What side of the aluminum foil do you use and why?

Question

Do you use the super shiny side, or the less shiny side?

Answer 1

for cooking it does not matter 4 other put dull side in the shiiny side is alot worse 4 ur lungs it has bad properties in it

Answer 2

Shiny side is usually used IN bc its the side thats in direct contact with the food (just feels more hygienic bc its the inner side of the aluminium roll)

Actually the concern only matters when you're microwaving because the shiny surface would so called reflect the waves and sometimes burn or puncture the inner plastic linings of the microwave (or door) like it did to mine. Newer versions of convection microwaves are said to be free of this worry.

However, check out the real reason:

Aluminium foil typically has a highly reflective side and a more matte side. This is a result of common manufacturing processes. As aluminium foil is easy to tear, the foil is sent through machines in pairs. The side where the aluminium foil was in contact with the other sheet is more matte than the exterior side.
This unconformity of finish has led to the perception that favoring a side has an effect when cooking. While many believe that the shiny side's reflective properties keep heat in when wrapped on the interior, and keep heat out when facing exterior, the actual difference is imperceptible without instrumentation

Answer 3

To quote reynolds aluminum foil site:

Actually, it makes no difference which side of the aluminum foil you use—both sides do the same fine job of cooking, freezing and storing food. The difference in appearance between dull and shiny is due to the foil manufacturing process. In the final rolling step, two layers of foil are passed through the rolling mill at the same time. The side coming in contact with the mill's highly polished steel rollers becomes shiny. The other side, not coming in contact with the heavy rollers, comes out with a dull or matte finish.

Answer 4

Either side is fine.

Exert from HOW ITS MADE site below:

Aluminum foil is made from a large block of aluminum that becomes thinned out in several stages. It is a long and complex process. A huge aluminum ingot can make 850 boxes of aluminum foil — the equivalent of a single sheet measuring 12.7 kilometers in length.

Answer 5

Usually the shiny side, but it really doesn't matter according the the Reynolds Wrap Company.

Answer 6

well this all depends on wether or not you want your food brown more or not. if it is somthing you dont want to get as brown the shiny side should be turned away from the food as to reflect the heat off of the food's surface, and if you want it to be more brown the shiny side should be facing the food, so the heat will be reflected onto the surface. oh and you never want to put any metal of any kind in any microwave EVER, unless the manufacturing says it is ok, as it will BLOW UP, the person that anwsered this before me was obviously not informed enough to know this.

Answer 7

Shiny side in, as the non-shiny side will absorb more heat.

Answer 8

It does not matter . I was at the Memphis in May BBQ cook off a couple of years ago and the Lady's from the Reynolds Wrap commercials were hosting a cooking seminar and they said it does not matter.They said the difference is due to the manufacturing process.

Answer 9

Shiny side out, that was the way my mother taught me.

Answer 10

shiny side in