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Have you ever found yourself engaged in a household debate about\u00a0 the \u201cright\u201d way to use aluminum foil? After all, there\u2019s a shiny side and a dull matte side \u2014 so, which is right? And does it actually matter?\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Let\u2019s dive into what causes aluminum foil to look different on either side, take a look at some of the different types you can purchase, and even explore some creative ways to use aluminum foil in your kitchen and household \u2014 as it boasts literally tons<\/em> of surprising uses<\/a> outside of cooking, from deep-cleaning<\/a> to DIY kitchen renovation help<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Let\u2019s settle things right here and now: It does not matter which side of aluminum foil you use<\/strong>. <\/strong>As it turns out, both sides of a roll of aluminum foil can be used interchangeably, according to Reynolds Brands<\/a>, manufacturer of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In order to understand why the two sides of a sheet of aluminum foil look different in the first place, it\u2019s important to understand how it\u2019s made. After all, the different sheens are a direct result of the manufacturing process (nope, it\u2019s not random!).\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n To make foil, manufacturers melt aluminum, and then cool it into slabs called ingots. These slabs are then pressed between rollers many, many times to make them progressively thinner. By the time it gets to the final press, the foil is so thin it needs to be doubled up in order to press it through the rollers. Next, it\u2019s separated and rolled onto the tubes that appear on store shelves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n When you unroll the aluminum foil from the roll, you\u2019ll find the shiny side, which is the side that has been pressed by the rollers, while the matte side is a result of the foil pressing against itself when it was doubled up. On the Reynolds Brands website, they note that \u201cthe performance of the foil is the same, whichever side you use.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n When shopping for aluminum foil, you\u2019ll find regular foil, heavy-duty foil<\/a>, and even grilling foil (which is great for foil-packet recipes<\/a> on the grill). But there\u2019s one type of foil where there actually is<\/em> a difference between the two sides of a sheet, and that\u2019s nonstick foil <\/a>(a must-have<\/a> for air fryer recipes<\/a>!). This type of foil has a coating on only one side that prevents food from sticking to it. It\u2019s great for use on cookie recipes<\/a>, or anything else you don\u2019t want to stick to the foil.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Now that any questions about the different sides of a sheet of aluminum foil are cleared up, here are some of the best uses for aluminum foil that might surprise you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy Aluminum Foil Is Shiny on One Side<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Only Time the Two Sides of Aluminum Foil Actually Matters<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Different Ways to Use Aluminum Foil<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n