Baking paper is a coated paper that is used to prevent baked goods from sticking in baking trays. But if you don't have it available at the moment, it becomes problematic. In this article we will show you practical baking paper replacements. Some of the alternatives are not only environmentally friendly, but also save you unnecessary costs.
Substituting baking paper makes sense – here are the most common alternatives
Grease the baking tray well
If you are environmentally conscious, it is advisable to have none at allUse baking paper. Otherwise you will end up with waste that you can safely save in the truest sense of the word. Baking paper cannot be recycled due to its water-insoluble coating and is therefore considered a typical disposable product.
An alternative to baking paper is to moisten the baking tray with water for greasy pasta, such as puff pastry. For pizza or cake dough, treat the tray as normal with butter or margarine. If you don't have this in stock, vegetable oil is also suitable. We recommend rapeseed or sunflower oil in this regard. Both are tasteless and can be heated to high temperatures, which is why they are ideal for greasing baked goods. In addition, you can lightly dust the already greased baking tray with a little flour. This means your baked goods are baked safely and nothing sticks.
Bake without baking paper using a glass baking tray or coated baking tins
We highly recommend using a glass baking tray for baking. If you don't already own this, you can purchase it from many online retailers that focus on an environmentally conscious lifestyle. The glass baking tray saves a lot of work. You don't have to grease it and cleaning it is easier than with common models because pasta cannot stick to glass. Baking without baking paper is also possible if you use a baking tray with a non-stick coating. Coated baking pans or those made of ceramic are also suitable for baking cakes. Everything saves you money, time and unnecessary waste.
Greaseproof paper as a replacement for baking paper
If you no longer have baking paper in stock, you have the option of using the very similar greaseproof paper for baking. Although it is thrown away afterwards, it does not contain any Teflon coating or plasticizers. As a result, it is mostly recyclable.
Compostable baking paper
As already mentioned, ordinary baking paper contains a coating and is disposed of in the trash.An environmentally friendly alternativeYou can also do this with compostable baking paper, which, as the name suggests, can be put in the compost.
You can also bake without baking paper by purchasing long-lasting baking foil
This alternative is very advantageous because it is easy to maintain and can be used at least a hundred times. This will save you from unnecessary waste and also save you money. The permanent baking foil protects the baking tray from dirt and it is sufficient to rinse it lightly after use.
Unfortunately, not everything is unproblematic when choosing this option. At some point you will have to dispose of them. However, common long-life baking foils are made from glass fibers that are coated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), i.e. Teflon. After household waste has been disposed of, the permanent baking film ends up in the waste incineration plant. During the combustion process, the Teflon releases toxic fumes into the environment, which harms it. Such negative fumes also form if you use the baking foil at a temperature of over 200 degrees. We therefore recommend that you set the baking temperature to below 200 degrees.
Silicone mat
The silicone mat is super practical as an alternative to baking paper. Similar to permanent film, its disposal is not particularly environmentally friendly. Silicones are hardly degradable and they can accumulate in organisms. They should therefore definitely be disposed of with residual waste.
If you still decide to buy a silicone mat as a baking surface, we recommend those that have the “BPA-free” imprint. We also advise you to bake without pasta at high heat before first use. In this way, supposed harmful substances are removed and you can start the baking process with pasta without any worries.
Brick has limited uses
You can use the baking stone when baking pasta such as pizza, tarte flambée or even bread. It is important not to grease or wash it! If it turns dark, this is not an obstacle to use.
Aluminum foil as a replacement for baking paper?
Aluminum foil is a common alternative to baking paper as a baking surface or for placing on top of the pasta. It is resistant to high temperatures. However, we advisefor rare use, as there is a risk that aluminum will be transferred to the food. Several scientific studies have shown that aluminum poses health risks and is toxic to the nervous system.
Apart from that, these films are made from aluminum bauxite, which often comes from rainforest clearance. A lot of energy is also used to produce the aluminum foil itself. This creates toxic waste that is also very harmful to the environment.
If you decide to use aluminum foil as a replacement for baking paper, you should grease it with butter, margarine or oil before use. Make sure you use it sparingly, as the fat can drip from the foil onto the oven and burn there. You can also prevent this by folding the ends of the film upwards.
No matter which baking paper replacement option you choose, it is always advisable to carefully weigh up the costs and benefits. This means your baked goods remain well protected and you can enjoy the finished meal.
