Burning aluminium foil question finally answered

In my household, aluminium foil is a staple, nestled reliably between the baking paper and Gladwrap.

Though it remains the number one multi-use kitchen item in my eyes, one can't help but wonder why one side tends to shine, while the other trends towards matte.

And now this question has been definitively answered – and the reason behind the mysterious variation in finishes is certainly not what you'd expect.

In order to understand why the two sides of a sheet of tin foil boast varying appearances, you need to look at how exactly the foil is manufactured.

The markedly different sheens on each side of tin foil, as it turns out, are a direct result of its specific production process.

To make foil, the manufacturers in question melt aluminium metal, before allowing it to cool into large slabs – known as 'ingots'.

The slabs in question are then repeatedly pressed between rollers many, many times over to then make them progressively thinner.

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By the time the foil gets to the final press, it becomes so thin and delicate that it requires doubling up in order to press it through the rollers without tearing.

From that point, it's then separated once more before being rolled onto the tubes that you see on supermarket shelves.

When it comes time to unroll the tin foil from its respective roll, you'll find the shiny side, which has been directly pressed by the rollers, and the the matte side, which is a result of the foil pressing against itself when doubled up.

And if you've ever found yourself engaged in a spirited debate with family members over which side is the 'correct' side to use, we have the answers you seek.

Settling the great debate over which side of the foil your food should be placed on, Reynolds Brands, the manufacturer of Reynolds Wrap foil, states that "the performance of the foil is the same, whichever side you use."

So it's official, each side of the foil – be it glossy or matte – may be used interchangeably, with no real difference to how it functions.

In fact, the only scenario in which the side of the foil used matters is when incorporating non-stick foil into your cooking or food storage.

In that instance, it's important to be mindful that only one side of the foil is coated in a non-stick layer.

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