What is parchment paper made of exactly, is it safe, and what all can it be used for? I’m a Registered Dietitian and Food Scientist and I’m going to spill all of the details on the uses and mistakes to avoid.

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• What is Parchment Paper Made of?
• What is Parchment Paper Used For?
• Is Parchment Paper Safe?
• Best Parchment Paper Substitutes

What is Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper is a baking paper used to prevent sticking and make for easy clean-up.

Any food that’s baked, roasted or cooked in a dish lined with parchment lifts easily out of the dish, without the stubborn mess or left behind, stuck-on bits.

It takes the stress out of making moist chocolate cake, as you can always be certain that your cake will remove without sticking. And you can make the best meatloaf recipe ever with barely any cleanup.

You can easily find parchment paper in boxes (near the wax paper and aluminum foil) in any grocery store. I usually have it on hand as a long roll, and as parchment paper sheets (in pre-cut circles as well as rectangles).

What is Parchment Paper Made of?

Parchment is a super-thin baking paper made from a vegetable fibre called cellulose with a slippery non-stick surface.

The super-white paper is bleached with chlorine, but you can easily find unbleached parchment paper, which is a safer choice.

What is the Coating on Parchment Paper?

Most parchment papers are coated with a food-safe silicone layer, which gives them their non-stick and heat-resistant properties.

Silicone is stable at high cooking temperatures, doesn’t leach chemicals, and is generally safe for food contact.

Some parchment papers may have alternative coatings, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for non-stick properties, which can pose health risks.

Read more on parchment paper safety below.

What is Parchment Paper Used For?

Parchment paper is used for a variety of kitchen tasks, from lining baking pans to rolling dough, making it an essential tool for both sweet and savory cooking. Here are my go-to uses:

• Lining Baking Pans: Line dishes and baking vessels with parchment paper with parchment to prevent sticking, over-browning, and for easy cleaning.
  
  Planning to whip together a quick batch of brownies (you MUST try this popular chewy brownie recipe) or grandma’s soft Hermit Cookies? Make clean-up a breeze if you start by linking sheet pans with a piece of parchment.
  
• Lining Casserole Dishes: I personally love to use parchment paper to line savory baking dishes as much as I use it for sweet baking.
  
  Making a Tater Tot Casserole Breakfast? Parchment ensures no sticky egg or cheese to scrub away later. Bonus? It cuts down on fat a little bit because you don’t have to grease the trays.
  
• Rolling Dough: It would never occur to me to roll out my fav No Food Processor Pie Crust, Soft Gingerbread Man Cookies, or Snowflake Cookies without two sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking to the counter or rolling pin.
  
  No need for extra flour, which can dry out your dough.
  
• To Wrap Sandwiches: skip plastic bags and wrap lunch to go in parchment paper secured with twine. Old school!
  
  Parchment’s your obvious wingman.

• In the Air Fryer: Perhaps my personal favourite, is using parchment paper to line the air fryer basket (see How to Use an Air Fryer) to make quick meals like my frozen salmon in the air fryer even EASIER.
  
  Simply peel off the paper and toss it in the compost bin. Your dishwashing efforts will be pared down to nothing. You’re welcome.

• Cooking En Papillote Parchment is also perfect for the classic French version of packet dinners – cooking ‘en papillote’. 
  
  En papillote translates from french loosely as ‘in a paper envelope’ and it’s a method of cooking usually fish or poultry with vegetables in an origami-style paper pouch in the oven.
  
  The steam from the food gets trapped in the papillote and makes for a moist, tender meal without the need for adding any richness like oil or butter.
• Separating Food in the Freezer Have you ever made a batch of homemade Ground Chicken Burgers or maybe even this irresistible Easy Moist Banana Bread? It’s all roses if you’re planning on eating them up right away. But if you’re not… parchment.
  
  Cut a sheet of this handy little kitchen paper into a few pieces and simply layer your burger patties or pieces of banana bread between sheets and store in a freezer-safe bag.
  
  The parchment paper will prevent them from binding to each other and make for a super easy pull-apart process.
  
  Parchment can be used to line baking sheets for freezing anything from dough balls, to cooked naan, to winter casseroles so that they’re easy to separate or remove from the pan.
  
  Once items are frozen hard, they can be wrapped, vacuum sealed or packaged in freezer bags for longer storage.

Is parchment paper safe?

Parchment paper is generally safe to use in cooking and baking. It’s made to withstand high temperatures, usually up to around 420–450°F (216–232°C), depending on the brand.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Parchment Paper Food Safety

Here are the 3 main considerations on parchment paper’s food safety:

1. Food-Safe: Firsly, make sure you’re using food-grade culinary parchment paper, not something intended for other uses like craft projects.
2. Non-Stick Coatings: Parchment paper comes coated with silicone or other non-stick coatings to make it non-stick. Choose “compostable” and “unbleached” for the safest choice.
3. Bleached vs. Unbleached: Unbleached paper is the better choice to avoid chemical bleaching residues.

