Can you put parchment paper in the oven?

Parchment paper is a friend to many bakers and cooks, but for some of us, the use of parchment paper is still a bit new.

When working with the oven and high temperatures, it’s always best to be safe and ask any questions you have, no matter how obvious they may seem. In this article, we focus on trusted parchment paper.

Can you put parchment paper in the oven?  You can put parchment paper in the oven, and most brands of parchment paper have a listed maximum temperature of about 425°F. The temperature range varies by brand, but as long as the oven isn’t too hot, parchment paper can be used without issue.

There are exceptions to this, and there are times when you should avoid using parchment paper, along with some safety tips to be aware of.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about using parchment paper in the oven.

What is parchment paper?

Parchment paper is specially prepared to ensure its safety in the oven.

The paper is initially formed from wood pulp that is stretched, dried and rolled into large reams, but then both sides of the paper are coated with silicone.

The silicone coating on both sides of the paper makes it resistant to heat, as well as moisture and oil.

It is important to note that although the silicone coating gives parchment paper some heat resistance, it is not fire retardant and will therefore catch fire if exposed to a flame or very intense heat.

Silicone is a safe coating and does not react with food, making parchment paper safe for baking and cooking.

Is it safe to put parchment paper in the oven?

Parchment paper was designed to be used in the oven for cooking and baking . The components of parchment paper make it safe for use in the oven, and help make the paper resistant to oil, moisture, and heat.

However, as with most things in cooking, there are times when parchment paper may not be so safe.

When using parchment paper, you need to follow the guidelines set by the manufacturer, whether it is the maximum temperature or the time spent in the oven.

Leaving parchment paper in an oven that is too hot, or leaving it alone in the oven, can cause parchment paper to burn.

The parchment paper should also be kept away from the edges of the oven and should be placed on a cookie sheet or cake pan.

Parchment paper is not only safe in the oven, but it can also be used in the microwave and deep fryer.

Can parchment paper catch fire in the oven?

There is a possibility that the parchment paper could catch fire in the oven. The silicone coating on parchment paper makes it heat resistant to some degree, but it is not fire retardant.

The most common situations in which parchment paper catches fire are when it is exposed to a direct flame, when it is exposed to the resistance of the oven, and when it is used in a toaster oven.

Parchment paper can catch fire, and in fact can burn faster than other types of paper. This is due to the added chemicals that make it resistant to heat.

However, parchment paper does not need to be exposed to a direct flame to catch fire. If it comes into contact with the resistance of the oven, there is a high chance that it will catch fire.

It is also advised not to use parchment paper in a toaster oven, as they are usually smaller than a traditional oven.

This means there is a greater chance of the parchment paper coming into contact with the heating element, or even the side of the oven, which may be too hot.

The best way to prevent parchment paper from igniting is to follow the temperature guidelines and avoid contact with heating elements and the side of the oven, as well as an open flame.

At what temperatures is parchment paper safe?

Different brands of parchment paper have different recommended heating points, some being higher than others.

The average maximum temperature for parchment paper is around 400-450°F , which should be more than enough for most cooking and baking tasks.

However, as much as you follow the temperature guidelines, you should follow the other safety tips to ensure that your parchment paper is safe in the oven.

How long can parchment paper be in the oven?

There isn’t much of a time limitation on how long parchment paper can be used in the oven, as long as you watch the edges of the parchment paper don’t start to brown or burn.

In fact, parchment paper can be reused , and you could bake multiple batches of cookies with a single sheet of parchment paper.

You just have to make sure that the parchment paper doesn’t get too brittle or brown, as this could be a sign that it’s starting to burn.

In the right setting, the same sheet of parchment paper can be used to bake multiple batches of cookies without burning.

However, if the parchment paper is too large for the cookie sheet, or is exposed to too high a temperature, it won’t last long.

How long parchment paper lasts in the oven depends on the environment and how well it stands up to the heat of the oven.

Be sure to remove any parchment paper that looks burnt, as you don’t want an open flame in the oven.

Can parchment paper be toxic?

There are concerns that parchment paper is not safe for baking or cooking, as it is coated in chemicals. This is not entirely true, but there is some truth to it.

The potential for parchment paper to be toxic depends on the type you use.

There are two main types of parchment paper, bleached and unbleached. Bleached parchment paper is white, and unbleached parchment paper is brown in color.

Bleached parchment paper may contain toxic dioxin, and there’s a chance this chemical could leach into your food when exposed to heat.

It’s important to be aware of the different chemicals and toxins found in food and kitchen accessories, so it’s best to stay away from bleached parchment paper whenever possible.

Unbleached parchment paper should not contain this chemical.

There is another chemical that may be contained in parchment paper and could leach into food, called Quilon.

