You Should Be Using This Instead of Parchment Paper, According to a Pro
Snag them for less than $6 apiece.
Food & Wine / Amazon
Baking cookies and other treats is all fun and games, until they stick to the pan — ruining your sheet pans in the process. If you’re going to put in the work to make homemade delicacies, choosing the right nonstick solution is as important as picking the right recipe. Cooking sprays can leave greasy residue on your pans and baked goods, and parchment paper is typically only good for one use before becoming trash.
But as it turns out, there’s a shockingly easy way to avoid creating a hard-to-scrub mess or amassing unnecessary waste — and it’ll save you money in the process. According to Remy Park, vegan recipe developer and author of the cookbook Sesame, Soy, Spice, these silicone mats from Amazon are all you need for fuss-free baking, roasting, freezing, and more. Best of all, they’re less than $7 apiece.
Zulay Kitchen Silicone Baking Mats
Amazon
$13
Buy on Amazon
If you’re a fan of easy sheet pan meals, these baking mats will come in handy on an everyday basis. At 16.5 by 11.6 inches in size, the cookie sheet liners are designed for half sheet pans. Each pack comes with two silicone sheets, which are dishwasher-safe and durable enough to last for years. “They’re cost effective, as they can be used over and over again,” Park says. “They also help me reduce waste in the kitchen.”
The mats are flexible yet sturdy. They can withstand temperatures up to 480°F, according to the brand, which means you can use them to broil vegetables or bake pizzas on high heat. The mats are also freezer-safe, which comes in handy when you’re making chocolate bark, freezing cookie dough, or making homemade ice cream cake.
While you might think a disposable parchment sheet would make cleanup more efficient, washing these mats is almost unbelievably effortless. Their nonstick capabilities are so reliable, according to Park, “they yield perfect cookies that [literally] peel off the mat.” No burnt bottoms here!
After you’re done using them, all you have to do is give them a quick rinse — or, better yet, lay them on the top rack of the dishwasher. Since they’re so easy to clean, Park says they’re a great choice when making “stickier confections like fruit leather.” As a plus, the mats come in a variety of colors, including gray, white, and yellow, so there’s bound to be a set that matches your vibe (or at least your kitchen).
More Amazon Baking Tools to Shop:
Cuisinart Power Advantage 5-Speed Hand Mixer
Amazon
$34
Buy on Amazon
Nordic Ware Quarter Sheets, Set of 2
Amazon
$22
Buy on Amazon
OXO Good Grips Baker’s Dusting Wand
Amazon
$12
Buy on Amazon
Oshlant Ice Cream Scoops, Set of 3
Amazon
$10
Buy on Amazon
Nasnaioll Silicone Rolling Pin
Amazon
$8
Buy on Amazon
At the time of publishing, the price was $10.
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