Many recipes recommend covering or wrapping your food in aluminum foil while it cooks. However, it’s not suitable for every application. If you’re using aluminum foil as an oven liner, it could cause more harm than good. Read on to learn more about the best uses for aluminum foil in the oven.
How to use aluminum foil in your oven
Aluminum foil is a thinly rolled sheet of aluminum that’s claimed its place as a common kitchen staple.Not only is it safe to cook with aluminum foil in the oven, but cooking with aluminum foil can help transmit heat readily and make cleanup easier. More flexible and sturdy than tin foil, aluminum foil reflects heat and can typically tolerate the highest baking temperatures in most residential kitchen ovens, making it a great baking companion. If you’re lining baking sheets, wrapping up food or covering it up to retain moisture, then aluminum foil is the way to go.
1. Line baking sheets and pans
Using aluminum foil to line baking sheets and pans is a great way to guarantee an easier cleanup— and may help reduce the frequency needed to clean your oven. After baking cookies, breads or other foods, you can simply slide or lift the foil from the pan to remove baked items.
Aluminum foil has a shiny and dull side because of the way it’s manufactured, but which side faces up depends on its use. Non-stick aluminum foil has a non-stick coating applied to the dull side, so face this side up when baking stickier foods. Otherwise, you can help promote browning on certain foods by facing the dull side down.
2. Cover dishes
Covering dishes with aluminum foil during a bake helps lock in moisture. Loosely placing or tenting a sheet of foil over a dish can prevent the top from browning while the rest of your dish continues to bake. If you’re looking to create more steam in the baking process, sealing the dish tightly with a foil lid will do the trick.
3. Disposable baking dishes
Disposable baking dishes like aluminum pans and trays can be a convenient alternative to metal dishes. Like aluminum foil, they can tolerate any temperature the oven can throw at them and have heat conduction properties that help readily transmit heat to your food.
Why can’t I use aluminum foil as an oven liner?
Using aluminum foil to keep your oven clean may be tempting, but lining an oven with foil increases the intensity of heat on oven surfaces that can lead to surface damage like scratching or chipping on the porcelain finish and damage to heating elements. It can also prevent even cooking.
Foil is heat resistant, but it isn’t completely heat-proof. Using high heat with aluminum foil in the oven bottom could cause the foil to melt, permanently damaging your appliance. Using aluminum foil as an oven liner can also cause the following issues:
Using foil on oven racks can disrupt heat distribution in the oven and interfere with optimal cooking results.
Covering up vent openings in the bottom of the oven can lead to insufficient air flow, heat distribution and issues with performance.
Heat reflecting off aluminum foil can overcook foods or damage your oven’s heating elements.
Lining your gas oven with aluminum foil can block heat, air flow, and produce less than optimal cooking results.
Aluminum foil can cause scratching of the oven's enamel surfaces, and can also melt when contacting hot surfaces or elements, potentially causing cosmetic or permanent functional damage to elements or surfaces.
If you’ve used aluminum foil in your oven in the past, you may want to make sure it didn’t affect the heating elements or other oven parts. Take some time to calibrate your oven, and schedule service if you think something is amiss.
What should I use instead of aluminum as an oven liner?
If you can’t use aluminum foil in the bottom of your oven, what should you use instead? If you want to avoid cleaning up caked-on drips and spills, there are a few alternative solutions that you can try.
1. Empty baking dishes or trays
Put an empty baking dish on the rack below the food you are cooking. It will catch drips and make clean-up easier. Metal baking sheets can warp during sudden temperature shifts, so place the empty dish in the oven as the oven preheats to help prevent warping.
2. Silicone oven liners
You could use a silicone oven liner on your cooking racks. These heat-resistant, non-reflective accessories will help you keep your oven clean, but could have some impact on baking performance if not used properly. Help air circulate by including at least 3 inches of clearance between the liner sheet and oven walls for optimal heat transfer.
Be aware that oven liners are only suitable for electric or convection ovens and should never be placed on the bottom of the oven. Although gas ovens, microwaves and countertop microwaves from Whirlpool are also options for cooking or heating similar food items, oven liners are not suitable to use in these appliances.
3. Parchment paper
If you’re looking for alternatives to using aluminum foil on baking sheets, consider parchment paper. It is non-reflective and won’t scratch non-stick surfaces. Before using parchment paper, it is important to review the manufacturer’s recommendation for max parchment bake temperatures. Generally speaking, parchment paper should never touch the sides of your oven or be used for intense radiant cooking functions over 450 degrees (i.e.broilingat any temperature). Additionally, do not use parchment paper in gas ovens with an exposed flame.
Discover Whirlpool® ovens and ranges
With Whirlpool® ovens and ranges, you can count on more than aluminum foil to help keep your oven clean. Select ovens and ranges include features like a high-heat self-cleaning system that makes it easier to clear away stuck-on grime.
Learn more about Whirlpool® ovens
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As an expert in the field of kitchen and cooking practices, I can attest to the significance of using aluminum foil as a versatile tool in the oven. Aluminum foil, a thinly rolled sheet of aluminum, has become a common kitchen staple due to its numerous benefits. It is not only safe for cooking in the oven but also facilitates heat transmission and simplifies cleanup, making it an invaluable asset in the kitchen.
The use of aluminum foil in the oven involves various techniques, each serving a specific purpose. Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Line Baking Sheets and Pans:
- Aluminum foil is excellent for lining baking sheets and pans, ensuring easier cleanup and reducing the need to clean the oven frequently.
- It is more flexible and sturdy than tin foil, reflecting heat and tolerating high baking temperatures.
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Cover Dishes:
- Using aluminum foil to cover dishes during baking helps lock in moisture, preventing the top of the dish from browning while ensuring even cooking.
- Tenting or loosely placing foil over a dish can create a steamier environment, enhancing the baking process.
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Disposable Baking Dishes:
- Disposable baking dishes, such as aluminum pans and trays, offer a convenient alternative to metal dishes.
- Like aluminum foil, these disposable dishes can withstand high oven temperatures and efficiently transmit heat to the food.
However, it's crucial to note that using aluminum foil as an oven liner is not recommended. The article explains the potential issues and damage it can cause, including scratching or chipping on oven surfaces, disruption of heat distribution, and damage to heating elements. Foil is heat-resistant but not completely heat-proof, and using it as a liner can lead to permanent damage to the appliance.
The article also provides alternatives to aluminum foil as an oven liner:
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Empty Baking Dishes or Trays:
- Placing an empty baking dish below the food catches drips and simplifies cleanup.
- Helps prevent warping of metal baking sheets during temperature shifts.
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Silicone Oven Liners:
- Heat-resistant and non-reflective, silicone oven liners can keep the oven clean without the drawbacks of aluminum foil.
- Must be used with proper clearance for optimal heat transfer and are suitable for electric or convection ovens.
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Parchment Paper:
- Parchment paper is a non-reflective alternative to aluminum foil on baking sheets.
- It is crucial to follow manufacturer recommendations for maximum temperature and avoid direct contact with oven sides or intense radiant cooking functions.
In conclusion, while aluminum foil serves various purposes in the oven, it's essential to be mindful of its limitations and potential drawbacks, especially when used as a liner. Exploring alternatives like empty baking dishes, silicone oven liners, and parchment paper can help maintain a clean oven without compromising performance.
