Why You Should Avoid Lining the Bottom of Your Oven with Foil

Whether you've just cleaned your oven or it's brand new, the last thing you want is a mess to clean up after your next baking session. We love cooking, but no one enjoys the extra hassle of scrubbing an oven afterwards.

It may seem like a clever idea to line the bottom of your oven with foil to protect its pristine interior. It certainly helps when you want to avoid cleaning the pan after baking a cheesy casserole or preparing a quick weeknight sheet pan dinner. However, that same foil can lead to serious problems when you try to use it as an oven liner to save time on cleaning.

Is It Safe to Use Aluminum Foil as an Oven Liner?

While using aluminum foil in the oven may seem like an easy way to prevent spills and splatters, lining the oven’s bottom with foil can create a range of issues, from performance problems to potential damage to your appliance.

What Could Go Wrong?

• Putting foil on the bottom of the oven increases the intensity of heat and this can lead to surfaces that overheat. The result will likely be scratching, chipping, and damage to the porcelain finish.
• A layer of foil will block air flow and circulation which will cause malfunction of the heating elements of the appliance. 
• Putting foil on the bottom of a gas oven can interfere with the flame, leading to improperly cooked food and fluctuating internal temperatures.
• Similarly, foil on the racks of gas or electric ovens can block heat and airflow, leading to improperly cooked food.
• The foil may not be able to withstand the high intensity of heat and can melt onto the bottom surface of the oven. This can be impossible to remove and cause permanent damage.
• The heat reflected off the foil can cause baked goods in the appliance to cook at a faster rate.
• The residual heat reflected off of the foil can also result in the oven's heating elements burning out.

What Do the Experts Recommend?

What do experts have to say about lining your oven with foil? Nick Webert, Senior Director of Care Field Service Operations at Samsung, says: 'Don’t do it.'

When cooking, it's important to consider what you're placing inside your oven, not just your favorite dishes. While aluminum foil might seem like an inexpensive solution to contain spills, it can actually damage your oven's heating elements. Using foil as a liner increases heat intensity, potentially causing surface damage and uneven cooking. Skip the foil, invest in an oven-safe cleaning cloth, and enjoy perfectly baked cookies, a golden holiday ham, and more!

Culinary Producer and host of Today’s original series 'Saucy', Anthony Contrino, strongly advises against using foil at the bottom of your oven. 'If you're concerned about spills, simply use a heavy-duty baking sheet on the lower rack to catch drips,' he says.

The Final Verdict

To protect your oven from damage, it's best to skip the aluminum foil on the bottom and find other ways to keep it clean.

What Are Some Better Alternatives?

There are safer ways to prevent spills from reaching the bottom of your oven. When baking, if you're concerned about drips, place a cookie sheet on the lower rack to catch any mess. Simply put your pie dish or casserole on the sheet, and it will handle any overflow.