I’m sure we’ve all been warned growing up about the dangers of putting aluminum foil in the microwave, but what about in the oven? Is it ever okay to pul foil in the oven?
And if it is okay, should we be concerned about it or are there any rules about putting foil in the oven?
Well, I did the research and am here to answer all of those questions and more.
Can You Put Tin Foil in the Oven?
Yes, you can put tin foil (also known as aluminum foil) in the oven. The only exception to this is an induction oven, because you cannot put foil in most of those.
Of course, induction ovens aren’t that common in the United States, so that warning is more for our foreign readers who have ended up here today.
If you’re not 100% certain what type of oven you have in your home and if you can put foil in it, then I suggest reading the instruction manual for the oven. And if you don’t have it, then just do a web search for the model of your oven and look for the manual.
Now that you know that you CAN put aluminum foil in the oven, it’s important to talk about use scenarios and the safety of cooking with foil in the oven.
6 Common Ways You Can Use Foil In The Oven
There are several ways that you can use tinfoil in the oven, with some ways being more popular than others. So, let’s look at some of the ways that you might incorporate foil in your oven usage.
1. To Cover A Baking Sheet (Cookie Sheet)
Here in my house we line the baking sheet, aka cookie sheet, with foil before the food goes into the oven. I do this for a few reasons, but mostly because it makes cleanup easier.
And that means I can get out of having to wash that cookie sheet after cooking!
Of course, I also line other oven bakeware, like the casserole dish when I’m roasting potatoes in it.
2. To Prevent Food From Burning
If you do a lot of baking, then this little trick is one that you’re going to love. So, when I’m baking a pie I end up putting foil around the crust on the top while it’s baking.
I do this because the pie crust will burn before the pie filling is done cooking. But it’s not just pies that I do this with.
When I’m baking a chicken or turkey in the oven, it can burn on the top after it’s been in the oven for a while. So, covering the top with foil is a great way to prevent that from happening.
3. To Lock In Moisture When Cooking Food
Depending on what you’re cooking in the oven, it might dry out if it’s not sealed up in something. That’s when a piece of aluminum foil saves the day when you use it for tenting.
Whenever I’m cooking meat in the oven, like chicken breasts, I like to cover the dish with foil so that the meat doesn’t dry out.
I also do this when I’m roasting potatoes in the oven and I want them to be wetter than usual. A good example is baking potatoes in foil in the oven – no one wants a dry baked potato!
4. To Cook The Food Instead Of Using Bakeware
Have you ever cooked something out on the grill by wrapping it up in foil and tossing it on the grill to cook? Well, you can do the exact same thing in your oven!
I do this with chicken and spices, with mixed veggies, and so on.
One of my favorite things to cook in foil in the oven are potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic with a bit of olive oil. Ends up tasting to delicious and it’s super easy to make with virtually no clean up required.
5. To Line The Oven’s Bottom
One of the most common ways to use foil in the oven is to line the bottom of the oven with the aluminum foil. My grandma’s oven always had the same piece of foil lining the bottom of it.
So, the reason my grandma and so many other people put tinfoil in the bottom of the oven is to catch any spills. Seems like a pretty smart idea, eh?
Of course, if you have a self-cleaning oven then it might just be overkill.
Plus, that foil can end up sticking over time. And, since it’s reflective it can result in uneven heating, and thus uneven cooking in the oven.
6. To Line The Bottom Oven Rack
Much like lining the bottom of the oven, people line the bottom rack in their oven with foil to catch any spillage while cooking. You might think that this is a better idea than lining the bottom, and in some ways it is since it won’t stick to the oven’s bottom over time.
However, it will still cause uneven heating and uneven cooking. Plus, it ends up impeding air flow when it’s covering the oven’s bottom rack.
Is It Safe To Use Foil In Your Oven?
As previously mentioned, if you have an induction oven then it is probably not safe to use foil in your oven. And if you’re uncertain, you should always consult the user manual for your oven.
That being said, there has been some discussion on whether or not you can suffer adverse health consequences from cooking with aluminum foil in your oven. And research shows that, depending on what you’re cooking, some of that aluminum may seep into your food.
So, while I feel safe using aluminum foil in my own oven at home, I want you to know the pros and cons of doing so for yourself. This way you can decide what’s best for your family.
Pros of using foil in oven
- Easy clean up when cooking
- You can cook without needing any bakeware
- Helps prevent food from burning while cooking
- Helps prevent food from drying out while cooking
Cons of using foil in oven
- Some research shows the chance for aluminum leeching into your food
- The surface isn’t non-stick
- It creates extra waste, so not environmentally friendly
- Tears easily, so may leak in the oven
Now that you know the pros and cons, you can decide when, and if, you want to use foil in your own oven when cooking at home.
Alternatives To Using Foil In The Oven
If you’re not sold on the idea of using tinfoil in the oven, then there are some alternative options for you to choose from instead of using traditional bakeware.
Parchment paper/ Baking paper
This is one of my favorite alternatives to aluminum foil, but it doesn’t work as a 100% replacement.
I like that it has a non-stick surface, but I don’t like that I can’t mold it to the shape that I need it to be.
Silicone Oven Liner
If you’re using foil to line your oven and catch spills, then a silicone oven liner is a much better option for you.
It won’t stick to the surface or reflect and cause uneven temperatures.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways that you can use aluminum foil in your oven. And, it just might make your life a bit easier.
However, there may be some safety concerns that you want to consider before making this the standard in your family’s kitchen.