# Why line my pan with foil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506 "2012-11-09T19:21:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/1 "2012-11-09T19:21:59Z")
Why do people say to line my cookie sheet with foil when cooking bacon in the oven? The reason given is usually to ease cleanup, but I just cooked a batch in an unlined cookie sheet, and cleanup was a breeze. I just transferred the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate, and poured the grease into an old soup can. It seems like it would be MORE of a hassle to clean a foil-lined sheet. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/2 "2012-11-09T19:30:30Z")
Yeah, if you clean the foil, but wouldn’t you just throw it out? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/3 "2012-11-09T19:37:27Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Yeah, if you clean the foil, but wouldn’t you just throw it out? It seems like the potential is there for making a huge mess while trying to un-line the pan. Also, seems very easy to get some grease on the pan, so you’ll have to clean it ANYWAY. Cleanup of my unlined pan was a minute - 30 seconds of draining the grease, and 30 seconds of cleaning the pan in the sink. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/4 "2012-11-09T19:46:07Z")
You know, I agree with you. I’ve never cooked bacon in the oven, but what you say makes sense. I only use foil in the oven if the food has high “stickage” potential. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/5 "2012-11-09T19:46:19Z")
With a lined pan, you just let it cool and pick up the whole piece of foil and solidified oil and throw it away. You don’t need an old soup can, and you don’t need to clean the pan. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/6 "2012-11-09T19:48:21Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > It seems like the potential is there for making a huge mess while trying to un-line the pan. Also, seems very easy to get some grease on the pan, so you’ll have to clean it ANYWAY. Cleanup of my unlined pan was a minute - 30 seconds of draining the grease, and 30 seconds of cleaning the pan in the sink. Wait a second - isn’t the whole point of using an old soup can to SAVE the bacon grease? 😉 😃 (Haven’t made bacon in years. Sigh. Eating healthier sucks.) ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/7 "2012-11-09T19:49:24Z")
I crumple the foil and re-spread it before putting it back in the pan. The crinkles mean that the bacon doesn’t stick to the bottom and crisps up better, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/8 "2012-11-09T20:04:24Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > With a lined pan, you just let it cool and pick up the whole piece of foil and solidified oil and throw it away. You don’t need an old soup can, and you don’t need to clean the pan. Concur from experience. I don’t save bacon grease because I don’t yet have the repertoire to make use of it. When I do, my habits will change. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/9 "2012-11-09T20:12:02Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Concur from experience. I don’t save bacon grease because I don’t yet have the repertoire to make use of it. When I do, my habits will change. 🙂 Just use it in place of butter or shortening in pretty much any savory recipe. Or heck, in a sweet recipe, as long as ‘bacony’ works with the final product 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![southernlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@southernlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/southernlady)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/10 "2012-11-09T20:53:26Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > Wait a second - isn’t the whole point of using an old soup can to SAVE the bacon grease? 😉 😃 > > (Haven’t made bacon in years. Sigh. Eating healthier sucks.) ABSOLUTELY!!! And I eat bacon all the time, eating bacon **IS** healthy for me and my husband! (MY last cholesterol was 179, his 139 and neither of us on meds). See this post [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15674408&postcount=62) as to why. I always cook mine in a foil lined jelly roll pan (the cookie sheet with sides) on a cookie rack that fits just perfect. Stick the cookie rack in the dishwasher, let the remaining bacon grease harden (I pour what I can off to use in veggies) and toss the foil away. About once in 5 times do I have to wash the pan. Liz ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/11 "2012-11-09T21:09:34Z")
You’re not taking into account the percentage of people who would put bacon on a cookie sheet, pop it into the oven, and then forget about it while the bacon cooks itself to the consistency of a lava flow all over your cookie sheet. This is less than desirable, so the aluminum foil solution is offered for those people who aren’t going to pay attention to what they’re doing, and are used to ruining perfectly good bacon. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/12 "2012-11-09T21:14:34Z")
I use parchment paper. It’s a little more absorbent. When done I pour off the grease, save some if I need it, and toss the paper. It doesn’t take much to finish cleaning the sheet. To cook bacon faster and more evenly in the oven lay the strips on a coolling rack. Also, if you have baked on charred stuff on a pan or utensil bacon grease will dissolve the stuff over time. Just smear some on the spots while cold and let it sit for a week a two. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/13 "2012-11-09T21:20:21Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > You’re not taking into account the percentage of people who would put bacon on a cookie sheet, pop it into the oven, and then forget about it while the bacon cooks itself to the consistency of a lava flow all over your cookie sheet. This is less than desirable, so the aluminum foil solution is offered for those people who aren’t going to pay attention to what they’re doing, and are used to ruining perfectly good bacon. You…you WASTER of Bacon!! I just don’t know what to say. I am so disappoint ☹ ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/14 "2012-11-09T21:29:36Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > You’re not taking into account the percentage of people who would put bacon on a cookie sheet, pop it into the oven, and then forget about it while the bacon cooks itself to the consistency of a lava flow all over your cookie sheet. This is true. Roasting bacon requires very careful attention because it can go from perfect to disaster in a microsecond. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/15 "2012-11-09T21:41:08Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > You…you WASTER of Bacon!! > > I just don’t know what to say. > I am so disappoint ☹ I didn’t say it was _ **ME!** _ I happen to be married to a woman who can burn water, and has, on multiple occasions. One of the many reaons why we’re separated. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/16 "2012-11-09T21:42:31Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > It seems like the potential is there for making a huge mess while trying to un-line the pan. Also, seems very easy to get some grease on the pan, so you’ll have to clean it ANYWAY. Not really, no. You fold up the sides of the foil so that the grease doesn’t spill out. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/17 "2012-11-09T21:52:47Z")
Well, thanks everyone, but until I make some comical mistake due to using an unlined pan, I’m going to keep doing it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/18 "2012-11-09T22:17:59Z")
The foil absorbs just enough grease to infuse it with flavor and viola! Extra bacon! ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/19 "2012-11-10T18:56:51Z")
Just a guess, but does the foil reflect back the heat and cook it more thoroughly or something ? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506/20 "2012-11-10T20:13:54Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Just a guess, but does the foil reflect back the heat and cook it more thoroughly or something ? I have no idea, but I’ve seen it stated in recipes to "line the tray with foil **to ease cleanup**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-line-my-pan-with-foil/640506.md?page=2)