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Lemmy Shitpost @lemmy.world

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2y ago

Finding out the hard way

92 comments

One is covered in heat-resistant silicone, the other is covered in flammable wax.
- Silicone isn't what makes parchment paper heat-resistant (and isn't even used on most standard parchment papers). Cellulose pulp is treated with sulfuric acid to cross-link the cellulose molecules, making them more chemically and thermally resistant, and the result is parchment paper.
  
  I would prefer you to be correct, because I am reading other comments that say some parchment paper is teflon coated. PFA pollution arising from PTFE production for pots and pans is bad enough, but to use Teflon on a consumable item should be an obvious "ban the fuck out of it already" action item. I mean, all PTFE production should be banned based on what we're learning about PFAs, but for fucks sake, disposable items? EDIT: google says the vast majority of parchement paper is silicone coated, not teflon coated like one German asserts in another comment in here.
  
  Neat
- WTF. I never knew this. All this time I thought I was being responsible using parchment paper. I did not know it was silicone coated damnit. Need to look for other options now.

It's really grocery stores fault. They sell them right next to each other and often have like 8 different brand choices of one but only 1 or 2 of the other which is nestled somewhere inbetween the others.
- It's an American language fault. Parchment paper is called baking paper elsewhere. You can't make a mistake when choosing between baking paper and non baking paper.
  
  Parchment is something you write on, as far as I'm concerned.
  
  I was reading this and thinking how come you even have two papers to choose from. Baking paper goes in the oven and parchment… isn’t that like an animal skin you write on? I don’t think I’ve ever used wax paper for anything, so I can’t imagine what that’s for.
  
  I'm just glad I live in an area that calls carbonated beverages "pop". I can only imagine the mix-ups that could've occurred when trying to use baking soda otherwise.
- And I have yet to see a single one with a giant badge that says “not for oven use!” Moreover, wax paper is always marketed as “microwave safe.” I know a microwave is not an oven, but it’s not ludicrous to equate the two.

Also each of them resists different type of foods better. Wax paper will hold up to wet food, and parchment paper holds up better to oily food.
This is not anything I can prove just personal experience so take it with a grain of salt
- And let's not forget about butcher's paper. Also totally different application but still no oven.
  
  You can use it for lower temperatures. (< 300°F). You can realistically go up to 400°s but I think it starts to do odd things when above 300°F (it's been awhile since Ive used it so take that with a grain of salt).
  It's used in a lot of smoking/roasting applications to keep the moisture in. Just don't let it touch the element and you should be fine.
- Which one holds up better to a grain of salt? Should I use aluminum foil for that?
  
  No, calcium chloride actually corrodes aluminum.
- I recently got "food wrapping paper" for bundling up sandwiches, it is still coated but has just enough stickiness left for tape to hold it shut.
  Previously I was using parchment paper and if you wanted to hold it shut you needed to use a rubber band or run the tape all the way around to stick back to itself.

Image Transcription:
Tumblr post by user turing-tested: guess who just found out the difference between wax paper and parchment paper the hard way Reply by user vraska-theunseen: wait what's the difference? Reply by user turing-tested: one you can use in the oven safely and the other you can also use in the oven if the thing you are trying to make happens to be fire
[I am a human, if I've made a mistake please let me know. Please provide alt-text for ease of use. Thank you. 💜]
- Good human!
  
  Thank you!
- Yeah, wax paper is basically an unrolled candle.

Which one is which?!?
- parchment = oven safe
  wax = oven fire
  
  oven unsafe
  
  I am far, far from skilled in the kitchen, but this is 100% user error. Even I know enough not to put anything in the oven unless I'm completely certain it's heat-resistant...
- You understand that the reason we make candles out of wax is because it's a solid fuel, right? The same reason candles work is the reason wax paper isn't oven safe.
  
  A lot of people think that the wick itself is the fuel. I only recently realized that it’s “wicking” up melted wax, and the wax itself is the fuel.
  
  I play with candle wax since I am four years old and it's always shocking to me how little many people understand about the world around them!

Reusable baking sheet liners are pretty cool.
- PITA to wash
  
  They are a bit. Kinda wish they were a tiny bit more rigid. That said, you can have my silpats when you pry them from my cold, dead hands.
  
  I usually push the sheet liner against the vertical side of the sink where it is flat to wash. Wash one section at a time, both sides. Takes about 30 seconds.
  Though, this may be the technique you are using, and it may be a pita.
- The el cheapo Amazon knockoff ones are pretty good now. The gold standard are Silpat.
  
  Hell silpats are pretty cheap.
- Yeah but forever chemicals
  
  Wealthy people fly their private jets to get cigarettes, I'm not losing sleep over my baking sheet liners I'll probably have for the rest of my life.

In Germany we just take regular "Backpapier" (literally "baking paper") and put it in the oven.
~~It's basically just Polytetrafluroethylene, better known as PTFE or Teflon™~~
- You're telling me that one of the reasons that water is globally polluted with PFAs is because Germans love David Hasselho... I mean, because German parchment paper is coated in Teflon? EDIT: google says that the vast majority of parchment paper is silicone coated, not teflon. I was starting to get a justice arrhythmia, I can calm down a bit now.
  
  I'm sorry. I don't mean PTFE, but PFOA, but apparently it's forbidden since 2021. I'm sorry for spreading outdated information
  
  You're not supposed to flush your parchment paper.
- You Germans and your fancy ovens.
  
  Wow. What a terrible shoehorn.

Come to the UK. We have foil.
- We've got it too but we pronounce it right.
  
  Who fucking calls foil "right"?!
  
  How do they say foil in the UK?

I don't think wax paper goes in the oven either
- As someone who doesn't cook, now I'm not clear on which you don't put in the oven, and what kind of paper you are supposed to use.
  
  Parchment can go in the oven. Wax paper will catch on fire if you try.
  I learned it the hard way.
  
  Why are people putting paper in the oven?
- That's what disposable baking sheets are, though
  
  Nah. Parchment paper goes into the oven, that’s another name for baking sheets. Waxed paper is used to wrap your sandwich. If you put waxed paper in the oven – well, see picture above.
  FYI, some baking paper contains PFAS, the group of chemicals that also PTFE (aka Teflon) belongs to, which is… not good.
  
  I've seen those under pizzas, but those look to be a thicker, cardboard type material. I just googled "can you put wax paper in the oven". My 2 sec google says no. I've never had a reason to, but I'm not a professional cook.

Oh you'll find out soon enough vraska-theunseen

92 comments