Can you bake cookies on wax paper? The answer is no. It’s not always the best option. Wax paper is very similar to parchment paper. Meaning, it’s non-stick and moisture-resistant.
However, you can’t utilize it for baking cookies or anything else in the oven because the wax could melt. Or even catch fire inside your oven. Therefore, avoid wax paper for baking cookies.
In today’s article, I will teach you everything you need to know about wax paper, how to use it properly, and share alternatives for parchment paper that aren’t wax paper, so let’s begin.
Can You Bake Cookies On Wax Paper?
Many people use wax and parchment paper interchangeably, including as a liner for sturdy tart pans and pans for cookies and cakes. Wax is cheaper than parchment paper. However, it’s not oven-safe.
Therefore, you shouldn’t use it for baking cookies or anything else. The wax could melt or even catch fire inside your oven and cause a huge mess. It’s perfect for cooking projects that don’t involve heat.
What Happens If You Bake Cookies On Wax Paper?
Many people claim they’ve utilized wax paper on sheets for years and never had an issue. However, it’s not completely safe because the wax paper isn’t oven-safe. You can set your home on fire.
When you put wax paper in your oven and it gets super hot, the wax starts to melt. The belief that you’d have to be baking at 450 degrees Fahrenheit or over for your wax paper to catch fire is false.
This paper can and will spark a fire at regular baking temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid wax paper for baking. It’s better to pay more for parchment paper than a new oven or kitchen.
Watch this video for more details:
Can You Put Wax Paper In The Oven At 350 Degrees?
One of the questions that most new bakers might have is “Is wax paper really compatible with the oven?” And this is a legitimate concern, as many cooking papers can’t go in the oven due to their low heat tolerance. So, can you put wax paper in the oven set at 350 degrees F?
You can, but it’s not advisable. Wax paper melts under high temperatures. People believe that you would have to be baking at 450 degrees Fahrenheit or over for it to catch on fire. However, it can and will spark a fire at usual baking temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is Parchment Paper The Same As Wax Paper?
Parchment paper is usually made with a silicone coating. Meaning, it’s non-stick and heat-resistant. And because of this, it’s perfect for roasting, baking, and other types of cooking.
This paper can withstand relatively high temperatures, around 425-450 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the brand. Always follow the instructions written on the paper’s packaging.
Often, parchment paper can endure slightly higher temperatures than what’s stated on the packaging. If you push the limit, the parchment paper can darken but not cause fire or melt.
You can use parchment paper for baking bread, cookies, cakes, and brownies, roasting veggies, catching oil drips in your oven, etc. It’s a super-versatile kitchen product, unlike wax paper.
If you’re a fan of hacks, I have one for you that includes parchment paper. You can diffuse lighting when taking photos with this paper. It can handle the heat, so it’s also good at handling lights.
Watch this video for more details:
Wax paper, on the other hand, has a wax coating, so it’s not very heat-resistant. The wax can melt under heat and become a fire hazard if utilized in cooking, especially with higher temperatures.
Don’t experiment with wax paper in your kitchen unless you want to cause a huge mess. And potentially burn down your house. Also, whatever you’re making will taste like crayons. And I assume that’s not the type of flavor you want to accomplish. Wax paper is mainly utilized in non-cook processes.
For instance, lining a cutting board or kneading dough on a kitchen table to prevent foods from sticking. Meaning, the wax paper makes kneading easy and ensures easy cleaning. You can also utilize wax paper to wrap food for cold storage, when working with melted chocolate, and more.
Sometimes, I apply a layer of wax paper on top of my beautiful cake stand, so it’s easier to clean. As you can see, wax paper is also versatile but it’s not a good choice for baking.
Wax Paper Vs Parchment Paper: What’s The Difference?
Generally, wax paper and parchment paper can be utilized interchangeably, except for heat applications. Wax paper can only be utilized in cold cooking applications.
Parchment paper, on the other hand, can be utilized in both hot and cold cooking applications. Let’s take a closer look at some of their key similarities and differences.
Similarities
Wax paper and parchment paper both can resist moisture and have non-stick properties, so they’re very similar. Meaning, they’re utilized for the same cooking applications, except those that include heat.
You can use both for crafts, arts, no-bake desserts, to protect your kitchen surfaces during food prep, or as a top for kneading dough. But you can’t use wax paper for baking in the oven because it will melt.
What about recyclability? Can wax paper be recycled? What about parchment paper? As is explained above, wax paper and parchment paper are coated with silicone, and I’m certain everyone knows if silicone is recyclable.
Differences
Wax paper isn’t made to endure high heat. Thus, cooking methods including roasting, baking, or toasting aren’t something you can perform with wax paper. It’s better to use heat-resistant parchment paper.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Parchment Paper For Cookies?
Parchment paper is paper that’s been coated with silicone. It can come in unbleached or bleached types. The silicone coating makes this paper heat-resistant, moisture-resistant, and non-stick.
These properties make parchment paper super versatile. Meaning, it’s perfect for baking things, layering in between candies and desserts, protecting your working surfaces as you do messy things, etc.
You can even use parchment paper for decorating purposes by rolling it into a small piping cornet. Some people use it to steam cook items like chicken. I use it to line my trusted brownie pans with when I want to make something without creating a mess. Parchment paper is the ultimate anti-mess weapon.
