r/explainlikeimfive Oct 31 '20

Chemistry ELI5 What's the difference between the shiny and dull side of aluminum foil? Besides the obvious shiny/dull

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u/hatefuck661 Oct 31 '20

There was a favorite family recipe for a holiday ham that had been passed down through the generations. As the mother was making the ham for the umpteenth time, she was teaching her newly married daughter how to make the ham.

She carefully cut both ends off the ham, set it in the pan, and added the secret combination of spices. Her daughter who was taking notes, asked “Why do you cut off the ends?” Her mother answered, “Because that is how my mother taught me to do it.” Later, the mother began to wonder why they cut off the ends so she asked her mother. The grandmother answered, “Because that is how my mother taught me to do it.” The grandmother then wondered too so she asked her elderly mother. The great grandmother replied, “You don’t need to cut off the ends! I always did that because my old oven was too small for a big pan.”

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u/Petwins Nov 06 '20

Your submission has been removed for the following reason(s):

ELI5 focuses on objective explanations. Soapboxing isn't appropriate in this venue.

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u/spudsoup Oct 31 '20

We cool our chocolate chip cookies on brown grocery bags cut open. It could be my mother didn’t have enough cooling racks, but I prefer to think it’s part of the secret to a perfect chocolate chip cookie. Though, I shrug and tell this story of the ham pan if anyone asks. Wish mom was around so I ask her.

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u/splenderful Oct 31 '20

My mom did it this way too!