No matter the level of your cooking skills, you likely have a kitchen drawer containing at least one (if not all) of the following: parchment paper, wax paper, or aluminum foil. From covering leftovers in the microwave to baking cookies and grilling ribs, these handy products couldn't be more versatile if they tried. But spoiler alert: They are not created equal.
Oh-So-Common Misconceptions
Sure, it's true: If you run out of parchment paper, you can use non-stick foil in the oven. Wax paper, on the other hand, is not the same as parchment paper. "While both papers have non-stick properties, and are safe in the microwave, wax paper is made by applying a food-safe wax coating to the surface of the thin paper," says Charry Brown, senior manager of the Reynolds Test Kitchen for more than 20 years. Why is this important? It means wax paper cannot be exposed to direct heat in an oven, she explains, while parchment paper can.
And that's just the beginning. To clear up the confusion once and for all, we asked Brown to break down the best uses for wax paper, parchment paper, and foil, plus answer your most Googled questions about them. And because she's just that good, she even offered up this simple piece of advice for remembering all these tips: "Sweet treat, parchment sheet. Grill or broil, go with foil. Messy prep or sticky candy, wax paper's handy."
"Wax paper has several great uses," says Brown. "It is great for food prep with messy or sticky foods. When making candy or dipping sweet treats like strawberries, cookies, or pretzels in chocolate, the food lifts right off the wax paper without breaking into pieces or leaving a mess behind on your countertop or trays." Wax paper also makes clean-up super-easy when you line the counter with wax paper for coating chicken parmesan.
The best wax paper uses include:
Making candy
Dipping foods in chocolate
Covering the counter when adding crumb coatings to fish or chicken pieces
Separating layers of cookies or treats for storage
"Wax paper should not be directly exposed to the heat of an oven, as it cannot withstand high temperatures that might be needed in certain cooking and baking recipes," says Brown. "That said, it can be used as a pan liner when baking cakes, bread, or any baked food in which the dough or batter completely covers the wax paper lining."
"Given the multitude of wax paper uses, it depends on what you're trying to do," says Brown. "For storage, you can substitute with freezer paper or plastic wrap, for prepping, foil works well, and for baking, parchment is a great substitute."
The short answer? Yes and no. According to Consumer Reports test engineers, parchment paper can be used in an air fryer, but it shouldn't be used in them regularly because it blocks nearly all of the fryer's airflow. To reduce the risk of blocking the fryer's air flow and creating a fire hazard, expert air fryers recommend reusable silicone liners instead.
What's the difference between butcher paper vs. parchment paper?
"While both parchment and butcher paper have wet strength, butcher paper is intended for use specifically with a smoker," says Brown. "It helps create a breathable barrier which seals in moisture and protects the crisp outer layer when cooking brisket, pork, and other meats low and slow." Parchment paper, on the other hand, is not intended for use with grills or smokers, Brown stresses.
Yes! "To reheat foods in the microwave, place a small sheet of parchment paper over foods in order to eliminate splatters and avoid messy cleanup," says Brown. "For reheating vegetables or casserole leftovers, place at least ½ cup of food in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a sheet of parchment paper."
When to Use Aluminum Foil
Foil is best used for anything grilled. "I love to make chicken wings or shrimp scampi foil packets using our non-stick foil, and ribs or even grilled pizza using our heavy-duty foil," says Brown. Aluminum foil is safe to put in the oven, making it great for lining baking sheets. But it's not recommended to use foil to line the bottom of the oven to catch spills and drips because it can melt in high heat and damage the oven.
No. You should not put aluminum foil in the microwave because the material heats so quickly that it can spark and cause a fire.
Which side of the aluminum foil should you use?
If you're using a non-stick foil, make sure you place your food on the dull, flat finish side which is the non-stick side. This is mentioned on the packaging. "With standard and heavy-duty foil, it's perfectly fine to place your food on either side," says Brown.
Can you put foil in an air fryer?
"Similar to parchment paper, we are still in the process of testing foil in this appliance because consumer safety is of utmost importance to us," says Brown. You should follow recommendations from the manufacturer of your appliance to determine if it's safe.
Depending on the dish and method, what you replace foil with would change, explains Brown. For oven use, replace foil with parchment paper. For food prep, wax paper is non-stick and can be an alternative to foil. And when it comes to the grill? "Good alternative options are tough!" says Brown. Find more information on usages at ReynoldsBrands.com.
A basic saying to guide your use of papers in the kitchen: "Sweet treats need parchment sheets; grill or broil, go with foil," says Weaver. Foil conducts and distributes heat, making it able to withstand high temperatures from baking, broiling, roasting, or grilling. For anything above 400 degrees, use foil.
A basic saying to guide your use of papers in the kitchen: "Sweet treats need parchment sheets; grill or broil, go with foil," says Weaver. Foil conducts and distributes heat, making it able to withstand high temperatures from baking, broiling, roasting, or grilling. For anything above 400 degrees, use foil.
