You don’t need fancy equipment or expensive ingredients to make delicious baked goods. Oil paper is a low-cost alternative to parchment paper that you can use for baking if you follow the correct precautions. Although it’s not necessary to use them, oil papers come in convenient sheets that are large enough to cover a sheet pan and have a nonstick coating on one side. They’re also significantly cheaper than parchment paper. If your recipe calls for parchment paper and you don’t have any, you can substitute oil paper in its place. It doesn’t add any extra oils or fats to your meal and has almost as many uses as parchment paper. Read on to learn more about whether or not you can use oil paper for baking and what precautions to take when using it.
What Is Oil Paper?
Oil paper is, as the name suggests, paper that has been coated in a thin layer of oil. It’s often used as an alternative to parchment paper in commercial kitchens, as it’s significantly cheaper. It’s also resistant to high temperatures, which makes it ideal for lining baking trays. While parchment paper is coated in silicone, oil paper has a layer of vegetable oil on both sides, which prevents it from sticking to food. This makes it easy to wipe clean and reuse, which is a big advantage over parchment paper. Although oil paper is cheaper than parchment, it’s less widespread. It’s not as easy to find in supermarkets and specialty stores and can be difficult to source online. If you can’t find it in person and don’t want to pay for shipping, it’s best to use parchment paper instead.
How to Use Oil Paper for Baking
Oil paper can be used in place of parchment paper in a wide range of recipes. To do so, simply line your baking tray with a sheet of oil paper and then place your food on top. There are a few precautions you need to take, though, to make sure your food doesn’t stick to the oil paper and get a paper taste. First, make sure the oil paper is placed shiny side down on the tray. This is to prevent food from sticking to the wrong side of the paper. Next, make sure your baking temperature is high enough to prevent the oil paper from melting and sticking to your food. If the oil paper starts melting and sticking to your food, you’ll have to throw away the whole tray. And finally, be careful when removing the baked goods from the tray. Try to remove the oil paper and baked goods together, as oil paper can be difficult to peel off. It’s also worth noting that oil paper can leave a slight oil mark on your baked goods.
Can I Use It For Everything?
Oil paper is a great substitute for parchment paper in a lot of situations, but there are some baked goods where it just won’t do. It’s not a good idea to use it to line baking trays or bakeware, or to line your baking tray with oil paper if you’re baking bread. Bread can stick to oil paper and gain a paper taste, which is why parchment paper is the preferred option when baking. And while oil paper is great for lining baking trays in most recipes, it’s not ideal for baking things like cookies. When baking cookies, the oil in the paper can cause the bottoms to burn and the tops to get soggy.
Is It Safe to Use?
Oil paper is safe to use in most baked goods, but you should still follow the precautions outlined above. It’s fine to use oil paper to line baking trays, but don’t line a roasting pan or hot tray with it. The high temperatures in a hot oven can cause the oil paper to melt and stick to the tray, ruining your meal. As oil paper is coated in vegetable oil, it can add some extra fat to your meal. However, it’s usually only a small amount, and many recipes can use the paper without adding any extra fats. If your recipe calls for parchment paper and you don’t have any, you can substitute oil paper in its place.
Wrapping Food in Oil Paper While Baking
If you want to try a new way of baking with oil paper, you can wrap your food in it to keep it from sticking to the tray. This is especially useful for baked goods that are notoriously difficult to remove from the tray, like scones and cookies. To wrap your food in oil paper, place the paper shiny side down on the tray and then place your baked goods on top of that. When the recipe is done, remove the oil paper and baked goods together. Wrapping your baked goods in oil paper and then covering them with aluminum foil while they bake is a great way to prevent them from sticking to the tray. However, it’s important to remove the foil when the food is done baking. If you leave the foil on, it can trap moisture, which can cause soggy baked goods.
Baking With Oil Paper Only
If you’re short on time, parchment paper, or both, you can bake with oil paper only. To do so, simply line the baking tray with oil paper and then place your baked goods on top. When the recipe is done, remove the oil paper and baked goods together. The oil paper can be reused as many times as you want, making it a cost-effective alternative to parchment paper. If you want to bake with oil paper only, follow the recommended temperature settings for the recipe and keep an eye on the oil paper to make sure it doesn’t start melting and sticking to the tray. It’s also a good idea to line baking trays with two sheets of oil paper to make sure they don’t stick.
Final Words
Baking with oil paper is a great way to reduce the cost of baking and reduce waste. While it has a few advantages over parchment paper, it doesn’t replace it entirely. Be careful when using oil paper and follow the guidelines outlined above to make sure your baked goods turn out great. If you’re short on time, parchment paper, or both, you can bake with oil paper only. To bake with oil paper only, simply line the baking tray with oil paper and then place your baked goods on top.