However, opinion is divided about which side of the aluminum foil should be used. Is it best to position aluminum foil with the shiny side up or down before you put that casserole in the oven? Create delicious dishes that are wrapped up with these handy recipes for cooking with aluminum foil, for meat, fish, . But even just a 30-minute meal made in a foil packet can be a great option for weeknight summer dinners. Get the Philly Cheesesteak Foil Packets recipe at Chelsea's Messy Apron. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. So what gives? But it should not affect convection, the major source of heat transfer. So whether you're looking for a fun idea for your next cookout or simply an easy weeknight dinner, there's something here for everyone. THE RESULT: After 30 minutes in a 350-degree oven, the water in the beaker wrapped in foil with the shiny side in was 2 degrees hotter. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Aluminum foil is one of those ubiquitous household items that most of us take for granted. The outside surfaces become shiny and the inner surfaces that are pressed together stay . According to reports, both sides are equally effective at heating your food so you can use any you prefer. Thus, eating mostly home-cooked foods and reducing your intake of commercially processed foods may help to reduce your aluminum intake (2, 3, 8). So who is right? The manufacture of aluminum foil is similar to the process of making pasta at home. Its also widely available in grocery stores for household use. It's even better when topped with fresh sprigs of thyme. When it comes to baking cookies, it's best to reach for parchment paper over aluminum foil. If youve wondered which side of aluminum foil to use, youre not alone. As a matter of fact that it is so thin and malleable, aluminum foil can be used for all sorts of kitchen purposes. Does it make any difference when you wrap food with aluminum foil for grilling or baking or making a steam pouch whether you put the shiny side in or the shiny side out? Aluminum foil, sometimes called tin foil, is a very thin shiny sheet of the metal aluminum. Please contact for permissions. The shiny side will reflect heat better than the dull side, resulting in increased cooking time for the food. This is because the shiny side is more reflective and so will reflect more of the radiant heat than the duller side. You can also just keep a sheet of foil on the lowest rack of your oven at all times, replacing the foil as necessary, in order to always have a layer of disposal protection against spills. However, as there is no link between people with a high intake of aluminum due to medications, such as antacids, and Alzheimers, its unclear if dietary aluminum is truly a cause of the disease (6). We live on a farm, so you know, Spring is super busy. However, the different finishes do not have different functions, and they react with food in the same way. Instructions. We're answering your most pressing questions: Is it safe to use foil in the microwave or air fryer? A shiny surface shouldmake no differencetoconvectionbut it willmake a differencetoradiation. ), but using non-stick or greased foil makes it so much easier. However, when measured over time in high temperatures, the difference is so slight that there should be little discernable change in cooking times. This may seem simple enough, but the actual process can be tricky. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Some people say that the shiny side reflects heat better, while the dull side provides better insulation. Juicy, flavorful chicken and veggies made with homemade fajita seasoningthis dish is sure to become a family favorite. So, to understand how to best use aluminum foil in the kitchen, we turned to a few food experts. Plus, storing a baked potato in the aluminum foil it was baked in gives botulinum bacteria the potential to grow. You can place either side in either direction whether cooking or freezing food with aluminium foil. Quite simply, it doesn't matter. If you are using non-stick aluminum foil, you will see that the non-stick side is indicated by a dull and flat color. The potatoes actually browned up a bit, which I also love!"-LifeIsGood. Aluminum exposure can be reduced by decreasing your intake of highly processed foods and reducing your use of aluminum foil and aluminum cooking utensils. "The foil makes it fun, and it seals in all the delicious flavor and aroma," Ree Drummond says about her foil-packet shrimp, "And it's an out-of-the-ordinary presentation." The other, well, it's still silver but not nearly as sparkly. Traditionally, the shiny side is placed face up on the roll, and the dull side is face down. The foil will be heated through convection and this energy will be transferred to the potato, and as the moisture in the potato heats up, the potato is cooked through steam. Smoked sausage, red potatoes, fresh green beans, and onions all cook together in one big foil packet for the ultimate summer barbecue dinner. Heres my version, best enjoyed with a steaming cup of coffee by the campfire. Cookbook'. All rights reserved. Lets Find Out! You flip over the loaf pan so it's upside down. Aluminum is ingested through food, water and medication. Most resources still say it is true, the shiny side should be down, some newer sources say that it makes no difference which side of the aluminum foil faces up. Which side of aluminum foil are you supposed to use? Not very informative! Aluminum is one of the most abundant metals on earth (1). Matte Magic: Achieving A Chic Finish With Aluminum Paint, Mastering The Mix: Tips For