The best part? It’s available in pre-cut sizes. However, what if you run out of parchment paper and don’t have time to run to the store and buy some? What’s the best substitute for parchment paper? Let’s read and find out the answer to this fascinating question.
Wax Paper
This paper has similar properties to parchment paper. They’re both coated on each side (wax paper is coated with wax and parchment paper is coated with silicone).
Meaning, they’re both non-stick and moisture-resistant. However, wax paper melts under heat whereas parchment paper is specially made to endure high temperatures.
People often utilize wax paper as a replacement for parchment paper for different things. That’s fine as long as they don’t utilize it for things like baking, roasting, and toasting.
You can use wax paper instead of parchment paper to cover your kitchen surfaces, when measuring out dry ingredients, wrapping food for storage, kneading dough, and more.
It’s not heat-resistant paper. Meaning, it will melt in the oven or catch fire. Think of wax paper as useful for projects that don’t include heat since it’s not heat-resistant.
Silpat Baking Mat
Consider a Silpat baking mat for baking as a substitute for parchment paper. These mats cost more than parchment paper. The disadvantage is that you can use them for many years to come.
They’re made of silicone. Meaning, they’re heat-resistant and super flexible. These qualities make them a perfect non-stick surface for projects like baking cookies without the mess. Once you’re done, you can either eat your cookies right away or display them in cookie jars on the kitchen countertop.
The downside is that you can’t utilize Silpat baking mats to steam products in the oven or funnel things. Keep in mind that they can’t be adjusted for different projects, unlike parchment paper.
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil is a great substitute for parchment paper. It’s also an ideal fill-in for wax paper when you’re in a pinch. Foil is a super-thin piece of aluminum. It can be excellent for lining your cookware so that cleanup is easier.
However, unlike wax paper and parchment paper, aluminum foil doesn’t contain anything that makes it non-stick. Meaning, you could end up with pieces of foil stuck inside your foods.
The positive side of aluminum foil is that it can be used for steaming things like veggies, fish, and chicken in the oven. It’s also great for covering warm dishes, wrapping up different meats that you plan to freeze for a short time, and wrapping up sandwiches. You can use it to make little funnels too.
Or line your stove plates to keep them clean. I sometimes line the inside of the oven with foil to prevent mess. However, this isn’t recommended because it can damage your oven and disrupt the air circulation which affects how your meals cook. Overall, it’s a decent parchment paper replacement.
If the wax paper is for cold use and parchment paper is for hot use, think of foil as the perfect substitute for insulating use. But here’s the kicker. Unlike wax paper, aluminum foil is recyclable.
Finally, if you don’t have parchment paper and you must utilize aluminum foil for baking or cooking, slice it to the size that you want and grease it so that your food doesn’t stick.
Watch this video for more details:
Grease
When you don’t have anything else on hand, go old school and grease your baking molds and cookware. You can either utilize highly rated grapeseed oil, olive oil, or a cooking spray.
If you’re out of oils, use good old butter. It all depends on what you have at hand and the type of grease you like. After you have greased your baking mold or pan, sprinkle first-rate almond flour all over it and shake and roll it around so the flour sticks. Tap the excess flour into your sink.
Never Use Paper Grocery Bags
Sometimes people do silly things like using paper grocery bags instead of parchment paper. If you think about doing this, don’t. It’s a very bad idea that might result in a fire in your oven.
Even if you’re baking something at a low temperature, paper can still catch fire. Not only that but these bags are made of fibrous material that will have an impact on how your food cooks.
Paper bags aren’t non-stick and they can’t be greased. If you grease them, they will become useless. The worst part (besides burning down your home) is that most bags contain ink in them.
The ink turns toxic when it combines with food. The only thing you can reuse bags for is to wrap food for storing. Now, let’s take a closer look at some random parchment paper substitutes.
Random Substitutes
If you use parchment paper for wrapping things but don’t have it on hand, you can use banana leaves, dried or soaked bamboo leaves, or soaked corn husks.
However, since these aren’t things you would normally have lying around, you would have to plan ahead of time. As you can see, this paper is very useful for different things.
And the more you utilize it, the more you will discover ways to utilize it. However, if you don’t have it on hand for whatever reason, you can use some of the substitutes above.
Hopefully, today’s article has given you some ideas to experiment with in the future. Please, don’t forget that wax paper isn’t oven-safe and you can’t use paper bags for baking.
Whatever you plan to use instead of parchment paper, make sure it’s doable and safe. If something isn’t oven-safe, don’t use it or you will burn down your kitchen.
Let’s Bake Some Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’re new to baking, you probably wonder if you can bake cookies on wax paper. The short answer is no because wax paper melts under high temperatures and can catch fire in your oven.
Some people claim they’ve successfully utilized wax paper for baking cookies, but why risk it? Use baking mats instead. Or simply grease your bakeware with oil or butter and hope for the best.
Parchment paper is more expensive than wax paper. However, that’s not a good excuse to use it instead of parchment paper. It will cost you more to fix your oven or kitchen if things go south.
What’s your go-to for baking cookies when you don’t have parchment paper on hand? Drop a comment below. Also, share this article with your friends, so they don’t set their kitchen on fire.
