Never stress over the mess again!
Are you tired of scrubbing the congealed grease from your baking pans? You probably love baking. But the idea of spending an extra hour cleaning the grease off your pans may be off-putting.
For some, baking is therapeutic, and for others, an escape or a spotlight moment. Do you want to cook more and more buttery treats for you and your family without the scrubby hassle afterwards? If you do, it is time to switch to parchment paper. With all the same benefits as grease and minus the extra hour of cleaning, this is a must-have in your kitchen.
Importance of choosing the right paper for baking
There are different papers for baking in the market today. You may be confused about which to use. Parchment or wax paper? Both are important when baking and have different properties and functions.
Parchment Paper
Line it, shape it, or heat it! Bake a cake or your favourite cookie and easily transfer it to a plate. A parchment sheet is a heat-resistant and grease-proof paper. Its non-sticky properties make it one of the best baking papers on the market. Using parchment sheets makes it easy for you to pull out desserts directly from the pan without them sticking.
The ability of this paper to withstand high temperatures makes it perfect for baking in ovens and cooking.
Wax Paper
Wax paper, as its name indicates, is coated in wax. Unfortunately, that makes it vulnerable to high temperatures. Imagine that you have lovingly whipped up a batch of cookies for your family. In place of parchment, you use wax paper by mistake. The next thing you know, there's a fire inside your oven. All that's left of your perfectly shaped cookies are burned husks. Ouch!
Even if your baking did survive, there's a high chance the wax coating must have bled onto it. The moment you take a bite, you are hit with a strong waxy taste. There goes your pastry! Furthermore, the presence of chemicals and preservatives in the wax coating makes it unsafe to ingest.
While both papers are essentially non-stick, the difference in their heat resistance matters a lot when cooking. Using parchment sheets is preferred, as you can shape and cook your product to perfection.
Types of parchment sheets
Primarily made from wood pulp, parchment sheets are treated with sulfuric acid and calcium carbonate. This process gives the paper its non-sticky and heat-resistant qualities. The treatment also makes the paper durable and safe for use with food.
Other eco-friendly versions include unbleached and bamboo pulp-based baking paper. Below is a list of types of parchment sheets available on the market today.
1. Bleached parchment sheets
Highly heat-resistant, bleached parchment is treated with chlorine bleach. You are right to wonder if it has any adverse effects on your health. Byproducts of chlorine bleach are hazardous to human and environmental health.
The parchment paper for baking is the perfect option for when you want to present food in a visually appealing manner. You can even pick up coloured parchment sheets to creatively present your baked goods.
2. Unbleached parchment sheets
Untreated by chemicals, the paper retains its natural brown colour. The lack of whitening agents used during the manufacturing process makes it a healthier and eco-friendly option as well.
If you are looking for a sustainable alternative to bleached paper, you can opt for this.
3. Organic Baking Paper
The baking sheet paper is made with 100% bamboo pulp. Unbleached bamboo parchment is heat-resistant and non-sticky just like conventional baking papers. Manufactured from a renewable resource, its impact on the environment is minimal. It's the best parchment paper for baking if you prefer using products free of chemicals and bleach.
Looking to make your home and kitchen more eco-friendly? Consider using this organic baking paper.
How to choose the best parchment paper for baking
Certain factors need to be considered when you are choosing your baking paper, including what you plan to bake, the duration, and the temperature required. Here are some points to remember:
1. Heat-resistant and grease-proof
No matter what type of baking paper you choose, ensure that it is microwave oven safe and grease-proof. A grease-proof paper will keep your treats moist, with their texture on point, and free of oil. Plus, it saves you cleaning time!
2. Packaging
Packaging is immensely important to check. A parchment paper roll comes in a cardboard box or recycled plastic packaging. Ensure the packaging is sturdy and strong with a tear strip for a clean cut.
3. Unbleached and Natural
When shopping for parchment paper online, brace yourself for a wide range of options and sizes. Worried about the health effects of bleached parchment? Grab organic and unbleached parchment paper on Beco and leave all your health concerns behind.
4. Eco-friendly
That 100% natural bamboo pulp in Beco parchment paper roll? Yes, that one. It makes the paper biodegradable, 100% compostable and reusable. You can remain a friend of the environment and still indulge in mouth-watering treats!
Tips for using parchment paper
Get the best out of your parchment sheets with the following tips -
- Cut and fit your paper to ensure no excess grease seeps through to the pan.
- Lightly grease the paper for easy release of your baked or cooked item.
- Reusing is god’s work. Reuse your parchment sheet when and where you can. For example, when baking cookies or other smaller treats.
- Use beans or rice as weights to prevent your baking paper from curling up.
- Place the baking paper non-stick side up in the pan.
- Experimentation is key to finding the right parchment roll fit for all your baking needs.
Pros and cons of using parchment paper and wax paper
Wax paper can be used for rolling dough, wrapping food, and layering between food parchment. Although, it is not heat-resistant or grease-proof like parchment sheets.
Your best bet when baking is parchment baking paper. This versatile paper can be reused multiple times, making it an eco-friendly option, unlike wax paper.
Bake; don’t rake your treats off of your pans. Buy organic parchment paper online at Beco today!