MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE: WAX PAPER VS. PARCHMENT PAPER FOR COOKING AND BAKING | Reynolds Brands (2024)

FAQs

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE: WAX PAPER VS. PARCHMENT PAPER FOR COOKING AND BAKING | Reynolds Brands? ›

The clear winner is parchment paper for baking and cooking! It's oven-safe up to 425°F, and the non-stick properties can keep your cookies, brownies, casseroles, and more from adhering to the pan. Substituting parchment paper for aluminum foil when baking cookies will help to avoid burnt bottoms.

The primary difference between wax paper and parchment paper is that only parchment paper is heat resistant. That means you can use parchment paper to bake or cook in the oven, whereas wax paper can only be used at room temperature or in the fridge or freezer.

Parchment paper is oven-safe to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. "At high oven temperatures, wax paper may smoke and catch fire as it is combustible,” says Kelly Magurany, senior manager of toxicology at the NSF.

Using Parchment Paper

Parchment is a non-toxic, grease- and moisture-resistant paper specially treated for oven use. It can withstand temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not confuse it with wax paper, which is not suitable for oven use.

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.

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. So, remember, stay safe and skip the paper when it comes to broiling.

The benefit of using parchment paper vs. aluminum foil in the oven is that the parchment is naturally nonstick. You'll have to spritz an aluminum foil liner with cooking spray to get the same nonstick benefits.

But wax paper is not heat-resistant. The wax will melt at high temperatures, and the paper itself can catch on fire. Because of this, don't use wax paper to line baking sheets or cake pans or put it in a hot oven. Here are the other ways to use wax paper and when it's best to stick with parchment paper.

It is perfectly fine to use to line baking sheets for cookies or other baked goods. Note that it is recommended to not use in temperatures above 450 degrees.

It's paper that has been coated in a thin layer of paraffin wax, which makes it nonstick and moisture resistant, but not heat resistant. If the paraffin wax makes you feel concerned, don't worry—it's totally food-safe.

Which side of parchment paper goes up? ›

It is the shiny or glossy side of the parchment paper that should be face up on your baking sheet or cake pan. That way the shiny side can be in contact with your food and make the clean-up easy. As to whether you need parchment, aluminum foil, or wax paper, don't worry, we have you covered.

Can I Line Any Baking Pan with Foil? Yes! Now that you know how to effortlessly line your baking dish in seconds, it's time to take on some new recipes. In the TikTok video, the creator uses what looks like a generic 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, but this hack should work on casserole dishes, muffin tins, cake pans and more.

Wax paper features a thin, waxy coating on each side that makes it both nonstick and moisture-resistant (though it tends to absorb more water than parchment). It's a great substitute for parchment if you're looking to save money, as parchment paper usually ends up costing twice as much.

New techniques in paper milling allowed it to be much cheaper than parchment; it was made of textile rags and of very high quality. Following the arrival of printing in the later fifteenth century AD, the supply of animal skins for parchment could not keep up with the demands of printers.

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.

Some people prefer to limit the number of chemicals that find their way into home kitchens and consider unbleached to be healthier and safer. (Although it's worth noting that we don't know of any studies that prove bleached parchment to be a health risk of any kind.)

Discover the Magic of Baking with Parchment Paper

While it's perfect for lining your baking sheets and preventing your cookies from sticking, be sure to take note of its temperature limit before popping your goodies in the oven.

When it comes to baking, a roll of parchment paper is one of the most versatile tools you can have in your kitchen. Not only is it non-stick, it's also heat resistant (up to a point), resulting in perfect texture for all your favorite baked goods.

The paper won't release noxious chemicals, and will not burn. Most parchment paper is rated for use at temperatures no higher than 420 to 450 degrees.

Create a wet seal between the paper and your countertop or rolling surface by misting or slightly wetting it with water or mixing the water with flour or cornstarch. Apply a light layer of butter, cooking spray, or oil on the back of the parchment paper and press it down to your surface.