Does Parchment Paper Leach Chemicals?

Some parchment paper can leach chemicals depending on the materials and coatings used.

Here’s a breakdown of key considerations and what to look for in safer parchment paper options:

PFAS in Non-Stick Parchment Paper Coatings

Some parchment papers use PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) for their non-stick properties.

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” can leach into food at high temperatures and have been linked to long-term health risks like cancer and thyroid issues (Source).

The FDA announced on February 28, 2024, that PFAS-containing grease-proofing materials are no longer being sold for food packaging in the U.S., eliminating a major source of dietary PFAS exposure.

While parchment paper could be affected, this isn’t specified.

To avoid these risks, look for parchment paper labeled as “PFAS-free” or “compostable”.Compostable parchment paper should be PFAS-free because compostability standards prohibit the use of persistent chemicals like PFAS, which don’t break down in the environment.

Bleached vs. Unbleached Paper and Dioxins

Bleached parchment paper undergoes chlorine processing, which can produce dioxins—chemicals associated with potential health risks and environmental persistence.

The World Health Organization notes that more than 90% of the dioxin exposure in humans comes from meat, dairy, and fish, however, not paper.

Dioxins are released in small amounts, but because they accumulate in the body over time, opting for unbleached parchment paper helps avoid these risks.

Silicone-Coated Parchment Paper

Many non-stick parchment papers use food-safe silicone coatings, which are considered stable and do not leach harmful chemicals at typical cooking temperatures.

Silicone is widely used in bakeware and is regarded as safe for food contact.

Compostable silicone is specifically formulated for environmental breakdown.

What is the Safest Parchment Paper to Use?

The safest parchment paper to use is labeled compostable and unbleached. Compostable parchment paper should meet strict environmental standards, requiring it to be free of PFAS, dioxins, and other chemicals that persist in the environment.

Compostable labels, especially those with certifications like BPI Compostable or TÜV Austria OK Compost, indicate the absence of PFAS and ensure that the paper can break down safely in compost without leaving toxic residues.

Parchment Paper Heat Safety

Here are the big-picture things to keep in mind for heat safety:

1. Temperature Limits: Don’t use it in situations where it’ll be exposed to temperatures higher than it’s rated for.
2. No Direct Flame: Don’t let parchment paper come into direct contact with an open flame or heating elements, as it can catch fire.

Is parchment paper toxic when heated?

Parchment paper is designed to be heated, but some parchment papers contain PFAS chemicals for non-stick properties. When exposed to high heat, these chemicals can leach into food, posing health risks.

Opt for unbleached, compostable parchment to avoid toxins, and don’t exceed recommended heat levels.

Can parchment paper go in the oven?

Parchment paper is absolutely oven-safe – heck – the main purpose of parchment paper is to line cookie sheets and cake pans. 

Parchment paper is completely oven safe up until 425°F.

Can parchment paper go in the microwave?

Yes, parchment paper is generally safe to use in the microwave. It’s heat-resistant and doesn’t contain any materials that should cause issues when microwaving. The silicone coating that makes it non-stick is also microwave-safe. I use it all the time to cover my dish when I’m making microwaved poached eggs or reheating leftovers to avoid splatters.

However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Check Packaging: Always take a quick look at the packaging or manufacturer’s guidelines just to make sure there are no specific warnings against microwave use.
2. Short Bursts: If you’re microwaving something for an extended period, you may want to check on it periodically. Though the risk is low, any paper product can potentially catch fire if exposed to high heat for a prolonged time.

So, for quick reheating or cooking tasks, parchment paper should be a safe choice in the microwave.

Is parchment paper compostable?

Yes, parchment paper can be compostable, but not all options are. If it’s compostable, it will be labelled as unbleached and compostable.

Generally, bleached parchment paper is not compostable. The chlorine bleaching process introduces chemicals that don’t break down easily and may contaminate compost.

Best Parchment Paper Substitutes

If you’re out of parchment paper, there are a few alternatives you can use depending on your needs:

1. Silicone Baking Mats: Also known as silpats, these are reusable and non-stick, making them a great eco-friendly substitute for cellulose-based paper when lining baking sheets.
2. Aluminum Foil: For roasting or baking at high heat, foil can work as a substitute, but it doesn’t have the non-stick properties of parchment, so you may need to grease it.
3. Wax Paper: While wax paper can be used for tasks like wrapping food or rolling dough, it’s not heat-resistant, so avoid using it in the oven.
4. Greased Baking Pan: If you don’t have parchment paper, simply greasing your baking pan with butter or oil can prevent sticking for many recipes, though it may not be as foolproof as parchment.