Baking Paper Review: Comparing different types to bake sugar cookies
What is baking paper?
Baking papers, also known as parchment paper, are a type of paper that is designed to be heat-resistant and non-stick. They are often used in baking as a way to prevent food from sticking to pans or baking sheets, as well as to protect food from direct contact with metal, which can cause uneven baking or burning.
What do we use baking papers for?
Using baking paper can be a game-changer in the kitchen. Not only do they prevent food from sticking to pans, which can be frustrating to clean, but they also make it easier to lift food out of the pan or sheet. Additionally, baking papers can help promote even cooking and browning, and they can prevent the bottoms of baked goods from getting too dark.
Why bother reviewing different baking papers?
I have used Tesco baking paper for the last few years, mainly because it’s my most local supermarket, therefore being convenient.
Using Tesco baking paper has been second nature and I have found it served its purpose when baking sugar cookies (see here for the recipe). However, I bought some from Co-op once I had run out recently and needed to get some quickly. Using this baking paper for my sugar cookies, I noticed that not all baking papers are the same, especially when it comes to sugar cookies. So with this in mind, I decided to review 5 different types of paper.
I don’t use baking paper to line cake tins generally as I find it isn’t necessary but that is another blog post.
What baking papers have been reviewed?
Tesco
Sainsbury’s
Co-op
Lidl
Bacofoil
What is baking paper and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Baking paper is parchment paper that can be found in both bleached and unbleached varieties. It can come in various shapes and sizes, I used to buy pre-cut circles years ago, back when I made a lot of fruit cakes. I generally only use baking paper these days for lining baking trays when baking cookies, or lining tins when making brownies or blondies.
Advantages of baking paper
The baking paper has many advantages when it comes to baking.
It is non-stick, which means that it can be used to line pans and sheets to prevent food from sticking. Additionally, baking paper is heat-resistant, which makes it safe to use in the oven at high temperatures.
It can be cut to size and shape as needed.
Mostly it is oven, microwave, and freezer safe.
Disadvantages of baking paper
Surprisingly baking paper does have some disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks is its environmental impact. Despite being called paper, it is not recyclable so will end up in landfill. Also Baking paper can be expensive, especially if it is used frequently.
One tip, when I am using baking paper for using cookies, I will use the same piece a few times rather than binning each piece.
So let’s get on with the verdict of each paper, this is in no particular order.
Lidl
Details
This is branded ‘Aromata’ and is labeled as a Non-Stick Baking Paper. The box states that it is 38cm wide and the length is 20m. This is the longest paper in this review.
Listed on the side of the box it is
– heat-resistant
– can be used on both sides
– no need to pre-grease
– non-stick
– microwave save
– saves on washing up
Review
The paper is similar to what I am used to using for sugar cookies.
Easy to tear using the guide on the packet.
Environmental impact- the side of the packet it states that is ‘extremely environmentally friendly. ….produced from renewable raw timber from sustainably managed forests. It is both combustible and compostable, making it easy to dispose of
Once the cookies came out of the oven, they came off the paper very well, with no cookie left on the paper and not much grease either.
Co-op
Details
This is the co-op’s own label and is labeled as a Greaseproof Baking Paper. The box states that it is 380mm wide and the length is 12m.
Listed on the side of the box are the features
– for food use, wrapping, and roasting
– suitable for freezing
– paper for responsible sources
– suitable for microwave
Review
This paper I have used this before for lining baking sheets for sugar cookies.
Easy to tear using the guide on the packet.
There is an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) stamp on the side of the box.
There is a little text box stating what different many uses the paper can be used for. Baking, including cakes, souffle, biscuits, and quiches and can be used for baking fish. It also states you can separate food using paper when freezing, therefore easier to separate for defrosting.
As I have used this paper before there was no surprise that there was some resistance when removing the cookie from the paper. As you can see from the picture, some of the cookie was left behind. It is not the worst but also ideally you would want to see a clean removal and no cookie remains on the paper.
Bacofoil
Details
This is the only branded non-supermarket baking paper in the review. It is labeled as a Non- Stick Baking Paper. The box states that it is 38cm wide and the length is 10m.
Listed on the side of the box it is
– nothing sticks- stays in place
– strength you can trust
Review
This is a brown paper with a dotted appearance that is raised, a mottled effect on the surface, which would help with non-sticking.
Another paper that was easy to tear using the guide on the box.
When these cookies were removed from the paper there was no remain of cookie left on the paper. However, there was quite a grease mark that had seeped through to the tray underneath. So where some of the papers would mean the tray would be left clean underneath this would mean you would need to clean the tray also.
Sainsbury
Details
This is the Sainsbury baking paper and it is labeled on the box as a Non-Stick Baking Paper. The box states that it is 380mm wide and the length is 15m.
Easy to tear when taken out of the box.
Listed on the side of the box it states
– line, make and bake
– unbleached
– multiple bakes
Review
This is another brown paper but has a feel very similar to the first paper from Lidl. The text box on the side of the packaging says all the things you can use it for, including making piping bags, jam pot covers, and lids. It also has the same advice that the Co-op paper had about using to separate items to freeze.
Once the cookies were baked on the paper, they came off cleanly. There was very little grease left on the paper also so you could easily pop the baking trays away without cleaning them.
Tesco
Details
This is Tesco’s own label and is labeled as a non-stick greaseproof and baking Paper. The box states that it is 370mm wide and the length is 15m.
Listed on the side of the box it states
– lifts off the tray every time you have a bake-off.
-suitable for freezer, microwave, and oven.
– Tesco silicone-coated non-stick baking paper has been treated with silicones which repel stick mixtures, meaning that food can be lifted cleanly from the paper without the need for greasing.
Review
This is another white paper and is very similar to the Co-op one. Once the cookies were baked on the paper, very much like the Co-op paper there were bits of cookie left on the paper. There was also quite a large grease mark left on the paper, which would mean you would need to wash the trays after using these as the grease had seeped through to the baking sheet.
Summary of the review
As you can see from the above comments, all of the papers above performed very similarly when used for baking sugar cookies. Some left some cookie on the sheet and some left larger grease marks than others. I have popped a video below where you can see the outcome of the paper after the cookies had been baked.
The two stand-out papers that didn’t perform so well and had a little bit of sticking to the paper, were the Tesco and Co-op papers. It’s funny as I had rarely had an issue with the Tesco paper prior to the test. I had noticed the sticking with the Co-op baking paper so did expect it in this test and that was the reason for the review. I did really like the Lidl paper, plus its the longest by far at 20m, the cookies came away cleanly and left very little grease marks behind.
In conclusion, choosing the right baking paper might depend on what is local to you and what you are using the paper for. I will probably stick with Lidl paper for baking cookies from now on as that is local to me and had no sticking when making the sugar cookies. I will quite possibly write another review but using the papers for something else like brownies where you really do need the paper to come away cleanly.