When we talk about bleached or unbleached parchment paper what we're really describing is whether or not the wood pulp used to make the paper has been through a bleaching process. Bleached wood pulp results in paper that is a white color, while unbleached wood pulp retains a woody brown hue.
As you'd expect from the name, bleached parchment is white, while unbleached parchment is brown. This is because unbleached parchment paper is untreated and totally chlorine-free, while its bleached counterpart is treated with chlorine, producing that gleaming white color.
“Both brown and white parchment paper are safe to use, so there's no need to stress,” she said. “The brown version is seen as a slightly more eco-conscious choice because it's unbleached, but it doesn't offer extra nutritional benefits.
Our Paper is Totally Chlorine Free & 75% Non-Bleached
Our paper is produced with pulp that has not been bleached with chlorine, reducing the impact on the environment while maintaining the quality and natural color of the paper.
To produce uniform white paper suitable for full colour printing, manufacturers reduce the colour tint and purity of paper pulp through bleaching. Known as delignification bleaching, the process uses oxides such as chlorine and ozone, or bleaching agents like chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide to do this.
The most basic difference between unbleached and bleached pulp is in its color. As already explained above, unbleached paper is brown whereas bleached paper is usually much brighter and generally white.
This can be done either chemically or mechanically, but it's the chemicals used in this process that first lighten the wood pulp to a paler tone. During manufacturing, the fine wood pulp is often bleached or dyed further, achieving its final white or coloured finish.
If concerned, opt for unbleached parchment paper. Alternative Choices: For those concerned about health, unbleached parchment paper or alternatives like wax paper or aluminum foil (for high-temperature baking) can be safer choices.
Reynolds Kitchens® Unbleached Parchment Paper is perfect for lining pans, making packets, and more! Learn more about how this product has been designed to be better for the environment here.
Do not ever use parchment or wax paper in the broiler. Despite its heat resistance, parchment paper can't handle the heat of any broiler, which can reach temperatures upward of 500°F. And wax paper? It should never come near the high heat of the oven or broiler.
While parchment paper used in cooking and baking is generally safe, there are some potential concerns to keep in mind. These include: Inhaling chemicals: Heating parchment paper at high temperatures (above 220°C) may release chemicals into the air that can be potentially harmful when inhaled.
Moreover, the nutritional value of bleached and unbleached flour is nearly identical. The bleaching process may decrease the amount of vitamin E slightly in the flour, but unbleached flour has only minimal amounts, anyway.
Parchment/wax papers
Many wax paper companies use petroleum-based paraffin wax and bleach the paper with chlorine, but some brands, such as If You Care, use unbleached paper and soy wax. Similarly, some parchment papers are treated with toxic PFAS or bleached with chlorine.
Using parchment paper or silicone mats reduces aluminum exposure during baking. Anodized aluminum offers a safer, non-reactive cooking surface compared to regular aluminum. Avoid using aluminum sheets with deep scratches or damage to prevent increased leaching.
But if you are concerned about chemicals that might leech into your food, Rogers recommends using unbleached parchment paper during cooking. “If they work the same, why not play it safe?” Rogers says. “If you have a choice, go ahead and use the unbleached [parchment paper] in your cooking.”
*Made with 75% unbleached fibers and 0% chlorine bleaching.
surefresh Non-Stick Parchment Paper, 25-ft.
(BTW – Recycle This Pittsburgh reached out to Costco regarding their Kirkland brand parchment paper and received this response: “The parchment paper is not bleached, but is made from bleached pulp using ECF (elemental chlorine free).” Read more here.)
in short, bleached parchment paper is perfectly safe to cook with. The purpose of bleaching wood pulp is to remove the lignin, which is an important step in improving the hygiene and heat resistance of parchment paper.
When shouldn't you use parchment paper? Parchment paper is not meant for high-heat cooking. The product box should indicate the highest temperature it can safely withstand, which is usually around 500℉. Do not use parchment paper when grilling or otherwise near an open flame.
To create a very white paper requires harsh chemical bleaches such as chlorine, alkaline hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydrosulfite. The use of these products creates the bright white sheet that many people crave, but the cost to the environment is high and the effect on the fibres used is damaging.
Although many people know that paper is from trees, many also do not consider how it was made or where the white color is from. This paper becomes notably white after additives and chemicals transform the brown tree pulp into white fluff.
Toilet paper has the color white because it's bleached. Without the bleach, the paper would be brownish in color. Companies do not invest in manufacturing coloured toilet paper because dying these lots would cost them more money.