Parchment paper is simply a cellulose-based paper that has been coated with silicon to make it non-stick, water-proof, and heat resistant.
These properties make it highly versatile and very essential in some cooking recipes. It can be used to line pans and baking sheets to reduce browning and prevent sticking.
It also used to make pouches, cook fish, chicken, cookies, and vegetables. Lining your pans with parchment paper will reduce the number of utensils you will wash because your pans will come out of the oven super clean.
However, it is not all the time you will have parchment paper in your kitchen. Sometimes you are low on budget, or your parchment paper can run out unexpectedly. In such a case, you don’t have to worry because there are other parchment paper substitutes that you can use, some of which you may even be having at hand. Read on to discover them.
1. Wax Paper
Like parchment paper, Wax paper has a thin wax coating on each side that makes it non-stick and moisture resistant. Using wax paper is cheaper than parchment paper.
You can use it to wrap foods, line tables while decorating cakes or as a covering for countertops while measuring dry and messy ingredients.
One drawback of using wax paper as a substitute to parchment paper is that it cannot withstand much heat. Thus, wax paper cannot be used to line pans for baking or even be placed in the oven.
The wax on the wax paper can melt or catch fire when exposed to high temperatures. Wax paper can only substitute parchment paper if the purpose you intend to use it for does not involve a lot of heating.
I just wrote an in-depth comparison between parchment paper and wax paper here.
2. Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil is a good parchment paper substitute because it is cheaper, flexible, and good in heat transfer. You can use it to line pans while baking for easier cleaning.
Like parchment paper, you can use aluminum foil to steam fish, chicken, and vegetables in the microwave. It can also be used as a wrapping to keep food warm or as a wrapping for meat and sandwich that you want to freeze for a short time.
The downside of aluminum foil is that it is non-stick. You may notice some foil sticking on your food after cooking. Although you can use aluminum foil in many areas as a substitute for parchment paper, you should try not to use it often.
3. Silicone Baking Mat
Silicon mats are made of silicon, which makes them heat resistant and non-stick. Silicon mats are normally used in ovens and pans because they can withstand high temperatures more than parchment paper.
Silicon mats are best for baking projects like bread rolls and cookies where you don't want any sticking. One of the drawbacks of using silicon mats is that they are costly.
Also, you have to buy many different sizes for different projects since they can’t be cut folded or adjusted to different sizes. Even though they are highly-priced, silicon mats are durable and can last for years.
4. Grease
When you don’t have all the above substitutes, you can choose the old way. Use grease on your baking molds or pans. The grease, in this case, can be olive oil, cooking spray or coconut oil.
You can use a paper towel to spread your grease on the pan or baking molds. The type of grease to use will depend on your preference and purpose.
After applying the grease on your pan, you can then sprinkle flour while shaking it until the flour sticks evenly to the pan.
5. Grocery Bags
Grocery bags can also be handy if you want to use them for wrapping your foods. But you should never use them for heating purposes. These papers can catch fire easily, and thus, you should not use them as a substitute for parchment paper in any activity involving heat.
Conclusion on alternatives to using Parchment Paper
There are many more great substitutes to parchment paper that I didn’t include for example butcher paper, however, the ones I listed in this article will do a great job or even a better job when compared to using parchment paper, I hope this resources was helpful