Keeping a roll of baking paper in your pantry should be done at all times. It keeps your counter free from unnecessary messes, and baking paper acts as an impromptu liner for trays and plates, so you can easily serve food. You may use baking paper in storing your leftovers, too.
Despite its limitations on direct heating, baking paper can still be creatively used for other purposes. Knowing when to use your baking paper will give you better knowledge in your kitchen, saving many extra materials and resources in a longer time.
What Is the Use of Baking Paper?
There are a lot of methods and approaches to using your baking paper. Baking pans have varying means of spreading heat towards their surface. Placing a baking paper on the surface improves heat distribution by forming a thin layer between the baking sheet and the food.
The baking paper also regulates the temperature by neutralizing hot spots to reduce baked products’ undesirable spreading. Fuller dough ensures the right crisp on the outsides while retaining moisture and softness in the middle. Baked goods like bread and cookies require this method.
Silicone found on baking paper eliminates sticking that is essential on most baked pastries. Cakes lined with baking paper could be easily flip and slide outside the pan. Remove cookies placed atop baking paper without the unnecessary clinging to the bottom of the pan.
Cut your brownies and bars without squashing the edges by lining your pan with baking paper before baking. This will give the pastry enough exposed surface to create straight cuts without the sides blocking the knife’s edge.
Sealing your baked fish, vegetables, and protein with baking paper can create a pocket of steam that gently cooks your dish. This produces perfectly moist and tender food and prevents overcooking. After cooking, you may seal your food inside a baking paper pouch or parchment wrap. Placing food inside a parchment wrap gives enough insulation to prolong the temperature.
Deep-seated dirt and oils can be cleaned easily by placing baking paper and hot water on the burnt large pans and baking sheets. The baking paper absorbs all the excess oils, making the dirt easier to remove. You may also use the dirty baking paper to scrub the dirt away.
Is It OK to Bake Without Baking Paper?
Cooking is more convenient with the use of baking paper. Not only can it be used to lining up your baking pans and molds, but it can also wrap your cooked food and even cleaning hard-to-clean pots and pans. Suppose you happen to lose your baking paper, or you want to consider recyclable alternatives. In that case, you may bake your dish without baking paper.
Before setting up your options, you need to accompany it depending on your goals. The baking paper already occupies a lot of function, and it may be the only substitute available. If you want a long-term change (or creating a green kitchen), consider purchasing permanent materials. Silicone mats, molds, and pans are already available in the market. This is sturdy enough to surpass long baking periods, but it may come at a heavy price.
Although silicone is known for providing a non-sticky texture, you may still require to spray it with cooking spray for easier removal. Since there are still limited shapes and sizes of silicone mats available in the market, you may still end up using aluminum foil and other disposable alternatives.
If you lack the necessary baking paper for your cooking, you may consider using other alternatives. Wax paper can seal foods and serves as serving cups. Aluminum foil is the best alternative for the baking paper since it can also be used in direct heating. The main difference is that aluminum foil still requires greasing your pan with oil and flour.
Cooking spray and lard can also be used to grease your pans since it works better than the dusted pan with oil function. You may also use margarine or butter to grease your baking pan. Consider using a pastry brush to distribute the oils to prevent sticking evenly.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Baking Paper?
Baking paper is an indispensable tool in your baking needs. If you happen to forget to add it to your baking list, or if you want to reduce the paper waste in your household—there are still methods in baking without using baking paper.
Using a silicone pan
Replacing your aluminum pan with a silicone pan will reduce the need to purchase a roll of baking paper. This will also reduce the overall usage of disposable materials, keeping your kitchen-free from unrecyclable materials. Even though silicone is known as an anti-stick material, necessary recipes require additional greasing.
Using an aluminum foil
Aluminum foil is considered the best disposable alternative to baking paper. Aside from replacing the baking foil function, it can also be used inside a griller and broiler. Aluminum can withstand extreme heats that may burn a regular baking paper. Additional greasing is required to clean the dirt.
Greasing the baking sheet
Suppose you don’t bother cleaning your baking pans and sheets. In that case, you may use your grease pan directly without placing any disposable liners. Greasing your baking sheet can do using a cooking spray or with a pastry brush drenched in oil. Lard and other solid fats can be used if the recipes call for extra grease.
Creating a homemade anti-stick
Using a cooking spray and other specialized greases can cost you a lot. Instead of doing so, you may create your homemade anti-stick grease with shortening, oil, and flour. Measure equal parts of this material and mix it thoroughly by hand or by a stand mixer. After forming a paste, you may place it inside a clean container and place it inside a fridge. Solidified blocks and be cut into butter-size sticks for easier use.
Using a baking mat
Placing a baking mat made with silicone will reduce the use of baking paper. Baking made functions as baking paper, only that it can be used a lot of times. Use a baking mat the same way you use your baking paper.
Using a baking pan
Leaving your pans plain is required for specific recipes. Foods that require to be crispy (like breadcrumbs and toast) do not need any greasing at all. Sponge cakes need the bare sides of the baking pan to produce their soft, fluffy texture. If your recipe does not recommend greasing your pan, follow it.