Consistent Aluminum Paint Color. Consider a baked potato. The reason one side of the foil is shinier than the other is because it is smoother and has fewer little imperfections: hills and valleys. In fact, along with chicken recipes, shrimp recipes, and steak, this list even includes a few fun summer dessertsall made in a foil packet! In this recipe for beef rolls, for instance, the recipe gives options for frying, baking, or even boiling(!) A representative of the company told us that foils shiny- and dull-sidedness is simply the result of the manufacturing processand that there are no performance differences between the two sides. Some foods, such as tea leaves, mushrooms, spinach and radishes, are also more likely to absorb and accumulate aluminum than other foods (2). As the name suggests, heavy-duty foil is thicker and sturdier than regular foil, says Manning. Two layers of aluminum foil are milled together in contact with each other and pass through the rolling mill simultaneously. The Difference Between A Bath Sheet And A Bath Towel. The reason for wrapping the potato in foil is that the foil is heated through convection, and the energy is transferred to the potato. Foil has a shiny side and a dull side, and we tend to use the two sides interchangeably in the kitchen: But what if one side is better than the other? This extra level of durability can withstand high heat, making it appropriate for wrapping food and placing it directly on coals or an open fire, according to Chavez. Aluminum foil is non-toxic and recyclable, so it is a great eco-friendly option. This article explores the risks associated with using aluminum foil and determines whether or not it is acceptable for everyday use. 2020 Chef's Resource - Ask The Experts LLC. However, its also found in small amounts in the air, water and in your food. This is a no-fuss, no-mess version of apple pie. These foil packs contain shrimp (the "surf") and sirloin steak (the "turf"), plus veggies, so they're a full meal in one! Although the shiny surface does not make a difference to convection, it has a slight impact on radiation. You need to wrap them at the correct time in the cooking process. Combine the liquid smoke with the BBQ sauce then brush onto the baby back ribs, covering all sides. In reality, they are simply the result of the manufacturing process. The hot air of the oven transfers heat to the food being cooked. Foil is no longer made out of tin as it is more expensive and less durable than aluminum. The dull side, on the other hand, reflects heat less. Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website. Lining the very bottom of your oven with aluminum foil might sound like a good way to catch spills and avoid major oven cleanups, but the folks at Reynolds don't recommend it: "To avoid possible heat damage to your oven, we do not recommend using aluminum foil to line the bottom of your oven." BY Fine Dining Lovers, Editorial Staff 13 May, 2021 S Shiny side up or shiny side down? Rambutan is a small, oval-to-round fruit native to Southeast Asia. A large block of almost pure aluminum is rolled through giant steel rollers, several times, reducing the thickness of the aluminum block and spreading it out to make it longer. Banana Peppers Vs. Pepperoncini: What's The Difference? Any air trapped in the aluminum foil pouch and surrounding the potato may act as an insulating barrier, slowing the transfer of heat. Therefore, wrapping your potatoes and other food tightly will make them cook more quickly. The idea is to start with a large sheet of foil. This is incredibly helpful when you're in need of a camping recipe. Heat and tension are applied to stretch the foil until it's thin enough to become the familiar sheets you buy in stores and use at home. It turns out that there isnt much of a difference. Additionally, the shiny side is often more reflective, which can be helpful when trying to keep food warm. During that final pass through the roller, two sheets are rolled at once because they have become so thin. However, the primary source of heat when you cook food in the oven is convection heat. Dont be confused by convection ovens. All ovens use convection, convection ovens just use a fan to make the convection more efficient. For example, the shiny side of the foil is more reflective, so it can help to keep food warm. Additionally, some of the aluminum you eat comes from processed food additives, such as preservatives, coloring agents, anti-caking agents and thickeners. Should You Reuse Takeout Containers From Restaurants? But don't worry, there's still plenty of peppers, onions, and melty provolone cheese. For non-stick purposes. Both sides of the aluminum tin foil boast the same properties when it comes to heat conductivity. Convection is the transfer of heat due to the physical movement of the surrounding fluid. . The rest is passed in your feces. Only a small amount of the heat transfer is created through infrared radiation. Whisk together until well combine and set aside. All content 2019 by Eric Troy and CulinaryLore. about Rambutan fruit: what it is and its benefits, about Shroom for Improvement: 'Mamu' is the Meat Alternative with a Twist, about The Rules To Building The Perfect Sandwich. And since the salmon are grilled in foil, there's almost no cleanup! Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A&W 1/3 Pound Burger Failure Fact Check: Are Americans Really That Bad at Fractions? However, it is important to use the correct side if you are using non-stick aluminum foil. The amount varies based on the type of food you're cooking, the cooking temperature, and the acid content. One of the most common questions people have about aluminum foil is which side should come in contact with food. Cooking salmon on a grill can be intimidating (and there's always the fear of sticking! This is a crowd-pleasing dish if we ever did see one! Aluminum foil, or tin foil, is a paper-thin, shiny sheet of aluminum metal. But is cooking with an air fryer actually healthy? Basic Food Safety Rules Every Home Cook Should Know. The dull side of the foil reflects more light than the shiny side. At home, people use aluminum foil for food storage, to cover baking surfaces and to wrap foods, such as meats, to prevent them from losing moisture while cooking. Why Do We Say a Fifth of Whiskey, Rum, or Vodka? Instead of your typical steak and potatoes, this recipe uses sweet potatoes, and gosh is it good! Despite some test-tube and animal studies that allude to correlation, no studies have yet found a definitive link between aluminum intake and IBD (20, 21). By the time you've helped the kids finish their homework, this filling and healthy sheet pan meal will be out of the oven in just an hour. To wrap food before cooking to retain its moisture and prevent burning. Still, some scientists claim that it is best to place the shiny side up. How do you build the perfect sandwich? However, studies show that aluminum foil, cooking utensils and containers can leach aluminum into your food (6, 9). It is the inverse! Read More: Why You Should Never Bake Cookies on an Aluminum Foil-Lined Baking Sheet. Do you often use aluminum foil when you cook? Aluminum foil is an indispensable item in nearly every household. THE EXPERIMENT: We baked two potatoes, each of exactly the same weight, in a 350-degree oven, one wrapped in foil with the shiny side facing out and the other with the shiny side facing in. If the recipe calls for it, grease the inside of the pan with melted butter or nonstick . It's actually more like an apple crisp since it doesn't have a crust, but either way, it's delicious! Learn to love your leftovers with zero-waste recipes from world-famous chefs. (Cooled food wrapped in aluminum foil doesn't appear to absorb the metal.) Discover more on Fine Dining Lovers. If you don't have a funnel on hand to pour ingredients into small containers, simply make one with a piece of aluminum foil. According to the USDA, no more than a quarter of the food should be covered in foil, which should be new and smooth (i.e., free of wrinkles). Make sure that the foil is clean and dry. So whether you use the shiny or dull side it is essentially up to ones choice and what theyre using it for. However, most of the aluminum you ingest is passed in feces and urine and is not considered harmful. So which is the right side to use? It's made by rolling large slabs of aluminum until they are less than 0.2 millimeters thick. But of course, we wanted to test this out for ourselves. A large block of nearly pure aluminum is rolled several times through gigantic steel rollers. High levels of dietary aluminum have been suggested as a contributing factor to Alzheimers disease and IBD. The flavors of the white wine sauce, garlic, and shrimp all mingle together in the foil packet while cooking. But it's not infallible. What is FOH and BOH in the Restaurant Business? Many people believe that it matters which side is used up or down. How to Safely Reheat Leftovers: Steak, Chicken, Rice, Pizza and More, Cast Iron Cooking: Everything You Need to Know, How to Dehydrate Food: Methods, Benefits, Tips, and More, What to Put in Oatmeal: Taste, Health, Weight Loss, and More, Overview of Press-Fit Radial Head Arthroplasty Procedure. So there you have it, whether you use the shiny side or the dull side, aluminum foil will do a great job of reflecting heat and preventing burned or overcooked food. As an Amazon Associate I (ChefsResource.com) earn from qualifying purchases. Tamara Gane is a travel, food, and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in more than 30 prominent publications, including Travel and Leisure, TripSavvy, The Washington Post, The Independent, NPR, Taste of Home, Wine Enthusiast, and more. "While both papers have non-stick properties, and are safe in the microwave, wax paper is made by applying a food-safe wax coating to the surface of the thin paper," says Charry Brown . Theres a divergence of opinion concerning which side of aluminum foil to use while baking. In addition, aluminum foil can also be used to reflect sunlight. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. To err on the side of caution, there are some aluminum foil techniques and applications that should be avoided in the oven. So, if youre looking to reflect heat, make sure to use the dull side of the foil. Additionally, if your microwave has metal parts, extra care should be taken to ensure the foil doesn't touch the metal components. The amount of aluminum that makes its way into your food when you use aluminum foil can vary. The side where the foil comes into contact with another layer of foil appears dull, while the other side, which hasn't made contact with another sheet, appears shiny. If youre using a nonstick foil, which may only be nonstick on one side. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); All Things Aluminum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. It's an easy grilled supper that is not only simple to prepare, but also makes clean up a breeze. Any object with a temperature above absolute zero emits infrared radiation. 1. So, wrap your potatoes tightly before baking. No matter which side of the foil you use, you will find that the heat conduction performance is the same.