Aluminum foil, wax paper, a greased pan, and non-stick bakeware all work well as substitutes for parchment paper.
One of my passions in life is baking. Apart from flour, parchment paper is one thing I always have on hand.
This simple sheet of paper is crucial to keep food from sticking to your baking dish. The worst thing is baking a beautiful cake only to realize it’s stuck!
But for someone who bakes every day, running out of parchment paper is inevitable. Luckily, there are some good alternatives you can count on.
So, if you’re already in the middle of baking when you realize you’re out of parchment paper, you’re in luck. Here are seven substitutes for parchment paper to save the day!
Substitutes for Parchment Paper
Lining a baking dish with parchment paper keeps food from sticking to the dish. But there are other ways to do it, too.
If you’re out of parchment paper, try these substitutes.
1. Aluminum Foil
Foil makes an excellent substitute for parchment paper, but it depends on the goal. It’s great at lining dishes and pans, as it can withstand high temperatures. If you want an easy cleanup, foil will help a lot.
However, unlike parchment paper, foil isn’t non-stick. There’s a possibility of foil particles sticking to your food. A quick remedy to this is to grease the foil generously.
You can use it in many other ways, too. Just like parchment paper, you can use it to steam meat and vegetables in the oven. Rely on foil to cover dishes, keep them warm, wrap sandwiches, and store food in the freezer.
You can even shape it into small funnels for ingredient pouring. Or, use it to line stove plates for easy cleaning.
2. Greased Pan
Here’s an easy, cheap, and old-fashioned solution for you. Simply grease your baking pans with fat, and you’re all set. You can use butter or any neutral oil.
Most importantly, be sure to grease the entire pan, including the sides and all nooks and crannies. Use a brush to ensure everything gets greased. If you don’t have a brush, simply spread the grease using a paper towel.
An additional option is to sprinkle some flour over the greased baking pan. It’s like an added safety measure, and it works beautifully.
After sprinkling the flour, shake off the excess into your sink.
3. Silpat
If you love baking cookies and pastries like macarons and cream puffs, a silpat is essential. First, one mat is cheaper than a roll of parchment paper. Plus, it’s reusable!
It’s oven-safe and can handle high heat, up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also excellent for candy-making. Melted sugar doesn’t stick to silpat as it does with parchment paper.
There are a few drawbacks, though. First, if you like your cookies with a crisp bottom, you won’t get those from a silpat.
Also, you can’t adjust the shape and size. Parchment paper, on the other hand, is easy to adjust with scissors.
Unless you only use one specific pan, you need to buy more than just one kind of silpat. There’s also the matter of having an extra dirty dish to wash.
It’s not as versatile, but it’s the cheaper and more environment-friendly option.
4. Non-Stick Bakeware
This substitute is excellent for baking cakes and bread.
One consideration here, though, is the non-stick surface is fragile. Don’t use metal spoons or spatulas to keep it safe. It’s also not dishwasher safe, so you’ll need to wash it by hand.
Plus, its effectiveness depends on the brand and quality. Not all nonstick bakewares are 100% effective. Grease them well to be safe.
Pyrex Bakeware is a different story, though. It’s made entirely of glass, which means it’s non-stick. However, glass heats slower than metal, so Pyrex isn’t ideal for baking cakes and bread.
5. Wax Paper
It looks a lot like parchment paper, but don’t be fooled. Wax paper is a good substitute, but not at all times.
It’s great for lining baking pans, but there’s a catch. It only works if you’re baking cakes, brownies, or anything of the sort. Wax paper is less heat-resistant than parchment paper. You don’t want to expose it to direct heat.
That’s why it works for bakes where its entire surface is covered. For things like cookies and macarons where it’ll be exposed, it won’t work at all. The heat will melt the wax, which can cause the paper to burn.
It works well in the microwave oven, however. A microwave doesn’t produce nearly as high a heat as an oven. You don’t have to worry about the wax melting here. And even if it melts a little, it’s safe to eat.
You can also use it as a surface for kneading dough. It’s excellent at separating frozen food, like cookies or burger patties. You can even roll it to make a DIY funnel.
Wax paper can do anything parchment paper can do if it’s kept from direct heat.
6. Silicone Pad
Made of silicone and fiberglass, silicone pads are a fantastic alternative to parchment paper. They can withstand heat for up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit. Use them for baking cookies and pastries or as liners for kneading dough.
Silicone pads come in various shapes and sizes, so your choices aren’t limited. Just be sure to get ones of high quality. Cheap silicone pads are made with non-food grade silicone. This can emit toxic substances when heated.
7. Cooking Spray
If the goal is to keep food from sticking to the pan, cooking spray is a great option. It’s easy, simple, and cheap. Just be sure to spray the whole pan.
Cooking spray comes in different varieties, such as olive oil and butter flavor. Be sure to use one that suits what you’re baking.
7 Best Substitutes for Parchment Paper
As substitutes for parchment paper, foil, wax paper, and non-stick bakeware all work well. A greased pan works in a pinch, too.
Ingredients
Aluminum Foil
Greased Pan
Silpat
Non-Stick Bakeware
Wax Paper
Silicone Pad
Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Select your favorite substitute for parchment paper.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a delicious recipe in 30 minutes or less!
