Aluminium on an open fire

[RedLeader]

I used an aluminium frying pan (one that doubles as a pot lid) on a fairly hot open fire (to make Bannock) and I noticed when I went to wash it that it has now become very soft - I can bend it easily. Can aluminium lose strength if it hits a certain temperature? Just to note, it was a pretty cheap (but perfectly serviceable pot set) like these but up until now they had seemed perfectly hardy.

[Fred]

If you heat aluminium to a certain point it anneals (becomes soft). Normally with a wet meal this wouldnt occur since the heat is easily dissipated by the food. Perhaps you have overheated it. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to restore the hardness.
Fred

[Matthew]

heat it up hot, like really hot and plunge it into a sink of cold water and the hardness will be back. Probably Harder than before to be fair.

[RedLeader]

That's the sort if experiment I can get behind! So what's the sciencey goodness that's going on here?

heat it up hot, like really hot and plunge it into a sink of cold water and the hardness will be back. Probably Harder than before to be fair.