7 Parchment Paper Substitutes You Already Have

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When you’re looking for a good substitute for parchment paper, there is a wide variety of available options. We list the best ones below.

Read on to find a solid substitute for parchment paper.

Substitutes For Parchment Paper

Parchment paper is a great for lining baking sheets, covering doughnuts while they cool, and wrapping delicate food items. But sometimes you may not have enough on hand in your kitchen.

We’ve had the opportunity to explore different substitutes for parchment paper and can confidently say that there is no one-size-fits-all substitute. It depends on what you need it for.

Here are some alternatives to pay that you might find useful:

1. Silicone Baking Mat

A great substitute for parchment paper? A silicone baking mat. This is a sheet of silicone designed to prevent sticking and browning on your food as it cooks in the oven or roasts over an open flame.

The mat is non-stick It works well for cookies and vegetables. Parchment paper is better for roasting vegetables than a baking mat because it protects the food from getting soggy. If you’re making something very warm, don’t use a mat. You should look at the next option.

2. Aluminum Foil with Oil

As parchment paper becomes more expensive, many people are using aluminum foil as a substitute. Here’s what you need to know about this inexpensive option:

Pros: The cost is low and it can be recycled

Cons: It cannot withstand high heat

The longevity of aluminum foil is unparalleled. It can handle the heat. If you want to prevent your foil from sticking, make sure it is covered with oil. It’s perfect for fish or veggies, even though it might not work for cookies.

3. Greased Baking Sheet or Pan

There are many other options. If you want to fry vegetables without using a lot of oil or butter in the pan, then use an ungreased baking sheet instead. Greased aluminum foil can be used to replace your ovenproof cake pans.

When cooking, the best way to avoid having your food stick is by using a non-stick pan or baking sheet. Greasing the surface of the pan will help to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

However, it’s important to note that some high heat can damage non-stick coatings, so be sure to adjust your oven temperature accordingly.

4. Wax Paper

It’s a good idea to use wax paper instead of parchment paper If you’re making no-bake treats like chocolate bark, it works just fine if you use wax paper.

Pros: Wax paper is nonstick.

Cons: Do not use wax paper in the oven because it will melt and you’ll be left with a big mess!

5. Non-Stick Baking Sheets

Parchment paper is an often-used kitchen staple for roasting and baking, but what if there was a way to avoid the use of this sticky surface? Nonstick sheets can replace parchment paper by just placing food directly on top. With its non-stick properties, cleanup becomes quick and easy.

6. Silpat Baking Mat

When you’re looking for a substitute for parchment paper, consider getting Silpat Baking Mats. They are more expensive than the usual alternative but they last longer and can handle anything from pies to muffins.

These silicone mats are perfect for any baking project that you might be working on. They’re flexible and heat-resistant, which means they’ll make clean-up a breeze!

The only issue with these mats is that they can’t be used to steam things in the oven or funnel ingredients. Also, you’ll need multiple sizes for different projects because parchment and wax paper are both adjustable.

7. Cooking Spray

Some people are reluctant to buy parchment paper because it is expensive, but the cooking spray can be a cheaper alternative. Although you have to reuse the parchment paper several times before throwing it away (unless you’re using raw food), many bakers and cooks find that its easy use outweighs this disadvantage. If your cookies stick to the pan when sprayed with cooking oil, though, then beware of what will happen if they come in contact with water.

Cooking spray is a good thing to have on hand, but only use it when you need it. Food & Wine has suggested that the cooking spray can build up residue and cause damage if not removed in time.

However, when it comes to sticking power, the cooking spray has the upper hand.

Can I Substitute Wax Paper for Parchment Paper?

This isn’t the best substitute, but it will do in a pinch. Wax paper can be used to wrap or freeze food. It’s perfect for these purposes. Wax paper isn’t good for anything other than wrapping a turkey sandwich. If you’re using it as an outer layer between the bread and anything else that might be inside, you’ll get that.

If you’re grating cheese or peeling vegetables, then it’s important to have wax paper on hand. Wax paper will help prevent any messes from happening.

Can you Bake on Aluminum Foil?

It’s pretty amazing to have foil. You can use it in the oven if you choose. You need to coat the pan with oil so that it doesn’t stick to baked goods. The problem with cooking on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil is that the bottom of your food can get hot.

Baking cookies is a delicate process—one that should never be attempted directly on a pan. This is because the high temperatures needed to cook cookies can cause them to stick to the pan, resulting in an uneven and burnt final product. However, if you use a silicone baking mat instead of parchment paper, you’ll never have this problem again.

Silicone baking mats are non-stick and heat resistant, so they’re perfect for cooking anything without fear of sticking or burning.

How do You Make Homemade Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper is the ideal solution for those that want to bake without having their food stick. Parchment paper can be used with any type of cooking and will make your life a lot easier. Nowadays, people don’t write on parchment anymore. Instead, they use computers and smartphones to keep in touch with their friends.

One of the many cool things you can do with old newspapers is turned them into greaseproof paper. All you need to do is soak a few sheets of water and use them as parchment paper. You know that old brown bag you had sitting in the back of your fridge? Well, just add a tablespoon of olive oil and brush it all over.

Get out your cooking spray, and make sure to cover the bottom of the pan evenly. The oil should be able to soak into it for a few minutes before you start frying. This is a good way to grease the pan, but we still recommend just putting some oil or butter on it before you start baking.

Never Use Paper Grocery Bags

There’s a big difference between parchment paper and grocery bags. Parchment is fire-resistant, whereas the opposite isn’t true for most plastic or paper products.

The paper bag is not only bad for the environment, but it also makes cooking food more difficult. You can’t even grease the inside of a paper bag because all that would do is soak into the fibrous material and be rendered useless.

It’s a bad idea to use plastic grocery bags for anything other than storage. They’re made of toxic ink that could leach into your food and make you sick. Click To Tweet

Paper grocery bags are not the best replacement for parchment paper. It’s better to go with a different option that is more sustainable and safe.

Wrapping Up

Parchment paper is a great alternative to aluminum foil or waxed paper for lining baking sheets, but sometimes you just don’t have enough in your kitchen.

We’ve provided you with a list of the best substitute for parchment paper. It depends on what you need it for; hopefully, you’ve found the list useful.