How Parchment Paper Can Make Baking Easier
Learn how Learn how to use parchment paper to make baking easier! From lining cake pans so your cake layers don’t stick, to keeping baking sheets clean and grease-free, and even as a sling to lift bars straight out of the pan for easy slicing— parchment paper is your best friend in the kitchen!
One of the most important things you can have in your kitchen, as I have discovered, is parchment paper. I can’t bake without it and I’ve always got a roll handy.
It really was an epiphany the first time I baked with the help of parchment paper, and I haven’t looked back. If you’ve ever been frustrated with cakes that stuck to the pan, or messed up brownies trying to dig them out of a pan, this post is for you!
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Parchment paper products I use
Here are the products I actually own and use regularly! (Note, these are affiliate links)
- Roll of parchment paper to cut and use how you want.
- Parchment paper sheets (12×16-inch) for baking sheet pans and folding into 9×13-inch pans.
- Half-sheet pan parchment paper sheets (9×13-inch) for small-batch baking.
- 8-inch and 9-inch parchment paper rounds for cakes.
- Parchment paper with easy lift handles. Comes in a variety of sizes and makes lifting baked goods out of the pan so easy!
Look for parchment paper rolls and sheets at your local grocery store next to the plastic wrap and aluminum foil, for only a few dollars. For more special sizes like cake rounds, etc., you can find them at baking supply stores and online.
How to use parchment paper
For cookies, biscuits and scones
Placing cookie dough, biscuit rounds, etc on a sheet pan lined with a piece of parchment paper ensures your final product won’t stick. No need to use cooking spray and add extra grease, and clean-up is much easier as you can just throw it away when you’re done.
For cakes
The best way to get your cakes to come out perfectly from the pan each time is to use parchment paper. I never skip it! You can use parchment rounds to fit your pan, or trace the outline of the cake pan onto parchment paper and cut it out. Line the bottom of the pan with the parchment paper, and then either grease and flour, or coat with baking spray. Your cake is guaranteed to come out in one piece every singe time!
For brownies, bars and breads
Parchment paper is your secret weapon for getting baked goods out of deeper 4-sided pans! Simply measure out the parchment paper to the width of the longest side, then make sure it’s long enough to line the entire bottom of the pan, the two sides, and have a few inches of overhang on either side.
When you are ready to remove your baked good from the pan, simply use the overhanging parchment as handles to lift it straight out of the pan. For brownies and bars, it’s best to let them cool completely before removing them from the pan, as warm bars are soft and can buckle.
Other uses for parchment paper
- Use parchment paper to line pie crust for par-baking. Crumple the parchment paper first and then un-crumple it and line your pan. This way it will lie flush without any gaps.
- Make liners for cupcakes and muffins out of parchment paper. This is a great hack if you happen to not have any liners on hand!
- Line pans with parchment before freezing items. This works for cookie dough, baked goods, even fresh berries. If you are freezing items on a pan or flash-freezing to store in ziplock bags later, lining the pan with parchment prevents the items from freezing and sticking to the pan.
- Use parchment paper for savory baking and roasting. Parchment paper isn’t only for baking! Lining any baking pan with parchment prevents food from sticking and makes clean-up easier.
How to reduce parchment paper waste
If you are concerned about the waste that comes from using parchment paper, here are a few tips to reduce consumption:
- Re-use parchment paper. You can absolutely use parchment paper more than one time! Parchment paper sheets used for cookies are ideal for multiple uses, but any sheet of parchment paper that is still mostly clean after using it is a candidate for re-use. Simply fold it up for later, just don’t forget you have it!
- Use recycled parchment paper.
- Use a silicone baking mat. It functions the same as a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet pan and can be washed and used over and over again.
FAQs
No they are not the same! And they can’t always be used interchangeably as wax paper will burn in the oven. Wax paper is great for recipes that don’t require baking and you’ll see it a lot for candy making and wrapping.
Most brands advertise that they are safe up to 425°F, but I have used it in hotter ovens too. The edges of the paper will brown above 400°F, and temps over 425°F often result in slightly burned edges. Never expose parchment paper to open flames.
Silicone baking mats are a great alternative and so is greased foil. You can grease foil with non-stick baking spray or cooking spray, or purchase greased foil.
This article was originally published April 2014.
“It was very helpful to read this! Your suggestions are useful for every home baker, and parchment paper truly makes baking simpler.”
Amazing writeup, I was expecting this from you. You can check my blog too, http://www.kitchennblog.com
How to get it not to roll up
I’ve been using No-Name parchment for my sourdough loaves. Zero sticking. I bought a roll of Pillsbury brand parchment at Home Hardware and aaaakkk! It stuck! It’s awful! It didn’t stick to my rye loaf, which is a lower hydration, but the white loaf is fused on the bottom.
The role of baking paper and baking mat The tool I often use and highly recommend is baking paper. However, I don’t like rolled baking paper because it is easy to roll up and it is inconvenient to cut. I prefer to use cut-out baking paper, which can be found everywhere nowadays and can be bought in bakery stores (or buy some from your favorite bakery). If it is used at home baking pans, a piece of baking paper can be cut into two pieces for use (home baking pans are usually half the size of professional baking pans).
https://www.chinapapershop.com/product/natural-brown-greaseproof-baking-paper
I’ve unsuccessfully used noon stick spray to prevent my cheesecake from sticking to the sides of my springform pan. I saw a video recommending that you grease the sides of the pan and stick parchment paper to the grease. Do you agree or is there a better way.
Hi Harold, I always use nonstick baking spray on my springform pans when making cheesecake no problem. If you don’t have success with that, perhaps it’s the quality of your baking spray. I use Baker’s Joy or White Cap. That being said, if you have a method that works for you, go with that. Butter + flour is an option, and so is parchment paper. Good luck and happy baking!
I make gluten free bread and the parchment paper always sticks to the bread. I’ve prepared the paper with butter, left the paper dry, coconut oil, and olive oil. It doesn’t matter, the paper always sticks. Does anyone have a solution?
Hmm I’ve never had any issues with parchment paper and it shouldn’t need any greasing. What brand of parchment paper are you using? I typically use Reynold’s.
I have just baked a fruit cake with greaseproof paper. Greased the inside of cake tin before placing the grease proof paper but have found the paper has stuck to the cake. Any ideas?
Can I use parchment paper to bake salmon?
Can one use the parchment paper in baking pies so the crust doesn’t weld to the glass bottom on my peach pies? I usually wind up serving peach cobbler instead of a slice of pie.
Hmm, maybe it’s time for a new pie pan? I never have any issues with my glass pie pans. Never used parchment paper on a pie dish either, so I can’t offer any suggestions there. Sorry I’m not more help!
I’m getting ready to make a homemade chocolate cake and was wondering if I can use parchment paper instead of greasing and flouring the pan? Every time I grease and flour a pan and I go to frost the cake, my cake crumbles.not sure what I’m doing wrong or if it’s related to greasing and flouring the pan.
Can you slide parchment paper with cookies off the baking sheet and let them cool in the paper?
Sure, that’ll work too.