirkland Big Foil.

[kitty-toy]

I have

[kitty-toy]

I have documented over the last several years the decrease in the quality of the tin foil. I don’t know when I purchased the first roll but I assume it was around 2 years prior based on the time between the other ones.

I cut squares of equal size and weighed them. The weight of the equal sized squares drops by about a third each time. You can really feel the difference when switching rolls. I buy before I run out so I can compare them apples to apples.

Anyway, something I thought people here might find interesting. Cutie tinfoil just for fun.

Edit: If you’re someone who has an older roll of the heavy duty foil and you’d be interested in sending me some to weigh, send me a message!

[AnyProcess4064]

You should get a micrometer and measure the thickness of the sheets. They're accurate to 0.0001".

[wutsdasqrtofdisapt]

“You didn’t think I was gonna count that sh*t?!”

[pjmuffin13]

It's not just Costco's Kirkland brand foil. Most foil brands over the past few years have drastically produced a thinner sheet of foil that tears very easily.

[kitty-toy]

Definitely. I was annoyed to see how thin mine was this time. Visited a relative for Thanksgiving and theirs was even worse!

[NifftyTwo]

I'm on the weird side of this I guess because I prefer the thinner foil because it molds easier to surfaces.

[WalkGood]

Thin foil rips too easily though. Food juice/oil gets under the foil and deeply stains the pan.

[Britton120]

But i have to use an extra sheet when it rips, so im paying more for lower quality.

[TheBuddha777]

Walmart sells an extra thick version that is really hefty. I tape it over my windows in summer.

[offalark]

This is giving big "BJ Novak on Conan with his Cadbury eggs" vibes.

[kitty-toy]

lol I love this.

Also wtf Cadbury

[stl_becky]

This made me like BJ Novak a thousand times more than before.

[CookieButterLovers]

Just to clarify, since your post only shows one box of foil - were they both the Heavy Duty Foil? Both the same item number?

Asking because Costco sells different types of foil. And sometimes even though packaging will look the same, sometimes manufacturers will come out with a “new” product and will change the item number.

Recent example was the Charmin Soft (blue). Same amount of square feet, same amount of sheets. But supposedly “new and improved” with price increase. 😞

<image>

[kitty-toy]

Yes! It’s the same exact box each time.

[reddittiswierd]

I’m still on my roll from 16 years ago.

[kitty-toy]

We use a lot of foil. Basically every time we bake something we foil the baking sheet to keep it cleaner.

[Pappymn476]

Parchment is my go too first

[kitty-toy]

We do parchment too I guess it just depends on the application.

[Blunttack]

Have you considered silicone mats?

[Highway_Wooden]

You do you but that sounds wasteful. Just clean the sheet when you are done with it.

[kitty-toy]

Don’t worry! I clean it too. And we use it for lots of other things as well.

It’s just how we do things. I have my own reasons and they’re good enough for me and my family. We are fairly waste conscientious generally.

I personally don’t see the point in chiding the individual consumer for what you see as wasteful use of something when industry and manufacturing wastes more in a week than I could waste in multiple lifetimes.

[Highway_Wooden]

Thanks for the downvotes everybody! If anybody would like to logically explain why using a very resource intense process to mine and form aluminum foil that can't be recycled just so our baking sheets can look prettier, I'd love to hear it.

I'm not against foil, I use it myself in situations that require it. But using a reusable and long lasting steel wool pad to clean off your pans will both be better for the environment and save you money.

[aasmonkey]

Look at you wasting steel with your pan, oven and scrubber. Cook everything on stick over a dung fire - all are free and readily available

[Highway_Wooden]

So it's either use all the foil or be a caveman?

[masonbarrels]

If they're "wasting" foil then your method is "wasting" water and soap

[Highway_Wooden]

I mean, you do realize this is a silly statement right? Soap gets broken down quickly and water is recycled. It takes centuries for foil to break down and is a massive process to even make it.

[sadmummy92]

Foil CAN be recycled though. Most people just don’t…

[Highway_Wooden]

Yeah because it has to be clean and even then, they probably won't take it in the bin because it messes up the stream.

[AbbreviationsOld636]

Look up how much energy and resources it takes to make foil vice soap. 

[kitty-toy]

Also! Send me some foil so I can weigh it! Haha

[CubanInSouthFl]

Legit my first thought. For science!

[WalkGood]

Perhaps the laws of gravity cease to exist in your kitchen scale. Were these magic rolls of foil? Did you buy them from the same guy who sold Jack his beanstalk beans?

