Image Credit: Unknown.
In keeping with my promise to post more material in 2013, I’ve decided to implement a weekly kitchen-oriented quick tip to add a few new tools for your cooking and baking time. This week’s tip focuses on why every kitchen should include parchment paper.
Image Credit: My Recession Kitchen…and Garden.
It’s only recently that I come to recognize the many uses of this nonstick paper when baking. For years I’d purchase a package of wax paper and stow it in the drawer for the rare occasion I’d want a nonstick surface when packing frosted cookies in a container. (Don’t use wax paper in the oven unless you want your baked goods to taste waxy.) I assumed parchment paper and wax paper were on par for usage, and since wax paper tends to be much less expensive than parchment paper, it was a no-brainer when deciding which type of nonstick paper to include in my pantry.
Image Credit: slaminsalmon.
As I began baking more frequently in Denver, I noticed how frequently parchment paper was implemented in recipes and started researching its virtues. As it turns out, good ol’ parchment paper is “a workhorse in the kitchen,” as Cooks Illustrated illustrated in its special Holiday Edition this fall.
From fashioning the paper into a funnel for pouring dry ingredients without the mess and attaching to your electric hand mixer as a shield over bowls when mixing ingredients to lining cake pans and cookie sheets and rolling out sticky dough between two sheets, parchment paper works great in the kitchen to reduce mess and help your baked items more evenly bake.
And as you might remember from my recent post about Cameron’s eggnog birthday cake, parchment paper is a wonderful drop cloth when frosting cakes. If you scroll down in the post, you can see that I cut four pieces of the paper and slid each between the cake stand and cake. When you’ve finished frosting, gently pull the parchment paper from the finished cake for a professional finish.
Happy Baking!
Oh, I love parchment paper when baking. It’s brilliant! I was so happy when I discovered it, too. Makes baking cookies so much easier.
Totally agree with ya, Merrie! Hey, I think you need to visit me again so we can make cookies together. What do you say?
I have not used parchment paper frequently (and my recent Pinterest fail post showing parchment paper on the baking sheet is probably not a good example . . ) but whenever I have used it, I agree it has made the job so much easier! ~ Kat
I feel as if parchment paper was one of those things I assumed only fancy pants pastry chefs used until I used it for the first time.
Even though I very seldom bake I have parchment paper in a drawer. It’s also great to use as a food prop. Roughly torn it can look surprisingly rustic in an elegant sort of way.
That’s a great idea, johnnysenough. I might need to experiment. Also, have I totally missed your real first name in your posts? If so, I’m quite sorry.
Haven’t noticed, to be honest. Johnny is fine to use. My full name is too formal to use on here. And johnnsenough is my handle. It’s up to you!
Johnny, it is!
I love to bake fish in it. When the parchment paper turns brown, the fish is ready.
That’s a great idea, Lynne!
I love parchment paper!
Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog for a little while today. I had a great time and tried to leave my campsite as good as when I arrived. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks!
You’re most welcome. I’ve been enjoying your photos a great deal. Come back and visit any time.
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