Aluminum Foil Hacks That Make Life So Much Easier—In and Out of the Kitchen

Get ready to roll out the shiny stuff with these dos and don’tsand a few surprising hacks.

Mirage C/Getty Images

You and your aluminum foil.

Sure, you fall for its shiny good looksthose crinkly silver swans restaurants send leftovers out in?

Try achieving that kind of drama with a plastic bag.

Herewith, tips, tricks, and good advice to help you make the most of every sheet.

Don’t use foil to line the bottom of the oven to catch spills and drips.

You probably know this, but do you know why?

But aluminum deflects the waves, causing food to cook unevenly and possibly damaging the oven.

That airtightness means food well wrapped in foil is less prone to freezer burn, says Camire.

This means tart fruits and dishes made with vinegar, tomatoes, or tomato sauce.

Theoretically you might cut these spots away; they’re not harmful.

But they are certainly not appetizing either, so stick to plastic storage for the acidic goods.

Shiny Side of Aluminum Foil

Ever wonder what the difference is between foil’s dull and shiny sides?

With the steam button down, pass the iron 3 to 4 inches over the fabric several times.

Wet heat radiating from the foil helps smooth out wrinkles.

Really hot grill bars equal dramatic grill marks on your porterhouse.

Halfway into the baking, slip the collar over the crust (as shown).

Leave it on until the pie is done.

It’s one way to recycle those used but perfectly good pieces of foil you hate to throw out.