Are you using aluminum foil the wrong way? The definitive guide to using it right

I use aluminum foil every day, and it's a kitchen essential I wouldn’t be without. From lining a roasting or grill pan when I’m cooking meat, to reduce the messy cleanup, to covering a cake with a long bake time to prevent the top from burning. And I regularly use it to wrap up sandwiches for my own takeout lunch.

What’s more, besides being used in the kitchen, there are plenty of other unexpected ways to use aluminum foil, from cleaning burnt on marks, to preventing pests and keeping you cool.

However, despite its practical and versatile use, aluminum foil comes with two sides to choose from. While one side of the sheet is shiny, the other side is dull, and you won’t find any advice on the product’s packaging to advise you which way is best. So, does it really matter if you place your food on the sunny side or the dull side?

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Why does aluminum foil have a shiny and dull surface?

Aluminum foil next to cutting board and vegetables — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

The reason aluminum foil has a reflective and a dull side is because of its manufacturing process, known as milling. Two layers of foil are stacked and squeezed through a polished steel roller to flatten and shape them. These two layers are then separated for packaging and distribution.

The side that comes into contact with another layer of foil appears dull, while the reverse side, which hasn’t made contact with another sheet, is shiny.

Although the sides appear different, the foil itself is exactly the same; it’s just the shiny side got buffed by the rollers during the manufacturing process.

Which side reflects more heat?

I assumed the shiny side would reflect more heat, but that isn’t true. Both sides reflect and retain heat equally, keeping hot food hot and cold food cold.

Non-stick aluminum foil is different

The only time it matters is when you buy non-stick aluminum foil. Normally, foil isn’t non-stick, so you will need to grease it to prevent the food from sticking. However, if you buy a non-stick version, you’ll need to ensure you use the non-stick side against your food, which is more likely to be the dull side.

Which side should you use?

Woman tearing a sheet of aluminum foil from a roll — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Although I always line my pans with the sunny side up and wrap up food, placing it on the dull side, it really doesn’t matter what you do, unless you’re using a non-stick version.

Wrapping it up
I’m sure you won’t be losing any sleep over which side of aluminum foil you should be using, and thankfully, the answer is easy: it really doesn’t matter.

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Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides.

Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.

Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.

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