Although wax paper and parchment paper look similar, they are very different. Wax paper is nonstick, but unlike parchment paper, it is NOT heat-resistant. At high heat, the wax will melt and the paper can catch fire. So never use wax paper in the air fryer or oven- it's a fire hazard.
The bottom line is that you can use foil for many of the same things you would use parchment paper for, but it doesn't mean you always should. If parchment paper is for hot use, and waxed paper is for cold use, think of foil more as your alternative for insulating use.
Depending on the dish and method, what you replace foil with would change, explains Brown. For oven use, replace foil with parchment paper. For food prep, wax paper is non-stick and can be an alternative to foil.
Foil is not airtight, meaning no matter how tightly you wrap it, some air will get in. This allows bacteria to grow faster. Instead, store leftovers in airtight storage containers or food storage bags.
It is the shiny or glossy side of the parchment paper that should be face up on your baking sheet or cake pan. That way the shiny side can be in contact with your food and make the clean-up easy.
In terms of food preparation and storage, parchment paper is best for baking and cooking since it has a higher heat tolerance. The lining of wax on wax paper makes it best for cold applications, like wrapping food items in the refrigerator and freezer.
The main difference between air fryer parchment paper and regular baking parchment paper is the perforated holes. Air fryer parchment paper comes with precut holes in premeasured sheets for better air circulation. Food will be crispier and juicier if you use air fryer parchment paper.
"You should never use parchment in either the air fryer basket or baking pan if there is nothing to hold it down to secure it, like food, as the high velocity fans will cause the parchment to possibly touch the heating elements," notes Rodgers.
Parchment paper doesn't need any oil, food simply slides off of it. So rather then poking at a hot pan with a spatula, try parchment paper. You'll be shocked at how easy you can pull those cookies off the pan.
Like we said before, wax paper is moisture-resistant and non-stick, but it is absolutely not heat resistant. At high temperatures, the wax will melt and the paper itself can catch fire, so you want to always, always, always avoid using wax paper in high-heat situations, like in the oven or toaster oven.
While foil and plastic wrap seal out air, parchment paper allows foods to breathe a little when wrapped. This means exterior crusts stay crisp, instead of getting soggy.
Aluminum foil is not an eco-friendly kitchen item, but fortunately it can be easily swapped with alternatives like reusable cloth or beeswax wraps, silicon lids, silpats for baking sheets, and glass or stainless steel food storage containers.
Which Side of Aluminum Foil is Toxic? and Why? You may be unsure about whether to use aluminum foil with the shiny side facing up or down. However, it doesn't matter because of the fact that there is no toxic side. Both sides are made of the exact same material, thus their performance will be identical.
Food grade materials, such as aluminum foil, heavy freezer-weight plastic bags, heavy plastic wrap and parchment or freezer paper are excellent choices. It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its supermarket wrapping, but this type of wrap is thin and lets air in.
Why can't I use aluminum foil as an oven liner? Using aluminum foil to keep your oven clean may be tempting, but lining an oven with foil increases the intensity of heat on oven surfaces that can lead to surface damage like scratching or chipping on the porcelain finish and damage to heating elements.
Best practices will have you grease the cake or baking pan (to help the paper stay in place), line it with parchment, then grease the parchment to make baked good liberation go as smoothly as possible.
The paper won't release noxious chemicals, and will not burn. Most parchment paper is rated for use at temperatures no higher than 420 to 450 degrees. But we occasionally recommend using this liner for bread and pizza baked as high as 500 degrees.
Nope! Parchment paper is already non-stick, so there's generally no need to grease your parchment paper. And if you're baking cookies, greasing the parchment paper will likely cause your cookies to overspread and become greasy, so definitely skip the grease.
The wax will melt at high temperatures, and the paper itself can catch on fire. Because of this, don't use wax paper to line baking sheets or cake pans or put it in a hot oven. Here are the other ways to use wax paper and when it's best to stick with parchment paper.
Wax paper features a thin, waxy coating on each side that makes it both nonstick and moisture-resistant (though it tends to absorb more water than parchment). It's a great substitute for parchment if you're looking to save money, as parchment paper usually ends up costing twice as much.
It is safe to use parchment paper in the air fryer, just as it is in the oven. The same precautions should be taken. As an added safety check, never leave the air fryer unattended when using parchment paper in the basket and make sure the paper doesn't touch the heating element.
Wondering… “Can I wrap chicken in foil in air fryer?” Yes!Yes you can and we've got four delicious air fryer chicken breast foil packets for you to try! Chicken breast in foil cooked in the air fryer is super juicy and infused with flavour.
Cut a sheet of parchment to roughly the size of your air fryer basket, fold the paper, then punch holes. Lay it down inside the air fryer basket and, presto, you have a liner.
Compared to parchment paper, silicone typically makes for a better air frying experience: These liners are usually heat resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Air Fryer Cook, so you can safely crisp up most foods without worrying about the inside of your device catching on fire.
