Facts

How-Tos

The Old-School Myth About Aluminum Foil, Debunked By Cheryl Kochenderfer Oct. 15, 2025 5:39 pm EST

KTK_Creatives_stockphoto/Shutterstock

When it comes to baking, we use aluminum foil to line pans, cover dishes, or even for easy wrap-and-cook foil dinners . But regardless of how you use foil, you've probably wondered which side should touch the food. Many people believed that the shiny side reflects heat while the dull side absorbs it, making the shiny side the correct one to face inward. Unfortunately, that's an outdated myth we're here to debunk.

The truth is, it doesn't matter which side of the foil touches your food. The two finishes exist because of the manufacturing process, where one side of the foil is pressed against polished steel rollers, creating a

See Full Page