Aluminum Foil Is More Awesome Than People Give It Credit For

Its also infinitely customizable, making it a workhorse kitchen item with a multitude of uses.

I personally cant operate my kitchen without aluminum foil, and I am here to preach the good word.

Which Brand Is Best?

Its also more widely available than generic brands and comes in a better selection of widths and lengths.

The difference in appearance between dull and shiny is due to the foil manufacturing process.

The side coming in contact with the mills highly polished steel rollers becomes shiny.

To test browning, we oven-baked bacon on foil-lined baking sheets.

Shiny side and dull side produced crisp, golden-brown bacon within a few seconds of each other.

So there you go: it doesnt matter which side you use.

(Unless you are using Reynolds non-stick foil.

Before we get to the fancy hacks however, lets start with the basics.

(Though, surprisingly, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets are virtually mess free.)

When lining baking sheets with foil, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Another one of foils shortcomings is that it tends to stick.

It just doesnt do well in the microwave.

You also shouldnt line your oven with foil.

Foil can be crafted into little rings, perfect for helping brioche buns keep their shape while baking.

(These also make great molds for perfectly round fried eggs.)

Once your tasty meal had been devoured, toss the foil for the easiest cleanup ever.

Spoiler alert: It was not.)

The trick is to form a good seal by crimping it at the edges to ensure no stink escapes.

This impermeability is also what makes it great in the freezer.

(This isnt particularly harmful, but its not very tasty either.)