When To Use Aluminum Foil, Parchment Paper, And Wax Paper

Ready, set, bake – but wait! Before you start portioning out that cookie dough, ask yourself, what are you lining your pans with? Today our kitchens are stocked with a slew of different liners and papers so it’s hard to know when you use what product. Know that foil, parchment paper, and wax paper are not as interchangeable as they may seem, so read on to see how to use these kitchen papers.

Wax paper is perfect for keeping messes in check. Slide a square underneath a stand mixer or cover the counter, making for easy clean-up later. Wax paper is your go-to paper for non-stick room temperature projects, like dipping candies in chocolate or rolling out truffles. Because it is coated in a film of wax (made from soybean or paraffin), wax paper is not safe for oven use and cannot come in contact with heat.

Parchment paper is the most versatile workhorse of the lot. Coated with a thin layer of silicone, it can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees F. It’s the best liner to use for cookie making. Parchment paper is also good for mess-free prep work, and when lightly floured, you can roll out cookie dough, pie crust, and cinnamon roll dough. For oven steamed fish and vegetables, parchment packets called en papillote are perfect for achieving a fresh steamed taste. However, like all papers parchment paper also has a threshold and can burn. Parchment paper, cannot be used for grilling or broiling.

Aluminum foil both distributes and withstands heat, making it excellent for roasting and broiling foods. Using heavy-duty foil keeps grease and sauce in its place, perfect sheet pan suppers or oven-roasted vegetables. Unlike en papillote, aluminum foil packets can be cooked on the grill or even on an open flame (foil packet smores are always a great and easy treat). Foil, however, is not good for baking things like cookies, as it can crisp and burn the baked goods at a lighting speed.

So when it comes down to it, use wax paper for decorating and prepping, parchment paper for cookies, and foil for crispy high heat baking.