While baking, we often run out certain things like parchment paper. We try to find its alternative if we don’t have time to get it from the market.
But this question always arises while using wax paper as an alternative to parchment paper- Can you put wax paper in the oven? Putting wax paper in the oven can result in the burning of the paper as it is not heat resistant. It is non-stick and moisture resistant but cannot stay in extreme heat. Wax will melt in the heat, and the paper left can catch fire.
First of all, you need to be clear about wax paper. A paper made with a thin coating of paraffin wax gives it a moisture-resistant and non-stick surface but does not make it heat resistant.
And don’t worry, paraffin wax is totally safe for your foods. Earlier wax paper was used to be coated with earwax! So paraffin wax coating is a far better choice than earwax.
Parchment paper is also found in our kitchen cabinets, but do you know what makes it different from wax paper. Firstly a paper takes a bath in sulphuric acid. After this bath, the paper takes the form of a gel-like substance and produces a cross-linked material, which is much more durable than any normal paper.
After that, it is coated with silicone, just like wax paper is coated with paraffin wax. This whole process makes the parchment paper a durable, stable, and heat-resistant choice to use for baking, among other purposes.
Most people often confuse wax paper and parchment paper as the same thing. Both of them look the same, sometimes sold at the same price, placed at the same counter in a store, so these things confuse people. But you should know that parchment paper can go inside an oven, but wax paper cannot.
Wax paper is not designed to stay in extreme heat conditions as the wax will melt. It is believed that if you put wax paper in the oven at a very low temperature for a very short period, then it is not likely to melt. But we all know that nothing goes in the oven for a short time.
Plus, why take the risk of filling your food with wax just because there’s a tiny bit of possibility that wax paper will not melt at low temperatures. Of course, you can use wax paper for a lot of other purposes, but for baking, do not use it!
Parchment paper and wax paper are similar in a lot of ways. First of all, they have the same non-stick texture, making them a suitable surface for lining a pan or mixing ingredients. They both are moisture resistant too. These two have grease repellent properties that help make an oily batter, and your dough will also not stick to the paper.
If you want to wrap your food, store it in the refrigerator, protect kitchen slabs, or roll your dough, these two can be used in place of each other. As these two have many similarities, let us explore how these two are different from each other.
Just because these two have similar features doesn’t mean they can be used in place of each other everywhere. These two have their own differences. Parchment paper is designed to survive in extreme heat conditions, whereas wax paper tends to melt in extreme heat conditions.
Parchment paper is made from silicone coating, so it handles heat greatly. At the same time, wax paper is made from paraffin wax coating, which is made to survive at room temperatures only. If the temperature increases even slightly, the wax will start melting and paper is more likely to catch fire.
As we mentioned earlier, wax paper can be used for many purposes, even outside the kitchen. But let’s stick to the kitchen activities only. After that, you can use it anywhere that requires it to store at room temperature or in a refrigerator like homemade marshmallows or chocolate bark.
The next best thing for which wax paper can be used is rolling out dough. If you want an even dough, place the dough between two layers of wax paper. This also helps in preventing the dough from sticking to the rolling pin. This also applies when you pound the meat to make something homemade. It will probably not fall apart just like plastic wraps does.
You can also use wax paper as a makeshift tunnel to sprinkle dry ingredients like flour into the mixing bowl. There will be less mess, and your kitchen slab will not get dirty.
Another way to use wax paper is to wrap foods like meat or sandwiches and store them in the refrigerator. Again, its moisture-resistant and non-stick coating will come to your benefit here.
Wax paper is made from a thin layer of paraffin wax that makes it non-stick and moisture-resistant. But many people get confused if they can put it in the oven. Unfortunately, wax paper is not heat-resistant, so you cannot risk putting it in the oven. If you do so, the wax coating on the paper will melt, and the paper can catch fire, and your delicious food will get filled with wax.
If this article helped clear your confusion, do share it with your friends and stop them from making the mistake of putting wax paper in the oven.
The conclusion arises that you can’t put wax paper in the oven; instead, use parchment paper for this purpose. Its made from silicone coating, so it is not likely to get burnt or ruin your food.
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