Parchment paper is a useful and necessity item in the kitchen that is very much essential for several things. Whether you’re baking cookies or roasting vegetables, parchment paper has several applications that will make cooking and cleaning simpler. The broad, flat and smooth surface is non-stick and can therefore be relied on by both the amateur home cook and the professional chef. As a parchment paper beginner or a baking newbie, this article will basically provide you with all the informations that you need to know about parchment paper starting from its benefits up to its various uses as well as important tips on how to select the best parchment paper.
What is Parchment Paper?
This is a paper that can be used for baking is has been coated with a special silicon that makes it non-stick and is able to withstand heat. It is widely utilized in baking aids to keep food from sticking to the pans and baking trays, so cookies, cakes, and other delicious items. In contrast to waxed paper which has wax coating, and is not suitable to be used at high temperatures, parchment paper are ideal for high oven temperatures ranging to 450°F (232°C). This one comes in rolls or pre-cut sheets with ease of use in doing various chores in the kitchen.
Benefits of parchment paper
It is very important to have Parchment paper at home because it has very many merits The first merit of parchment paper is that it does not stick on foods. Here are some of the key benefits:
Non-Stick Surface
But the most important advantage of parchment paper is that it is non-stick. This property makes this property especially useful when baking cookies, cakes or pastries because food will not stick to the baking tray or pan. If parchment paper was not available, likely the pans would have to be greased or lined with a flour that is messy and has calorie content. The use of this parchment paper saves one the stress of having to grease again and again in the hope that it will not damage our baked products as it peels off easily.
Heat-Resistant and Oven-Safe
It is intended for use, at relatively high temperatures, to 450F (232C), and is thus ideal for use in baking. For use in baking, roasting as well as broiling, parchment paper is the one that can withstand high temperatures without burning or crumbling. This makes it safer to use with food than other forms such as wax papers which are a strict no when it comes to use in the oven since they easily catch fire.
Easy Cleanup
In use of the parchment paper there is no need to scrub the pan intensively after preparing a meal or baking. A paper serves as a shield between your snack and the baking tray or pan and thus, you don’t have to deal with the mess or burned food. When you are done, you can easily throw it, leaving you with a clean paper for the next practice. Still, parchment paper saves time, particularly if you are making a large batch of cookies or if roasting vegetables.
Even Cooking and Browning
Non-stick parchment paper is one that assists in distributing heat around the food and this is good for better cooked foods. For instance in baking cookies, the paper makes the cookies to brown evenly to make them taste as per your desired taste as you bake the cookies. The same has truth when it comes to roasting a number of vegetables since the parchment paper helps the food to bake uniformly and browns well on the surface without sticking to the pan.
Eco-Friendly Option
Parchment paper is recycled and conforms with ecological properties since it is biodegradable unlike the plastic or aluminum foil. Compared to the plastic wrap or non-stick sprays, parchment paper can be compost if it is not laminated with synthetic chemistry or it can be recycled. This makes it a good choice for chef who are concious of the environment they are operating in.
The parchment paper has various uses as will be discussed below.
Parchment paper is a versatile kitchen accessory that can be used in any number of ways. Here are some common ways to incorporate parchment paper into your cooking and baking:
The preparation of Baked Meat Products, Cookies, Cakes, and Pastries
The most popular application of parchment paper perhaps is in baking. It gives cookies, cakes, pastries and etc, a smooth base to be baked on and when it is time to take the delicacies off the pan, they do not stick. It also saves the use of butter or oil in the pan hence making your baked products lighter and fewer calories are taken.
Roasting Vegetables
I should really use parchment paper as it is perfect for roasting the vegetables as they do not stick to the paper and they roast evenly. The paper also assists in retaining moisture that also leads to more enhanced flavored and contracted vegetables. To prepare it, you just need to put the parchment paper at the baking sheets and then cook season and toss vegetable with the olive oil.
En Papillote or Steaming in Paper Cooking
One of the French method is in which foods are steamed inside a piece of parchment paper known as en papillote. The food is put in the middle of the paper, making a paper bag and then folding the paper over the contents of the bag. Off this method, moisture and flavour are retained and at the same time steaming the food is achieved. Originally developed for fish, chicken or vegetables, upon cooking the food turns out to be tender and juicy.
The process of using and preparing the lining pans for cake and bread
In baking cakes , breads or brownies, to make sure that the products are not stuck on the pan, it is easy to line the pan with parchment paper. If the pan is round or oval then you can just line the base or if the pan has sides then you have to line the sides and the base as well. In cakes, the parchment paper provides a smooth base and the cake does not stick on the paper while it shapes the cake appropriately.
Rolling Out Dough
Parchment paper also when rolling dough for pies pastries and cookies it is quite handy. Keeps the dough from adhering to the counter or the rolling pin thereby making work easier, less time consuming. You can roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and then transfer it right into your baking dish.
Preventing Spills and Messes
Lining with parchment paper can also make work surfaces in preparation of the foods with sticky properties such as chocolates, caramel or icing. This makes it easy to clean after and eliminate chances of making a sticky mess that would need serious washing. It is also useful for catching drips when glazing cakes or frosting cookies, as you can roll it up after use and reuse it.
Parchment Paper vs. Wax Paper: What’s the Difference?
Despite the fact that parchment paper and wax paper appear to be virtually identical, they are actually two entirely different things. The key difference lies in the coating:
Parchment Paper: made of ceramic and coated with silicone so it has excellent heat capable and you can’t stick food to it. The others are suitable for use in the oven to bake, roast and cook.
Wax Paper: Covered with a layer of paraffin wax, just as the soy one, so that it does not humidify, but it is not heat-proof. Wax paper is better for frozen food covering or as a counter covering for such things as rolling dough. It important not to use wax paper for cooking in the oven since the wax melts and this may lead to fire outbreak.
How to Store Parchment Paper
To ensure you get the most value of your parchment paper, there is the question of where the roll is stored. It is important that parchment paper be stored in a cool dry area free from heat sources or moisture. If you are using parchment paper rolls, always store in their paper packs or any small container, this way it will always be clean and neatly rolled. Precut parchment sheets can be stored flat or in a box to the wrinkles do not appear.
Conclusion
Every kitchen should have parchment paper in it because, as you are about to see below, it makes cooking and baking so much easier. Its stick-resistant, heat-proof surface and ability to evenly distribute heat makes parchment paper ideal for a number of uses like baking, roasting cookies, vegetables, and steaming food in a cook-in-a-bag method. Also, it is environmental friendly, and can be easily washed and hence it is used in any household or restaurant all over the world.
With this well-written guide on parchment paper, you will be able to heighten the level of your cooking or baking. Don’t forget that only parchment is suitable cooking use while wax paper is pointless in the kitchen but necessary on furniture – just appreciate all the benefits that parchment paper offers you and your kitchen.