What Is The Difference Between Parchment Paper And Wax Paper?

In an attempt to hone your baking skills, you might wonder about the differences between parchment paper and wax paper and if you can use them interchangeably. In some cases, yes, but not in the oven! These kitchen papers make cleanup faster and easier. Plus, they are excellent for wrapping meat and fish and separating layers of baked goods for storage. However, the number one reason parchment paper is far superior to wax paper is because it won't melt or ignite in the oven. We try to avoid excess flames in the kitchen.

Parchment paper is usually more expensive, which makes sense since it can do anything wax paper can, plus go in the oven to line baking sheets. Brown (unbleached) parchment paper also has a cool, artisanal thing going on when you wrap baked goods for gifts. The main difference between wax and parchment paper is their respective coatings. Parchment paper is coated with silicone to give it a nonstick, heat-resistant surface, and wax paper is, as the name suggests, coated with soybean or paraffin wax.

This coating is why wax paper is not meant for use in the oven; it will melt if exposed to direct heat. Use wax paper for wrapping sandwiches, food for cold storage, or spreading homemade candy and chocolate-coated confections to cool. Wax paper usually comes in a roll like foil or plastic wrap but can also be purchased in pre-cut squares or sandwich bag format.

Parchment paper is the best choice for cooking, as most brands can withstand temperatures up to about 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Parchment paper is an excellent choice for lining cookie sheets when baking, roasting veggies, or making sheet pan dinners because it eliminates the need to grease them. This is great for those who want to reduce fat and keeps you from having to scrub crusted-on baking pans.

It's also used to cook en papillote, which involves wrapping food in a packet and baking it. Parchment paper is available on a roll, in pre-cut sheets, and even in rounds. It is ideal for lining round pans, folding neat packets to steam in the oven, and using as lids on braises and stews. This lets some moisture escape but not so much that your liquid evaporates too quickly. The other way the papers differ is in how they're processed. Parchment paper also has a silicone coating that makes it nonstick and oven-safe.

Both parchment paper and wax paper can be found bleached or unbleached. If they're unbleached, they're brown and have been less processed (aside from their respective coatings), but if they're bleached, they've been treated with chlorine to make them white.