Home bakers might be amazed at what they see on Netflix’s “Nailed It!” yet may be stunned to learn that cake decorating can be much more complicated than expected. Luckily, a straightforward tool may already exist in your kitchen: wax paper.
Edible wax from candles can be consumed safely in small amounts without adverse health impacts but has no nutritional value.
Parchment Paper
Parchment paper is an indispensable baking ingredient. Not only is it heat-resistant (up to 420oF), grease-resistant, and moisture-proof, but it’s also perfect for lining cake pans and baking sheets to prevent treats from sticking to them! Additionally, its stiff structure enables it to provide an alternative icing bag solution, with narrow apertures perfect for creating stunning designs on cookies and cakes with ease.
As well as culinary uses, parchment paper serves many other purposes around the home. It makes an ideal pattern paper for sewing projects as its lightweight yet robust construction moves quickly with fabric. Furthermore, it helps protect countertops by protecting against spills, drips, splatters, etc., reaching countertops or sinks during work sessions.
Can Parchment Paper Replace Wax Paper? While parchment and wax papers may look alike, they shouldn’t be used interchangeably. The main distinction is that parchment is heat resistant while wax isn’t. When placed in your oven or microwave, wax can melt and catch fire quickly, while parchment will absorb its heat rather than dissolve and burn up quickly.
Both parchment paper and wax paper can serve a multitude of kitchen uses, though they should never be treated identically. Aluminum foil may serve as an alternate lining solution but won’t be as flexible when cutting to size as parchment paper would be.
Silicone baking mats offer another excellent alternative to parchment paper; these heat-resistant and often reusable mats can withstand temperatures as high as 400F and be used as steaming racks in your oven, funnels for ingredients, or funnels for cooking things in the oven – but will likely not offer the versatility that parchment does. In an emergency, cardboard or regular paper will do just as well!
