Can I Use Aluminum Foil As an Oven Liner?

Compromise

• Instead of placing the aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven, the manufacturer of ReynoldsWrap recommends place it on the rack below the one on which the cooking food is sitting to avoid heat damage to the oven. Use a sheet of foil slightly larger than whatever you are cooking or baking, so that the foil will catch any spill over. Don't use a sheet much larger than the cooking pan, as you don't want a large sheet of foil inhibiting the heat circulation.

Manufacturer's Warning

• While many sources, including Oregon's Metro Regional Government website and Hawaii's Pollution Prevention Information report recommends using aluminum foil as an oven liner, oven manufacturers typically warn against this practice. Using aluminum foil as an oven liner can result in a fire or electric shock, according to Bosch and Kenmore. Before lining the bottom of your oven, review your owner's manual.

Broiler

• Many consumers regularly cover their broilers with aluminum foil, with the intention of simplifying clean up. Instead of scrubbing off stubborn cooked on food, the cook removes the foil and throws it away. Yet, a number of oven manufacturers, including Bosch and Kenmore, warn against covering broiler inserts with aluminum foil, stating that grease or fat on the foil could ignite.

Microwave Oven

• While the aluminum foil will help keep the bottom of your oven clean, don't use it to line the bottom of your microwave oven. Wrinkled foil can cause sparking in the microwave. In some instances, it is safe to use foil in the microwave to cover food, yet always refer to your microwave oven's owner's manual before using foil in the appliance.

Safety

• If you do choose to line your oven with aluminum foil, use heavy-duty foil. Don't place the foil next to a heating element, as it could ignite. Remove any dirty foil lining before heating the oven. Food left on the foil and allowed to reheat could ignite and cause the foil to catch fire. While a foil aluminum liner will minimize clean up, if left on the bottom of the oven to continually collect spills, it not only poses a fire hazard, it makes a sticky mess.