One is covered in heat-resistant silicone, the other is covered in flammable wax.
Silicone isn’t what makes parchment paper heat-resistant (and isn’t even used on most standard parchment papers). Cellulose pulp is treated with sulfuric acid to cross-link the cellulose molecules, making them more chemically and thermally resistant, and the result is parchment paper.
I would prefer you to be correct, because I am reading other comments that say some parchment paper is teflon coated. PFA pollution arising from PTFE production for pots and pans is bad enough, but to use Teflon on a consumable item should be an obvious “ban the fuck out of it already” action item. I mean, all PTFE production should be banned based on what we’re learning about PFAs, but for fucks sake, disposable items? EDIT: google says the vast majority of parchement paper is silicone coated, not teflon coated like one German asserts in another comment in here.
Teflon is not silicone.
Yes. I know. I am rereading my comment trying to figure out how you and your upvoters think I have the two confused, and I am coming up empty.
Because the only comment that mentioned Teflon wasn’t a part of this comment chain, so your response feels like a total non-sequitur in the context of this particular comment chain. I assume you were responding not just to the original comment in this chain, but also to the other unrelated comment about German baking paper being Teflon-coated (which was incorrect), but without anything directly connecting the two comments it just seems like you went off of an unrelated tangent.
Well, it just so happens that I’m Darth Total Non-Sequitur Bueller, so point taken.
I love a self-aware king. Cheers and good vibes to ya ✌️
Neat
WTF. I never knew this. All this time I thought I was being responsible using parchment paper. I did not know it was silicone coated damnit. Need to look for other options now.
It’s really grocery stores fault. They sell them right next to each other and often have like 8 different brand choices of one but only 1 or 2 of the other which is nestled somewhere inbetween the others.
It’s an American language fault. Parchment paper is called baking paper elsewhere. You can’t make a mistake when choosing between baking paper and non baking paper.
Parchment is something you write on, as far as I’m concerned.
I was reading this and thinking how come you even have two papers to choose from. Baking paper goes in the oven and parchment… isn’t that like an animal skin you write on? I don’t think I’ve ever used wax paper for anything, so I can’t imagine what that’s for.
I’m just glad I live in an area that calls carbonated beverages “pop”. I can only imagine the mix-ups that could’ve occurred when trying to use baking soda otherwise.
And I have yet to see a single one with a giant badge that says “not for oven use!” Moreover, wax paper is always marketed as “microwave safe.” I know a microwave is not an oven, but it’s not ludicrous to equate the two.
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Yes. But only if you like having a greasy surface after that from the wax melting off the paper if the temperatures get too hot. I’d stick with baking paper.
Image Transcription:
Tumblr post by user turing-tested: guess who just found out the difference between wax paper and parchment paper the hard way Reply by user vraska-theunseen: wait what’s the difference? Reply by user turing-tested: one you can use in the oven safely and the other you can also use in the oven if the thing you are trying to make happens to be fire
[I am a human, if I’ve made a mistake please let me know. Please provide alt-text for ease of use. Thank you. 💜]
Good human!
Thank you!
Yeah, wax paper is basically an unrolled candle.
Also each of them resists different type of foods better. Wax paper will hold up to wet food, and parchment paper holds up better to oily food.
This is not anything I can prove just personal experience so take it with a grain of salt
Which one holds up better to a grain of salt? Should I use aluminum foil for that?
No, calcium chloride actually corrodes aluminum.
Which one is which?!?
parchment = oven safe
wax = oven fire
oven unsafe
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I am far, far from skilled in the kitchen, but this is 100% user error. Even I know enough not to put anything in the oven unless I’m completely certain it’s heat-resistant…
You understand that the reason we make candles out of wax is because it’s a solid fuel, right? The same reason candles work is the reason wax paper isn’t oven safe.
A lot of people think that the wick itself is the fuel. I only recently realized that it’s “wicking” up melted wax, and the wax itself is the fuel.
Somebody on Reddit once called me a backward Amish for knowing how a candle works.
It breaks my heart that examining and understanding the world around you is the kind of thing people disparage
Yeah, I recently learned that most people are totally misunderstanding candles when Hank Green had to do a whole series on “where does the wax go?” on tiktok. Blew my mind that it wasn’t obvious to everyone.
If someone had asked me “what percentage of people know how candles work?” I would probably have answered something like “95% of those over the age of 5”. This is very disconcerting. Not that candles are terribly important, but just the lack of reasoning.
I play with candle wax since I am four years old and it’s always shocking to me how little many people understand about the world around them!
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Reusable baking sheet liners are pretty cool.
PITA to wash
They are a bit. Kinda wish they were a tiny bit more rigid. That said, you can have my silpats when you pry them from my cold, dead hands.
I usually push the sheet liner against the vertical side of the sink where it is flat to wash. Wash one section at a time, both sides. Takes about 30 seconds.
Though, this may be the technique you are using, and it may be a pita.
Yeah but forever chemicals
Wealthy people fly their private jets to get cigarettes, I’m not losing sleep over my baking sheet liners I’ll probably have for the rest of my life.
Come to the UK. We have foil.
We’ve got it too but we pronounce it right.
Who fucking calls foil “right”?!
How do they say foil in the UK?
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I don’t think wax paper goes in the oven either
As someone who doesn’t cook, now I’m not clear on which you don’t put in the oven, and what kind of paper you are supposed to use.
Parchment can go in the oven. Wax paper will catch on fire if you try.
I learned it the hard way.
Why are people putting paper in the oven?
Prevents the thing you’re cooking from basically getting fused to the metal pan.
Well they make non stick baking sheets, but I’ll use spray anyways
Non stick baking sheets are basically just pre cut parchment paper.
He’s talking about silpats.
Stinkywink is probably talking about the metal sheet (baking tray in AE?) being nonstick.
Works better than non-stick, and keeps the pan clean enough for immediate reuse, which is really nice e.g. if you’re baking multiple batches of cookies for a holiday event
Ran put of plastic
That’s what disposable baking sheets are, though
Nah. Parchment paper goes into the oven, that’s another name for baking sheets. Waxed paper is used to wrap your sandwich. If you put waxed paper in the oven – well, see picture above.
FYI, some baking paper contains PFAS, the group of chemicals that also PTFE (aka Teflon) belongs to, which is… not good.
Ah, you learn something new everyday!
Been while since I bought waxed paper, is it cheaper than parchment paper? I’m assuming it must be or why wouldn’t you just use parchment paper instead?
Parchment is better for heat, wax paper is better with sticky stuff. My mom uses it to roll cookie dough into cylinders. Then she can refrigerate them and unroll it cleanly to cut into discs so she doesn’t have to form dough balls by hand. If you need a permanently-non-stick, moldable surface, wax paper is pretty good.
Oh cool. That’s a great example of a usecase. Thanks
Wax and parchment paper have VERY similar branding in the US, to the point where it’s easy to confuse the two
Don’t know, don’t use baking paper at all
Wax paper starts on fire if you put it in the oven, parchment paper does not. Hence, the OP.
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I’ve seen those under pizzas, but those look to be a thicker, cardboard type material. I just googled “can you put wax paper in the oven”. My 2 sec google says no. I’ve never had a reason to, but I’m not a professional cook.
Oh you’ll find out soon enough vraska-theunseen
