Whether you’re an occasional home cook or devote your waking hours to making gastronomic creations, you will likely agree that aluminum foil (aka tin foil) is one of the most versatile products in the kitchen. Whether you use it to line sheet trays, cover roasting meats, or shape it into a pouch to cook or reheat leftover foods in the oven, aluminum foil can do so many things.

While the thin metal is used by 319 million Americans each year (according to one 2020 study), have you ever wondered why one side is shiny while the other is dull? Recently, a video went viral on social media claiming that the side you use should depend on how and what you will use the foil for. But is there any truth to that? Is the dull side intended for certain uses, and the shiny intended for other? To settle the confusion, we consulted some experts about the “right way” to use aluminum foil.

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