O: Aluminum Foil

[Wade Garrett]

Why is aluminum foil shiny on one side and dull on the other. And does it matter which side goes toward the food you're wrapping or lining a pan you're groiling in?

[retired1]

Answered here:

[Jim Joyce]

When they repeatedly roll it through the machines, making it thinner and thinner until it gets to the desired thickness, it would tend to break unexpectedly. Thus, they send *two* layers through the rollers at the same time to prevent that unexpected breakage. At the end, when the two layers are separated for packaging, the side that faced the rollers is shiny, while the side that faced the other sheet is dull.

Saw that on Science channel 15-20 years ago.

Nope.

[Wade Garrett]

I'm thinking you're either an ALCOA guy or a Reynolds guy!

[Wade Garrett]

So it is, thx...

[Cindy Hamilton]

Because it's manufactured in two layers that are peeled apart afterward.

No.

[danny burstein]

More important question: when you line your colander to protect you against the mind control rays, should it be shiny side out or in?

[Ed P]

I put shiny side out. Better reflectivity against the rays. Evidently some get through though, I watched the debate last night and now my brane hertz

[rbowman]

You should see somebody about those masochistic tendencies.

[Wade Garrett]

I've never used a colander. I use my daddy's WWII combat helmet.

One layer shiny side down between the helmet liner and the steel pot, another layer shiny side up outside the steel pot held firmly in place by the the camo netting. Chin strap fastened.

[Bob F]

Now that, I believe.