Wax paper is one of the many essential items that every kitchen should have and most commonly it is used for liner baking sheets, wrapping food, and rolling dough. Due to the glossy and slipper nature of surface, it is common to see it being used in avoiding foods to stick on surfaces. However, there is one burning query that generally comes up whether wax paper is oven safe or not. Although wax paper has many uses, it is necessary to know its flaws, influences, and prohibited usage, particularly in conditions of oven cooking and baking.
What is Wax Paper?
That paper which is coated with a thin layer of wax especially paraffin wax is called wax paper. This coating makes it possible to use it in any kitchen functions including use as a lining surface or even for wrapping the foods. The wax layer makes it difficult for food to stick; it can be used to roll out the pie crust, wrap sandwiches and much more. But wax paper is not heat safe which indeed becomes a problem if used in the oven.
Can Wax Paper Go in the Oven?
Wax paper, therefore, should not be used in the oven. As for wax paper, it is made to melt when it comes into contact with high temperature and that is why it should never be used in ovens. This is because the outer layer of the paper includes wax and when it is exposed to heat its surface turns to be molten and may even cause the paper to begin burning. Typically, temperatures of ovens range from 350 degrees F to 450degree F this is far above wax paper heat limits. At these specific temperatures, the wax may become very soft, and could even catch fire, thus posing a fire risk. Hence, it is advisable not to use wax paper for baking or cooking in the oven.
Of all the surfaces that people use in the oven, wax paper has turned out to be one of the most dangerous materials for use in an oven.
Fire Hazard: The first fear that people have when using wax paper in the oven is that it can easily catch fire. Due to heat, the wax forms a coating that may melt and when the paper comes into touch with the heating components of the oven, then it is likely to catch fire. This can lead to what you find in the picture below – a kitchen fire, which is a danger to your health and your house.
Melting Wax: Wax paper is special in the way that when it melts it leaves behind gluey layer on surface. If it occurs within the oven, it complicates the cleaning process since some stains may be hard to remove and produce unpleasant odors that prove toxic when inhaled. If the wax never ignites, it will stick to the oven cavity and create problems the next time you are baking food.
Unpredictable Results: The heat exposure might deprive this paper of that special characteristic of allowing foods not to stick on it which goes against using wax paper for cooking. This could make the baking or cooking rather uncomfortable as some foods do not ease off easily from the inside of the oven or the walls.
Waxing paper vs parchment: what to use instead of wax paper in the oven.
Despite being handy, wax paper cannot be used directly in an oven since it will most definitely catch fire if exposed to high temperatures.
Parchment Paper: The most common mistake in parchment paper is that people are using wax paper but the former is heat resistant and is suitable for use in the oven. While wax paper has a wax coating, parchment paper has a silicone bakework layer that is non-stick and can be used under rather high heat of about 450°F to 500°F as the paper varies with quality. Parchment paper is appropriate for baking sheets, no-food adherence, and for easy cleaning services. It may be for baking cookies, roasting veggies or even making a parchment pouch with fish or chicken.
Silicone Baking Mats: Another nice substitute of wax paper is silicone baking mats like Silpat. These are Lancashire and these mats are non-Stick heat Proof reusable oven Safe and microwavable mats. It can be spread directly on baking tray or pan and are amenable to heat up to 480 ⁰F. It is sustainable compared to parchment paper and can be washed for its reuse which makes it a recommended material of choice.
Aluminum Foil: It is not a nonstick material, but it is also acceptable for using for covering dishes or wrapping foods for baking. But it should not be used as an alternative to parchment paper in case when non-stick character is required. Aluminum foil also comes with heat resistance that makes it excellent when used in high-temperature cooking, although it doesn’t stick less as wax or parchment paper do.
Oven-Safe Glass or Ceramic Bakeware: If you don’t want to use paper at all and want to bake in the oven, you can use glass or ceramic baking dishes. These materials are good to used in baking and cooking because they inherently are non-stick and do not burn like other paper like products.
When is Wax Paper Safe to Use?
Wax Paper
Despite the fact that wax paper cannot be used in the oven it is actually very useful in the stove. Here are some scenarios where wax paper can be safely used:
Cold Food Storage: Wax paper is best used for winding and containing, cold foods including sandwiches, cheese and other pastries that have not been baked. It provides low porosity that affords foods protection from moisture compromising their quality.
Non-Baking Tasks: Some of the uses of wax paper include; rolling out doughs, protecting counter tops from spills as well as between layers of food items kept in the refrigerator. It is also used in wrapping foods for freezing.
Microwave Use: That means wax paper can be utilized in microwave provided that it does not come in contact with the heating coils. I find it to be safe to use for things such as covering foods that may splatter during cooking or packaging foods that will be cooked in the microwave. However, it is safer not to over heat it in as the wax coating on it sometimes may melt.
Conclusion
On the usage of wax paper, while the waxed paper is incredibly helpful in the kitchen with certain occasions such as cold food storage and even wrapping, this paper is not designed for oven use. Cedar works best on wax paper, before small splashes of hot oil, melted wax, sticky residues, and even fires occur. Concerning oven baking, one can use parchment paper, silicone baking mats or aluminum foil as safer ones. That is why it is important always to read the manufacturer’s instructions on any product that we use in the oven to avoid heating it to the wrong level. This will ensure that you have a good, safe, and easy time preparing delicious food every time you are baking.