However, parchment paper is truly non-stick and doesn't need to be coated with fat or cooking spray! No need to wash the baking pan or baking sheet if it was lined with parchment paper! Simply throw out the used parchment paper and cleanup is done!
No, parchment paper is not the same as butcher paper. Butcher is more versatile, as it can be used for cooking, wrapping, and crafts. Parchment paper is coated with a food-safe silicone, which gives it a non-stick surface. Both are also different in terms of temperature tolerance.
Wax paper should not be directly exposed to the heat of an oven. However, Reynolds Kitchens® Cut-Rite® Wax Paper may be used as a pan liner when baking cakes, bread, muffins or any baked food in which the dough or batter completely covers the wax paper lining.
A good rule of thumb is if you don't want it to stick, use wax paper and if you want to insulate, use foil. Aluminum foil can also be reused or recycled, unlike wax paper. So if saving the planet is on your mind and you can't decide between foil and wax paper, choose foil.
Parchment paper is very versatile and can be used for everything from lining baking sheets to wrapping fish, and other dishes that are cooked en papillote. In instances when you'd reach for wax paper, parchment paper will also suffice.
They are NOT a good substitute for parchment paper because they are not manufactured with high temperatures and cooking in mind. The inks used to print the paper bags could leach into your food as it cooks. So if you want to store your cooled food in a really clean brown paper grocery bag, feel free!
It can also cause damage to the skin, especially sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, you should never apply wax to any area of your face, including your eyebrows or upper lip.
Cons: Wax paper should not be used in the oven! It is not resistant to heat, and can be a fire hazard if used in the oven. Additionally, the melting of the wax in high heat conditions can give the food an undesired taste.
As you'd expect from the name, bleached parchment is white, while unbleached parchment is brown. This is because unbleached parchment paper is untreated and totally chlorine-free, while its bleached counterpart is treated with chlorine, producing that gleaming white color.
The parchment guarantees that the cake pulls away from the pan bottom completely, and a coat of grease and flour on the parchment and up the pan sides helps the batter cling and rise and ensures that the parchment pulls away from the cake bottom without removing large crumbs.
While both parchment paper and wax paper can be used for everything from wrapping leftovers to prepping meals, only parchment paper can withstand high temperatures. Wax paper, which is coated on both sides with food-safe soybean or paraffin wax, will begin to melt when exposed to heat and may even catch fire.
What Can You Use Instead of Aluminum Foil? The best aluminum foil alternative to use for baking is a silicone baking sheet. Metal lids, silicone food covers, and even parchment paper can be used to cover dishes cooking in the oven. The best alternative for grilling is a cedar wrap.
Aluminum foil keeps food colder than plastic wrap when food is removed from the refrigerator or freezer. In both cases, food must be wrapped tightly with no holes. Aluminum foil is also better for keeping in oxygen and moisture.
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for three to four days, but aluminum foil isn't ideal for storing them. Foil is not airtight, meaning no matter how tightly you wrap it, some air will get in. This allows bacteria to grow faster.
However, this is not without its own drawbacks. Unbleached wood fibers can contaminate food with which they come into contact, and since lignin is the component responsible for wood charring when burnt, unbleached parchment paper could be more prone to smoking at high temperatures6.
While foil and plastic wrap seal out air, parchment paper allows foods to breathe a little when wrapped. This means exterior crusts stay crisp, instead of getting soggy.
The secret is cooking the chicken in parchment paper.
Parchment paper protects the breasts, allowing them to baste in their own juices. To get started, pat the chicken dry, season it and transfer it to a casserole pan or baking sheet.
Although parchment never stopped being used (primarily for governmental documents and diplomas) it had ceased to be a primary choice for artists' supports by the end of the 15th century Renaissance. This was partly due to its expense and partly due to its unusual working properties.
Do I need to grease parchment paper? Nope!Parchment paper is already non-stick, so there's generally no need to grease your parchment paper. And if you're baking cookies, greasing the parchment paper will likely cause your cookies to overspread and become greasy, so definitely skip the grease.
It's also a good nonstick surface for rolling out dough. Parchment paper also helps to cut down on the number of dishes that you have to wash—line your pans with it, and they'll still be clean when they come out of the oven. All virtues aside, parchment paper isn't an absolute necessity.
Because parchment paper is grease proof, it does not let any fat or oil to pass through it. This is perfect for baking things like cookies where after baking, you do not need to worry about puddles of butter all around the cookie.
You will accelerate the cooking process if you use foil. Foil not only enables you to bake your chicken breasts faster but also allows you to keep the chicken moist and tender.
Baking chicken at home (whether as pieces or a whole bird) is really as easy as prep and bake. You never have to worry about covering chicken while baking, as it's fine to bake it uncovered. Once your chicken is in the oven, it's hands-free until you need to check the temperature.
Larry Ciufo, the CR test engineer who oversees air fryer testing, warns that while you can use parchment paper inside an air fryer, it's not recommended for regular use there. “It has the potential to block 99 percent of the fryer's airflow,” Ciufo says.
Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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