An alternative for parchment paper when baking?

1. 93

   vespawoolfposted 11 years ago

   An alternative for parchment paper when baking?
   
   Is there anything else that can be used for baking gooey cookies (such as rugelach) when parchment paper isn't available?

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2. 0

   jenuboukaposted 11 years ago

   Three things I have used:
   
   Oiling a brown paper bag
   
   Butter and flour
   
   Or using a silpat (silicone mat) You can find these wonderful, yet pricey, baking items at a specialty kitchen store.  We use them regularly in place of the parchment paper in restaurants as they are reusable. 
   
   Greased butcher paper also works in a pinch.
   
   But never, never use wax paper, it is flammable in the oven.

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   1. 93

      vespawoolfposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer, thanks! I also love silpats. Mine bit the dust and I bought a cheaper brand to replace it, but it smokes in the oven! I think oiling a paper bag is a good idea.

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3. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Anything that is butter-based, you can use butter, oil, Pam spray...parchment is just a treated paper that provides easy release of whatever you are baking.

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   1. 93

      vespawoolfposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great, thanks!

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You are very welcome vespawoofl!

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4. 68

   Handicapped Chefposted 11 years ago

   a cooking pray would work good parchment paper is an expensive product. Although parchment makes it easy to remove cookies and other baked goods from baking sheets and almost eliminates cleanup, the product is a luxury. For most kinds of cookies and baked goods, nonstick cooking spray is a great inexpensive alternative.
   
   Save parchment for delicate cookies, such as macaroons, meringues, and     thin cutout cookies, where its perfectly nonstick surface will help eliminate breakage.
   
   And when you do choose to use parchment paper, remember that it can be used more than once. It can be used as many as three times; although it becomes a bit brown, it still does its job, even when used repeatedly.

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   1. 93

      vespawoolfposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's a great point. Reusing parchment is gentler on the environment, too.

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5. 60

   francisassissiposted 11 years ago

   I use this:
   
   Oiling a brown paper bag like jenubouka here, because this is very effective and very easy for me.

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   1. 93

      vespawoolfposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think that's a great idea.

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6. 93

   KDeusposted 11 years ago

   I love using parchment paper, but when I'm out, I usually just use cooking spray and if I'm baking, it's butter with flour (or sugar). I never have thought about using an oiled brown paper bag or a silpat - I'll have to look into those!

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7. 81

   peachpurpleposted 10 years ago

   i don't use baking paper that often because it is expensive. So, i spread a little butter on the cookie tray and place the cookie dough on top. Came out well.

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   1. 93

      vespawoolfposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your answer, peachpurple. That does work well for most cookies. But for making candies, such as caramels, there is more of a problem with sticking and parchment is necessary.

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8. 48

   breathingposted 8 years ago

   For baking, parchment paper is best without any doubt. But there are times when you don’t find parchment paper near you and feel helpless. At that time, the following alternatives can be really handy for you:
   1. Silpat is preferred by many expert bakers. It is made of silicone and contains sheets that can be used again and again. None of the baking goods will stick to silicone which is really great.
   2. For getting something similar to parchment paper, you can use waxed paper. With waxed paper, the goods will stick to it slightly. So you have to be careful as you complete the baking process.
   3. Another good substitute of parchment paper is aluminum foil. Its biggest advantage is its flexibility. With aluminum foil, you will not need to scrub baking sheet. As a result your cleaning time will be saved.
   4. For perfect shapes of the baked goods, rubber molds of silicone can be a good option too. You will find molds of different shapes, sizes and quality. This will help you to become creative with wonderful baked presentations. Because of the mold’s flexibility, you can easily turn the goods inside and out.
   
   Hopefully all these will be sufficient as alternatives of parchment paper in case of baking.

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   1. 91

      Margie Lynnposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I always wonder if you could bake with wax paper, thanks for info!

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9. 60

   Aree_36posted 7 years ago

   In natural way, you can use banana leave, but make sure to wash and dry it first to get the dirt, dust, or germ on the leave that might have it on the leave.

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