Parchment paper is a cellulose-based paper that is chemically treated to create a non-stick surface that is extremely durable, heat-resistant, and water-resistant. You can find it in the baking aisle of the grocery store in rolls or sometimes in pre-cut sheets.
As we've explored, parchment paper is a handy tool that helps make baking more manageable with its nonstick quality and easy cleanup.
Parchment paper, also known as baking paper, is a cellulose-based paper whose material has been processed so as to obtain additional properties such as non-stickiness, grease resistance, resistance to humidity and heat resistance. It is commonly used in baking and cooking as a disposable non-stick paper.
However, this is not without its own drawbacks. Unbleached wood fibers can contaminate food with which they come into contact, and since lignin is the component responsible for wood charring when burnt, unbleached parchment paper could be more prone to smoking at high temperatures6.
The shiny side has been siliconised, and that's the non-stick side. So you want the shiny side in contact with your food. Some papers are coated on both sides.
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.
Although parchment never stopped being used (primarily for governmental documents and diplomas) it had ceased to be a primary choice for artists' supports by the end of the 15th century Renaissance. This was partly due to its expense and partly due to its unusual working properties.
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.
Can you microwave parchment paper? Parchment paper can definitely be used in the microwave and works great for preventing messes. "To reheat foods in the microwave, place a small sheet of parchment paper over foods in order to eliminate splatters and avoid messy cleanup," says Brown.
Keep in mind that greasing a cookie sheet and baking the cookies directly on the surface of the pan will yield a slightly more crisp outer layer than when using parchment paper.
Using parchment paper for baking cookies will enable them to bake more evenly, and the non-stick quality will also help prevent them from cracking or breaking when lifting them off the sheet.
A cooking hack that's gone viral on TikTok has people lining their stainless steel pans and cast iron skillets with parchment to cook delicate foods, like fish and eggs, without the food sticking. It's essentially nonstick cooking without a nonstick pan, and even chef and author J. Kenji López-Alt says it's legit.
High moisture can make meat stick to parchment paper because the water freezes and expands.
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.
"When ingredients are heated, especially chocolate, jelly and sugar, they can become sticky and hard, making them likely to adhere to the paper. This is fairly unavoidable, since these ingredients are in most pastries," states Richards.
Typically, parchment paper is coated with silicone, which gives it its non-stick properties and this coating is applied to both sides of the paper. Therefore, whether you're baking cookies, roasting vegetables or preparing a pan for a cake, you can use either side of the parchment paper.
It helps ensure baking sheets stay clean, prevents baked goods from over-browning and sticking to the pan, keeps poaching liquids from evaporating, and can be used as a sling around bread dough or cheesecake to help release them from the pan. You can even use it to line the basket of your air fryer.
Cost. One of the primary disadvantages of parchment is its high budget due to the meticulous process involved in preparing animal skin. It can limit its accessibility for widespread use, especially compared to more cost-effective alternatives.
Fortunately, according to Southern Living, there's a simple way to determine which side is which. Hold up a sheet of your go-to parchment paper, and note which side seems glossier. The glossier side is coated with nonstick silicone, like we mentioned earlier, and this is the side you want facing up.
Parchment paper is designed and intended to be a non-stick surface that you can bake on and remove your goodies from with ease, but what does stick to parchment paper? Figuring out the answer to this question honestly took a bit of digging because as it turns out, very little does stick to parchment paper!
Laurence says she always chooses parchment paper over aluminum foil in the air fryer. Parchment paper is more versatile because it is non-reactive. "Whatever food you're putting on that aluminum foil is going to react with aluminum," Laurence says.
The parchment-lined pan performed slightly better than the foil-lined pan at preventing the vegetables from sticking, though not dramatically so, and both performed better than the unlined tray. But neither browned the vegetables as well as the unlined pan.