Why Aluminum Foil Has a Shiny Side and a Dull Side

Finally, one of your most pressing questions will be answered. Many people have wondered which side of the aluminum foil will keep everything from reheated pizza slices to baked fish from sticking, and if they've been doing it wrong all along. Concerned cooks can breathe a sigh of relief. As it turns out, there’s no “correct” side of aluminum foil to use when cooking. Placing food on either side is not one of those cooking mistakes that will ruin your food. Now you’re probably wondering why there’s a shiny and a dull side. The reason there are two different sides is due to a manufacturing process called milling, during which heat and tension is applied to stretch and shape the foil. Two layers of foil are pressed together and milled at the same time, because otherwise it would break. Where the foil is in contact with another layer is the dull side. The shiny side is the side milled without being in contact with another sheet of metal. The performance of the foil is the same, whichever side you use. When it comes to using non-stick foil, there is a difference between the two sides. Since the non-stick coating is only applied to the dull side, you’ll want to use that one. In case you’re not familiar, not all foil is non-stick. Non-stick foil has a label that specifies that it’s non-stick. In addition, most brands of non-stick foil print the words “NON-STICK SIDE” directly onto the treated surface.

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New York City’s Click-to-Cancel Policy Takes Effect

Big Apple consumers can now rejoice. The city’s click-to-cancel policy has taken effect, meaning consumers won’t be forced to endure arduous subscription cancellation processes that encourage people to give up. The rule also means customers must be able to cancel using the same method they used to sign up, so there’s no more having to spend ages on the phone with aggressive customer retention agents. The click-to-cancel policy was announced in July, but took effect October 1, making New York City the first city to impose this type of requirement at the municipal level. Thanks to the click-to-cancel rule, companies must clearly explain subscription terms to customers, disclose consumer rights when buying or cancelling subscriptions, provide a straightforward cancellation process using the same method as sign up, and can't ask that customers pay to ship them things the businesses gave them for free. The regulation applies to automatically renewing and continuous-service subscriptions, such as streaming services, gym memberships, subscription boxes, and free trials that convert to paid plans.

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Pictures That Might Make You Do a Doubletake

The human eye is a remarkable piece of biological engineering that has been confidently misreading situations since the dawn of time. It fills in gaps and makes extremely bold decisions about what it is looking at before your brain has had a chance to weigh in. Usually this works fine. Then someone takes a photo at a very specific angle, or a shadow falls in exactly the wrong place, and the whole system falls apart completely. The following pictures are just that, not optical illusions. They’re just regular photos taken at the precise moment where reality decided to stop cooperating.

 

Big Cat? This is a regular cat sitting on a table with one side lined up against the bottom of the left side cupboards. If you look behind the cat, you will see the rear table edge in front of the oven.

A 2-Headed Cat? Nope, this is just one cat sitting on top of another.

Spilled my coffee and accidentally created art.

Is this what they mean by “stretch limousine?” Actually, it’s the result of a passing car while a photo was being taken.

Is this a shadow? Actually, it’s a black cat sitting on the arm of the chair next to the white cat, making it look like the white cat’s shadow.

Daddy has a tiny arm! Daddy’s arm is actually behind the little girl’s back and up toward her feet.

De-cat-it-tated? In reality, it’s a cat that’s standing next to a ledge, but the camera angle makes it look like the head has been chopped off. You can see a small darker line to the right of the cat, which is actually the top of his back.

Tiny cat head? In reality, the cat’s real head is behind the curtain that's decorated with cats.

This is why you should never stand in front of a mannequin.

Hey, you can’t park on the roof! Oh wait, the car is actually parked in the driveway next to the building.

Did somebody say Star Wars?

My brother was finally able to pack our family friend into a mini backpack.

Gives new meaning to the term “egghead.”

 

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How To Tell If Your Baking Soda or Baking Powder Is Still Good

It’s the weekend and you haven’t made pancakes in ages, so you decide this is a good time to revive the breakfast favorite. You find a container of baking powder, but the label says it expired in 2024. You might be wondering if it will still be good, or if you could even get sick from consuming it. You can relax, while baking powder starts to lose its lift after six months, it won’t hurt you to consume it. If the container is unopened, you’re in luck — unopened containers last around two years. What about baking soda? Once opened, baking soda starts to lose its fizz after six months as well. You should, however, discard any baking soda after 18 months. Unopened baking soda lasts up to three years. While both baking soda and baking powder normally have the expiration date listed on the box, if you’ve transferred yours to another container and want to know if it’s still good, you can place a spoonful  into vinegar or lemon juice. The mixture should bubble vigorously if it’s still good. Don’t have lemon juice or vinegar? No problem, just toss a spoonful into a pan and place it on the stove. When heated, the two powders should release air bubbles that can be seen at the surface of the powder. As a bonus tip — while leaving your baking soda in the little box it came in might be convenient, it’s not the best way to store it. It’s worth transferring it to a tightly sealed jar to keep out moisture. On the other hand, baking powder can stay in its original container as long as it has a secure lid and is stored somewhere cool and dry.

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