Kitchen foil is one of the most used items but how many of us pay attention to using the dull side or shiny side? For some it is just a matter of preference and few others feel wrapping food from the shiny side will keep it warm or cold for long. So, have you been doing it the right way or not, we delved deep into science!
Even though we feel that the shiny side is more reflective and will keep the food warm or cold, it is true that it doesn’t really matter which side of the foil you are using. Yes, you read it right!
The reason one side is more shiny than the other lies in the manufacturing of foil. The shiny side is more smooth and has lesser imperfections than the dull side. But this does not affect convection - the major source of heat transfer.
In fact what matters is not the sides of the foil but how tightly you pack the food that needs to be cooked. If the foil is not tightly wrapped, a thin layer of air forms up acting as an insulating barrier. This slows down transfer of heat resulting in unevenly cooked food.
So the mystery is solved! It doesn’t make any difference which side of the foil you used to wrap hot food or freeze. The two sides are only a result of the manufacturing process.
