Parchment Paper vs Wax Paper vs Butcher Paper

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Hello Daring Bakers!

“Can wax paper go within the oven?” “Is wax paper the identical as parchment paper?” “Is parchment the identical as butcher paper?”

With the entire baking paper choices on the market it may be complicated which one to make use of and when. Learn on to be taught a bit extra about 3 frequent varieties of kitchen paper and the way they will help you!

Parchment Paper

Parchment paper is made by bathing sheets of paper pulp in both sulfuric acid or zinc chloride. These chemical substances partially gelatinize the paper, rendering it oil, water and warmth resistant as much as 425°F (220°C) in addition to making it non-stick. Some parchment paper is coated in silicone, making it much more non-stick and warmth resistant as much as 450°F (235°C).  Though oven-safe, it isn’t fireproof and may by no means be used on a direct flame.

• In cooking and baking, it’s used to line baking sheets and pans rather than butter and flour to forestall sticking, equivalent to in my Aunty Rosaleen’s Conventional Irish Christmas Cake Recipe. Don’t overlook to take a look at my straightforward, chef-tested recommendations on The way to Line a Spherical Pan completely.
• It will also be used rather than flour on a piece floor when rolling out sticky doughs and pastries.
• The French baking method known as “en papillote” makes use of the parchment paper that’s folded to type a sealed bag round meals to be roasted. Because the meals bakes, it releases moisture within the type of steam that’s trapped by the parchment. This permits meals to be gently steam-cooked with out the necessity for fat or oils.

Wax Paper

Wax paper is skinny tissue paper that has been triple coated in a food-grade paraffin wax. The wax shouldn’t be warmth resistant and may by no means be used for baking as it could possibly smoke and in addition the wax can soften and get into your baked items.

Nevertheless, wax paper may be very helpful in sure purposes:

• It creates a non-stick floor for rolling out sticky doughs and pastries, and additionally it is nice for lining a piece floor when adorning cookies or for resting cookies or different confections after dipping in chocolate.
• Wax paper can be utilized for individually wrapping sticky treats like marshmallows or caramels, equivalent to my Pure Maple Sweet.
• Additionally, it’s extra moisture resistant than parchment paper, making it the best option to cowl damp meals like chilled cheesecakes or custards.

Butcher Paper

Butcher paper is a thick paper made by processing kraft paper pulp with caustic soda, sulfide and sizing brokers that make it moisture resistant. Its distinctive properties permit moisture retention in uncooked meats and fish but in addition permit some breathability to maintain the meat contemporary and stop it from getting slimy.

Butcher paper is warmth resistant as much as 450°F (235°C) and can be utilized for cooking:

• It’s standard for overlaying meats for lengthy smoking because it permits the smoke in however retains moisture from evaporating.
• It will also be used within the oven for lining baking sheets earlier than roasting greens or meats. Its thicker texture makes it much less splendid for extra delicate baking like cookies or pastries.

Not solely are all three of those papers vital to any well-stocked kitchen, however these papers all have makes use of past the kitchen, for crafting and different tasks. Take a look on-line – there’s a wealth of inventive info on the market!