Some say you should use the 'dull' side of aluminum foil when cooking etc. There's something potentially bad about the shiny side.True or not?
Straight from Reynolds: Which side of Reynolds Wrap? Aluminum Foil should I use, the shiny or the dull side? Actually, it makes no difference which side of the aluminum foil you use—both sides do the same fine job of cooking, freezing and storing food. The difference in appearance between dull and shiny is due to the foil manufacturing process. In the final rolling step, two layers of foil are passed through the rolling mill at the same time. The side coming in contact with the mill's highly polished steel rollers becomes shiny. The other side, not coming in contact with the heavy rollers, comes out with a dull or matte finish. The exception is when using Reynolds Wrap? Release? Non-Stick Aluminum Foil. The non-stick coating is applied during manufacturing to the dull side of the foil. Always place the non-stick (dull) side toward the food.
the manual to my cooker says not to use foil because of heat damage (presumably the possibility that all that reflection of heat will make it too hot under the grill). So if nothing else you could invalidate your warranty.
For a pocket stew the dull side is on the outside to absorb the heat and the shiny side is on the inside to keep reflecting the heat into the stew. For a kite flying at night that might be reported as a UFO I would recommend shiny side at the front.
that is a myth, the only difference might be how much heat is reflected. Go to Discovery or Metacafe and type How it is made, aluminum foil and you will see why it is a myth.
For cooking, it's little difference. For tinfoil hats, make sure the shiniest side is out so you can best deflect the alien's mind-control rays emitting from their secret base on Neptune.