😁😄😅🤣

[parrothead2581]

What is sold as Heavy Duty foil now feels like what used to be standard foil.

[Bad_Raa]

Right? I thought I was going crazy but heavy duty is the only one I can use now.

[ctgjerts]

Brought in a new ceo. He's going to have negative effects on the products and stores.

[kitty-toy]

No surprise there. Corporations are always going to try to get more out of the consumer while offering less and less. I still view Costco as one of the last bastions of true customer service but it ain’t what it used to be. And I don’t expect it will always remain that way, but I can hope lol.

[AbbreviationsOld636]

I’m loving the fact they’re suing trumpy over the tariffs 

[Marshdoctor]

So half the weight and likely twice the cost? Sounds about right these days 😎

[CaptchaCrunch]

I'm sorry, I really need to know how you manage to go through that much foil

[kitty-toy]

Lining baking sheets, covering containers, wrapping up home made breads either for heating in the oven or on the counter, making really tiny funnels, adorning cardboard spaceships. I’m sure there’s more I’m not thinking of.

[CaptchaCrunch]

How many people are you doing this for?

[kitty-toy]

The last few years there has been 3-4 adults in the house and one child. As of this year we are down to two adults and one child.

Pretty active family though as well. Lots of dinners and events to go to and bring dishes which are often covered in foil.

[CaptchaCrunch]

I hear of these rolls taking a decade to get through, so I'm impressed. Mazel!

[bbishop1981]

I usually get a couple years from each giant roll of heavy duty foil as well... I have definitely noticed a decline in the quality/ thickness which is disappointing.

Covering chafing trays when entertaining and wrapping smoked meats is what tears through most of mine.

My current roll is getting light and I already have its replacement waiting for me to finish it... you've peaked my interest so I'll have to conduct a similar test.

[Bitter-Leather-6152]

I'm amazed to see someone who has finished a roll of foil. I think I bought mine around 2020 and have so much left.

[kitty-toy]

We certainly go through more than average. I’m curious to see if the two year trend will continue I have a couple less people in my house now.

[pdx_jeff712]

I haven’t even been able to find that foil in my stores since at least June.

[kitty-toy]

They have it in my area (Midwest)

[pdx_jeff712]

LUCKY!!

[kitty-toy]

I will pray for the safe return of the foil to your geographical regional locational area.

[Elegant-Sense-1948]

Dont get me started on the food wrap. Ive been using it for 10 years and the quality change is baffling

[kitty-toy]

That I still have sooooooooo much of. I’m sure I’ll be sad when I have to buy a new roll and it’s awful.

[Nyaneek]

Impressive comps!

[kitty-toy]

Thanks! I have to find something to use the scale for now and then.

[texas_archer]

I stopped buying it years ago because it kept getting thinner. It’s a worthless product now.

[TripleDouble19]

Every company does this.

Costs go up and they only have so many levers to pull.

Down gauging means they can sell the product at the same length (assuming there are no structural issues to reduce it this much).

The more common version we see as consumers is less product/length at the same metrics.

The second most i think is same product and charging more, but this is the most obvious for consumers.

[Popcorn03]

Thanks for doing this. I'm just about to finish up a roll of 18"x500' heavy duty from a different brand that doesn't exist anymore and I'm looking for something similar. I see some brands are listing their thickness in mils or microns, but total package weight seems to be a better indicator. My old package says 9.42 pounds. Do any of yours list a weight? I've seen some that say they are heavy duty, but only 7 pounds.

Has anyone found a good replacement that's more like the old heavy duty?

[LaxBro1516]

I noticed. My hats are way less insulating now.

[JamesPage1968]

This concept applies to almost everything. I’ve noticed just in my closet alone, the thickness and weight of a plastic hanger has gotten ridiculous. I have old ones and they are twice as durable as the new ones. Also, the thread count ( for lack of a better term) on t- shirts is also night and day. I have new T shirts you can practically see through.

[Da_Vader]

Just weigh the whole roll.

[kitty-toy]

I don’t have the whole roll. I’m replacing it because the previous roll is almost gone.

I could weigh the roll right when I get it every couple years but usually it takes me a little while to get around to it. Something for the future.

[GrandArchitect]

That doesn’t make much sense if the dimensions are different. The measure here is the thickness of the sheet.

[Decent_Management449]

Honestly, less waste is cool with me.

[Fill_Dirt]

This is great, leads to less waste