5 unexpected uses of baking paper

The uses of baking paper are virtually endless, and several key hacks on how to use it can take your cooking game to a whole new level. Picture: Pexels/Ekaterina Bolovtsova

The uses of baking paper are virtually endless, and several key hacks on how to use it can take your cooking game to a whole new level. Picture: Pexels/Ekaterina Bolovtsova

Published Sep 13, 2024

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If you love baking, you probably always have baking paper on hand. It’s a baking essential for lining trays and preventing those annoying sticking issues with cakes, cookies and muffins.

But did you know this handy paper has more tricks up its sleeve?

This special type of paper comes in bleached white or unbleached brown. It features a thin coating of silicone that is safe for high oven temperatures and prevents even the stickiest of foodstuff from attaching to it.

It comes in rolls or pre-cut sheets.

The uses of baking paper are virtually endless, and several key hacks on how to use it can take your cooking game to a whole new level. Picture: Pexels/Anete Lusina

Baking paper is incredibly versatile and works well for cold recipes like chocolate bark, as well as hot recipes like chocolate chip cookies.

The uses of baking paper are virtually endless, and several key hacks on how to use it can take your cooking game to a whole new level.

Discover some of the ways you can use baking paper in your kitchen. You may wonder how you ever lived without it.

Line sheet pan when roasting vegetables

Don’t let desserts have all the fun – line your sheet pan when roasting savoury items, too. Not only will it help them brown evenly but it means roasted-on ingredients will not be glued to your pan, making it much easier to clean.

Since baking paper adds a non-stick component, it also means you can use less oil. Note that your vegetables might not attain the same charred edges as they do when roasted directly on a pan but the swop may be worth it, depending on your priorities.

The uses of baking paper are virtually endless, and several key hacks on how to use it can take your cooking game to a whole new level. Picture: Pexels/Eda Topsakal

Cook mess-free bacon in the oven

Reaping the delicious benefits of bacon often comes with a con: cleaning greasy bacon and oil splatters from frying them in a pan. Instead, cook mess-free bacon in the oven by positioning bacon strips on baking paper on a sheet pan.

Bake it for about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the level of crispiness you prefer.

Somehow it magically keeps the sheet pan spotless as long as you throw it away before the grease has a chance to cool.

Make individual food storage a breeze

Whether you have burger patties destined for the freezer or freshly baked cookies that need sealed food storage to stay perfectly moist, placing a layer of paper between individual items will make it easy to portion out food and keep the cookies looking pretty.

The uses for baking paper are virtually endless, and several key hacks of using it can take your cooking game to a whole new level. Picture: Pexels/Ekaterina Bolovtsova

Wrap the food

Baking paper is perfect for wrapping food. Use it for sandwiches burgers, or cookies. It’s also great for wrapping baked treats like brownies and cookies for gifts. Just wrap it, tape it and add a ribbon for a cute and practical gift.

Decorate with it

Baking paper can be used to make beautiful designs for your baked goods. Cut out shapes and place them on top of your cookies or cakes as stencils before decorating.

You can also make your own piping bag by rolling baking paper into a cone shape and filling it with icing.