To prevent food from sticking to sheet pans, bakers grease the baking sheet with butter or oil. Today’s baking is made easier by lining the baking sheet with parchment or baking paper, and other non-stick materials.
Instead of going through the hassle of greasing your baking pan or tray with butter or oil, you can just line your baking sheet with parchment paper to provide a non-stick surface for your food.
Moreso, the traditional method of greasing your pan or tray doesn’t guarantee that your food wouldn’t stick, but a lined baking sheet solves this perfectly.
This article explains what a lined baking sheet is, its uses, how to line a baking sheet, and more.
What is a lined baking sheet?
A lined baking sheet is a flat, rectangular metal pan that is covered with parchment paper or other non-stick materials before placing it in the oven.
A baking sheet is generally used for baking bread rolls, pastries, cookies, pizzas, cakes, meat, seafood, etc.
Baking sheets are also referred to as baking trays, or sheet pans and they come in different materials. But the most common are aluminum and stainless steel.
Additionally, there are different types of baking trays. Jelly roll pans have a continuous lip across all four sides while cookie sheet has at least one flat side. There are also commercial baking sheets that are used in bakeries.
Importance of lined baking sheet
There are many reasons why you should line your baking sheet but the most important of them is to prevent your baked food from sticking to the pan. Other uses include:
- To reduce the use of oil when baking food items
- To prevent baked food from burning
- For easy removal of baked food items from the baking tray
Materials used to line a baking sheet
Let’s take look at the materials you can use to line your baking sheet here:
1. Parchment paper
Parchment papers or baking papers are heat and grease-resistant treated papers used to line baking sheets before baking in the oven.
These treated papers are multi-functional and can be used to wrap seafood or dishes that are cooked en papillote, for covering cake pans, and to cover countertops when doing any messy kitchen activity.
Parchment papers are the best for lining a baking sheet when you want to bake in the oven. They are coated with silicone which makes them grease-proof and heat-resistant, so no food item can stick to them.
If you want to avoid using oil for cooking your chicken and fish, it’s your best bet.
2. Wax papers
Wax papers are grease and moisture-resistant materials with a thin wax coating on the sides. It is also a good alternative for lining baking sheets.
However, it is not heat resistant and can get burned if used in the oven. But because of its moisture-resistant nature, it is best used to line baking sheets used for refrigerating food.
You can also use wax papers to cover countertops to avoid stains when mixing. In comparison with parchment paper, it is more affordable and easily accessible.
3. Silpat baking mat
Silpat baking mats are made of flexible and heat-proof silicone material. Since they are made from a unique textile fiberglass core and unique food-grade silicone wrap, they work consistently and clean up effortlessly.
As a result, they are long-lasting and reusable for up to a year. However, they are more expensive than parchment and wax paper, but they cook your food evenly and can give more browning and crispiness.
Additionally, you can use a Silpat baking mat in ventilated, steam, microwave, and deck ovens.
4. Aluminum foil
Aluminum foil is another good material for lining baking sheets. It is a much cheaper alternative to all others and is readily available. It is heat-resistant and safe to use in your oven.
The only downside of aluminum foil is that it doesn’t have a non-stick feature. So, you still have to coat your baking pan with oil or butter.
In addition, aluminum foil is not healthy because food easily sticks to it.
How to line a baking sheet
If it’s your first time lining a baking sheet, you probably want to know how to line it properly. Here are things you should do to ensure the food items don’t stick to your pan:
1. Prepare your lining
I’d advise that you go for parchment paper since it’s quite affordable and best suited for oven baking. You can buy bleached or unbleached parchment paper, the two work similarly.
Also, consider the size and shape of what you want to cook and be sure that it is enough.
2. Select a suitable tray
The next step is to get a tray that is appropriate for what you want to cook. To bake a loaf cake, you may not need a large tray.
Also, ensure that the tray is clean as pieces of cake batter or cheese may get stuck on the tray. A clean tray also allows for a better lining.
3. Cut the lining to shape and place it inside the baking sheet
Before placing the lining inside your baking sheet, cut it to fit into your baking sheet. If you’re trying to bake seafood or any other en papillote dish, wrap the lining around the food and place it on the baking sheet.
FAQs
Are parchment paper and baking sheets the same?
No, they are not the same. Baking sheets are baking trays or pans. On the other hand, parchment paper is a lining material to prevent food from sticking to the pan.
Can you use parchment paper in the fridge?
Parchment paper is not perfect for storing food in the fridge because it isn’t as moisture-resistant as wax paper.
Can parchment paper go into the oven?
Yes. Parchment paper is heat-resistant, so it does well as a baking sheet lining in the oven.
Conclusion
While you can grease your baking sheet with oil or butter, lined baking sheets give the best results.
Parchment paper is your best option for oven baking, while the wax paper is best for freezing food.
But a more advanced lining material is the Silpat baking mat. It is reusable for up to a year but is more expensive than others.
I hope this article helped. Thanks for reading.
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