However, most good brands of parchment paper will state on the packaging that it does not contain Quilon , so be sure to check.

Safety Tips for Using Parchment Paper

Even if you are completely comfortable using your oven on a daily basis, there are some safety tips to follow, especially when using parchment paper.

To make sure you get the most out of parchment paper, and that you use it in the safest way possible, here are some safety tips to follow:

• When using an electric oven, do not place the parchment paper too close to the side of the oven or the element . The temperature will be too high and the parchment paper will burn and smoke or catch fire.
• If you use a gas oven, the parchment paper should not be near the flame or flames. If the parchment paper comes into contact with or is too close to the flame, it could ignite, burning whatever you are cooking. To prevent this, be sure to fold over any excess edges, or use pre-cut sheets of parchment paper that fit exactly in the pan or pan you’re using.
• Reuse the parchment paper sheets only up to three times , especially if the recipe calls for high heat. Reusing the parchment paper when it starts to brown, burn, and disintegrate could burn and ruin whatever you’re cooking on the sheet.
• Change the parchment sheets as soon as you see smoke or the parchment paper has become brittle.
• At the first sign of smoke or burning, remove the parchment paper from the oven to avoid excess smoke or even flame.
• Make sure the parchment paper you use fits on the cookie sheet or pan. You can use pre-cut sheets or measure the sheets and cut them yourself to size. Also pick up any loose or protruding edges. Any edge that protrudes from the mold risks coming into contact with the resistance or the flame.

The best ways to use parchment paper

Parchment paper can be used in many different ways in the kitchen, and it doesn’t always have to be used in the oven! Knowing a few tips and tricks on how to use parchment paper will help you get the most out of it.

bake cookies

When baking cookies, line the cookie sheet with unbleached parchment paper. This helps to avoid any mess when cleaning up and prevents the cookies from sticking to the pan.

Also, the cookies will look great if cooked on the parchment paper.

Make sure there are no pieces of parchment paper hanging over the edge of the pan, to prevent the paper from burning.

The cookies will be soft and chewy, with a nice crisp brown color, and they will peel off the baking sheet perfectly.

baking pans

You don’t have to spend ages wrestling with baking pans trying to get cakes out once they’re baked.

Parchment paper works wonders to prevent cakes from sticking to the pan , meaning you’ll have a perfectly shaped cake every time, without falling apart.

The best way to measure parchment paper for the cake is to place the pan upside down on a sheet of parchment paper.

Use a pencil to trace the outline of the mold, then cut around it and fit it into the bottom of the mold. Pour the batter over it and bake.

When done, allow cake to cool, then invert pan onto wire rack to cool; the cake and parchment paper should come out easily when you lift out the pan. Make sure you wait for the cake to cool down first.

Stretch the dough

Parchment paper shouldn’t just be used in the oven. If you are rolling out the dough or pasta, you can lay out parchment paper, lightly flour it, and roll the dough or pasta out onto the surface.

To make your life even easier, you can cut the cookies or dough out of the parchment paper as well, and then transfer the paper, with the cookies, to the baking sheet you’re using.

If you want to get a very thin dough, you can place it between two pieces of parchment paper and roll it out like this to get a smooth finish without breaking the dough.

Next, remove the top layer of parchment paper and transfer it to the cake pan.

Make the bread

Many people choose to line their kitchen counters with parchment paper when kneading bread or making pasta. This keeps your kitchen counters from getting covered in flour and eggs, but still works the dough properly.

When you’re done, simply pick up the parchment paper with the mess on it, set it aside or throw it away, and enjoy your sparkling clean countertops.

So can you put the parchment paper in the oven?

Parchment paper is safe to use in the oven, and is designed and manufactured to be heat resistant. Although parchment paper is a very popular lining to use when baking and cooking, as it is heat resistant, there are still some limitations.

Most brands of parchment paper cannot be used in temperatures above 450°F , and care must be taken not to put parchment paper at risk of catching fire, as it is not flame retardant.

If you follow the correct safety tips when using parchment paper, it will soon become your best friend when cooking and baking, keeping food from sticking to pans and making cleanup easy.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to use parchment paper in the oven, let’s look at some related questions!

Can I use parchment paper instead of aluminum foil?

There are many cases where parchment paper can be used instead of aluminum foil. Both are popular options for keeping food and baked goods from sticking to pans and cans.

However, there are some things that parchment paper is better for, and some that aluminum foil is better for.

When it comes to baking cakes and cookies, parchment paper is definitely better, as cookies and cake don’t stick to parchment paper like they might to aluminum foil.

What can I use instead of parchment paper?

If you don’t have parchment paper at home, you can use aluminum foil. However, if you don’t have either, you can simply grease the pan with butter or oil, covering it with a thin layer to make it non-stick.