So if you’re like me, you have at one point in your baking life, went to try a recipe and used one of the three kitchen staples incorrectly. This ultimately resulted in utter catastrophe and broken dreams…
Exhibit A:
Horrifying I know, but with the bad comes the good. This failed experiment and hard learned lesson sparked the idea of learning exactly why you use on product over the other and for which are they best suited for. Though its good information to know, if anything else, it’ll saved my wallet from all the wasted ingredients that continue to grace the trashcan with each failed attempt.
Now, if I were to ask you what the difference between the three is, you probably would respond with something along the lines of “foil is silver and parchment paper is paper and wax paper is made of wax”, as was my husband’s response. But outside the obvious, do you really understand what are the variety of uses for each are?
Ladies and Gents, presenting a breakdown of the differences and tips on how you should use them:
Parchment vs. Wax Paper
To lead the pack, let’s explore parchment paper first.
Parchment paper is a coated paper that is covered with a silicone base (Quilon if we’re being technical). This creates a heat-resistant layer that eliminates the moisture retention issue that a direct contact surface such as that of non-stick pans have. Additionally, it is grease-resistant so it in a sense makes food safer to eat as it minimizes the chance of surface contamination. This paper is specifically treated for oven-use as it can withstand the high temperatures that are required for baking. This makes the paper non-stick and allows for easy release of food products.
On the other hand…..
Wax paper is covered in a thin coating of either soybean or paraffin wax on both sides. This allows for it to be considered non-stick as well as moisture-resistant. It helps retain the juices of the foods within while resisting any moisture transition that would ultimately make foods soggy and/or dry. Despite this positive attribute, it is not heat-resistant. Technically it can be labelled as a fire hazard as it will melt in the oven and can even catch on fire.
(Not that I’m bias or anything……I mean some people love the taste of crayons)
On the other hand, wax paper can also be used to wrap food for cold storage or even line a pan for such ventures as fudge-making. Putting a piece of wax paper in between items you’re freezing will also prevent them from sticking together.
Wax paper does tend to be cheaper than parchment paper and is a good alternative for task such as wrapping food or covering counter tops, but with the new types available (9in rounds with tabs, cookie sheets sizes, etc…), the parchment proves to be more versatile over wax. Parchment paper is reusable and technically is more environmentally friendly.
Foil vs. Parchment Paper and Wax Paper
Now foil or as the French pronounce it…foíl is basically just extremely thin sheets of aluminum that can come in a variety of thicknesses.
Foil is generally used to roast poultry, grill food, and cook fish in the oven. Parchment paper has a temperature max of 420 degrees Fahrenheit; if you are baking/cooking an item that requires a higher temperature, foil is a wiser choice. Foil is meant for thermal insulation, to keep food warm for longer periods of time. Additionally, foil can be used in cold scenarios to seal them from outside air.
Lastly, foil does not offer a nonstick option. Although foil offers great versatility, it may not be safe to use on high temperatures because some aluminum might leach into your food, according to International Journal Of Electrochemical Science. High concentrations of aluminum in the body may be linked to several health risks, such Alzheimer’s disease, renal impairments, and bone diseases.
The amount of percolation was discovered to be high in acidic solutions and spices. Therefore, if you like to stay on the safe side, avoid cooking with aluminum foil if you’ll be using spices and acidic solutions, like tomato juice and vinegar and if heat is involved, use parchment paper or you may end up with a little piece of foil stuck to the bottom of your cookies.
Just an FYI…..
OH plus you can technically reuse it so there is a positive side to it as well 🙂
Conclusion
So now that the facts have been presented, you probably are asking yourself “OK, so foil, parchment paper and wax paper have a lot of similar uses, but which one is better?” A good rule of thumb to remember is if you don’t want it to stick, use wax or parchment paper and if you want to insulate, use foil, but if you’re going to use a heat source, stick to parchment paper.
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I knew about the dangers of foil a couple of years ago and have used it much less since. There are also reports of cling film being a bad thing to use too! Seems they produce things and don’t really know what the implications of them are. Personally I use a covered baking dish so no need for foil. In the UK we have grease proof paper, which I use to wrap cold items for storage.
Enjoy the journey!
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I use foil when necessary and parchment paper for everything else. I love that parchment paper also makes for an easier clean up.
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I know right! Especially with all the specially designed sheets now, makes baking twice as much fun since there is little cleanup!
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I always used parchment, until silpat (silicone) liners came along. Also, I do a lot of my cookie baking on a very well seasoned pizza stone. They never stick and they always evenly brown and cooked 🙂
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Never tried the pizza stone but might have to expand the debate to include it. I do believe some experimenting might be in order…
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I tend to use parchment for baking most things although I usually use foil when I bake proteins like meat, chicken or fish that need intense high cooking or slow long cooking.
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Same here. Only time I use foil for baking is when I need heat to be trapped in without the Browning effect
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Interesting take! I remember an old teacher we had from England and she put so much newspaper to use! She would find this debate interesting. I suppose I got my frugal ways from her. No wonder I now have a frugal blog! Thanks for sharing!
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I am such a foil and wax paper person. I haven’t used parchment paper much.
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I used to be as well until I made the jump. Now, I am pretty much parchment 24/7
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My debate lately has been foil or parchment paper lol! I use foil for baking but i hear parchment has less toxins, Your post is definitely helpful.. thank you
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Glad I could help 😎
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I can say I honestly didn’t know any of this information prior, it’ll definitely change the way I cook though!
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I use parchment paper most of the time. Unless I’m making something with cheese on top, then I prefer foil. But you can also wet parchment paper for insulation purposes (for example instead of a lid) 😀 saw someone do it..I think it was Jamie Oliver.
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Never heard of wetting the paper. Have to try it out. Thanks for the tip!
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Awesome blog, so helpful. You just made cooking easier for so many people ♡
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you really doing good works ,,ı like to read your posts 🙂 my favourite is foil 🙂
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I’m a parchment girl myself 😊
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I usually use foil for cookies, but maybe I need to switch!
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You should! I noticed 100% difference since switching myself
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Love your articles, I’m not the greatest cook so I can always guarantee that you will point me in the right direction by explaining differences of things really clearly.
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Awww thank you so much. This means a lot to hear how much they are helping 😁
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Shared with my baker sister. Thanks
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Thank for good info
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So informative. Funny, I have pancakes in my freezer that look exactly like your photo there. All the pancakes are stuck together and made my “quick breakfast” idea a struggle in the morning. Lol
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you really doing good work
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What a smart post. I have never seen someone break this down so it’s perfect information for any cook! Thanks for sharing.
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I’m not a fan of any of the above because I’ve had some bad experiences with all. Currently use a silicon baking pad and that seems to work the best for me.
kimberly
http://www.brunchandgloss.com
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Really nice run down on the differences. I like to use foil mostly.
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Parchment paper is my go to for pretty much everything! That’s good info about the foil though-I had no idea.
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Great article. I want to take up baking now that I will have some spare time
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