Parchment Paper, Aluminum Foil, Saran Wrap...

[Deleted]

Do you use parchment paper, aluminum foil, saran wrap, wax paper? When do you choose one over the other and why? The world wants to know!

[thyme4change]

I use them all. First off, I have found that the best plastic wrap is Costco's brand (probably kirkland.) That stuff is awesome - it will stick to bowls and watermelons. Totally worth it.

I use parchment paper when I roast potatoes and vegetables on a cookie sheet. It gives them a little extra texture, and it makes clean up super easy (especially with the cut up potatoes.)

I use aluminum foil when I bake french fries, because if you crumble it up, the air moves around the fry, making it a little crunchier on every side.

I don't use waxed paper as much, but I always have it in the house. I just used it the other day, but now I can't remember what for.

[Deleted]

I just started using parchment paper for baking and i love it. Nothing sticks and it comes the cookies or other baked goods are easy to remove.

[moxie]

I HATE Saran Wrap...it always wrinkles up into a mess when I pull it off the roll. And I always cut myself on the sharp edge of tin foil.

[Deleted]

Do you reuse your papers or foil?

[dancinmama]

We don't use parchment paper. We use waxed paper sheets (from Costco) to cover items that we are microwaving to prevent splattering in the oven. We use plastic wrap (I like Glad) and aluminum foil for the reasons most people use them.

[Deleted]

May 24, 2012 17:52:01 GMT -5 @moxie said:

I HATE Saran Wrap...it always wrinkles up into a mess when I pull it off the roll. And I always cut myself on the sharp edge of tin foil.

I have a tough time with that one too. I really don't like it. I use it on occasion to cover things but i don't care for it.

[Deleted]

When would you choose wax paper over parchment or vice versa?

Also , does it matter which side of the parchment or wax paper you use? One side seems a bit shinier than the other.

[dancinmama]

May 24, 2012 17:51:59 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I just started using parchment paper for baking and i love it. Nothing sticks and it comes the cookies or other baked goods are easy to remove.

My sister uses it for that purpose. We get together and do marathon of baking before Xmas. She lines the cookie sheets with it.

[dancinmama]

May 24, 2012 17:52:16 GMT -5 @shooby said:

Do you reuse your papers or foil?

If I use foil to cover something and it's not "dirty" when I take it off, I'll fold it and put it in the drawer where I keep the roll. No need to waste perfectly good foil.

[chiver78]

I use foil and plastic wrap a lot.

foil - I have a "junky" sheet pan that I will line with foil for anything from baking a fish fillet, reheating pizza, catching the drippings from baked potatoes (I coat in sea salt/canola oil), or even baking off quick frozen appetizers. this pan probably hasn't seen soap and water more than a handful of times in the 10 years I've had it, but I never use it w/o foil.
anything that reheats in a toaster oven that I might bring to work gets wrapped in foil too - I unwrap and have a ready-made shield (ish) from whatever nastiness the gross people in my office have left in the toaster oven pan.

plastic wrap - when I bring egg roll-up fixins to the office, the egg is wrapped individually for easy reheating on top of the plastic wrap in the microwave.
bacon and pancetta are wrapped into individual servings in plastic wrap before going into a labelled/dated freezer bag.
I cover the top of the air-tight container where I store pre-cut salad greens before putting the lid back on. each time I take some greens, I put a fresh piece of plastic wrap back on the container. it catches any condensation that would have been on the lid, and helps keep the cut greens fresher for longer.

parchment paper - sometimes I bake fish "en papillote" but that's about it. I will definitely try it for roasting veggies (thanks, thyme!)

wax paper - I have a roll, not really sure why. lol...

[Sam_2.0]

Parchment paper - for baking cookies. I re-use it until I am done cooking up that whole batch, but I don't save it for later use.

Foil - cover things, baking, etc.

plastic wrap - covering odd sized containers to put in the fridge. I also save the giant rubber bands from produce to help secure it if necessary.

wax paper - I wrap up meat to put in the freezer (I portion out jumbo packs of meat into meal-sized portions, wrap in wax paper, then put several packs in one freezer bag). Its also great for home made breakfast burritos (that go in the freezer). It can go from the freezer to the microwave with no problems.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I use plastic wrap (saran/glad) for when I buy ground beef in bulk. I'll make hamburger patties and individually wrap them in the plastic wrap and wrap some of the ground beef in portions large enough for chili or meatloaf, etc.

I use parchment paper to line cake pans when baking cakes. Waxed paper I use more for some of the crafts I do as a protector shield for the surface I'm working on. (like painting 'liquid lead' and then a clear transparent colored paints in different colors onto a pane of glass with a stencil design placed beneath to create a stained glass picture for framing to hang on a wall or in a window. The waxed paper prevents the glass from slipping when tracing the design with the liquid lead to fill in the spaces later with the colors. It also means easy clean-up after the project has dried.

Foil I use in the oven, to prevent drips and to line baking sheets for fish, etc. I also use it to cover a turkey for the first 1/2 of baking time, and also a lot for the bbq. If I use a piece of foil for something and it doesn't get dirty, it gets folded up and then re-used for something else.

[mizbear]

I try not to use disposable products- but with DM living here- it's much easier to deal with, especially with her allergies.

Parchment is a necessity for baking though. Lining baking sheets, cake tins, springform pans and making circles for meringues. I also put fish on it. (I use it for en papillote depending on how delicate the fish is)

Foil- Makes for wonderful anti-cleanup. Packets of veggies or meats. My mother insists on lining lasagna pans with it- but I prefer washing the pan promptly. (But I am also not a fan of lasagna) TBear likes to line a pan with foil, place a rack on it, put bacon on the racks, and tent with foil to prevent spatters while baking the bacon. I also wrap foil around wing tips and place a piece on delicate areas when cooking poultry. Also good for en papillote.
Combine with wire coat hangars to improve radio reception
Balls of foil can be used for cleaning grills or holding food on skewers.

Saran Wrap is best used as a substitute for shrink wrap. I find it virtually useless in the kitchen other than as an excuse to take Valium.

Wax paper- excellent for separating meat products such as pork, chicken, steaks and burgers for freezing.

Ziplocs- Multi-purpose tool. Use in and out of kitchen.

I do not reuse these products because of DMs health issues- although I would consider rinsing and recycling if we had the proper recycling programs.

[jaya3300]

Parchment paper-I usually use for cookies
Foil-baking, roasting, and for covering dishes
wax-really don't use this
saran wrap-use it to cover dishes

[Deleted]

I bake fish "en papillote"

I have never baked fish that way before!

[973beachbum]

Parchment I use for baking. wax paper smokes if I use that so now it is parchemnt only.

Aluminum foil I use for lining pans going in the oven for ease of cleaning or to wrap something like lunch that won't fit in a plastic sandwich bag or needs the rigidity of the foil to hold it's shape.

Plastic wrap I use to cover leftovers that I put in the fridge. I have used foil but if we can't see what it is it mostly just rots till I throw it out. So clear plastic wrap it is! ;D

Wax paper I have but the last time I remember using it was to take to the park to rub on the metal slide so it was faster for the kids.

[oreo]

I use wax paper to cover dishes in the microwave and between the top of the container and the lid for stuff that stains (like tomato sauce) or could cause odor transfer (like garlic).

I'm not sure if plastic wrap has issues being used in the microwave. You hear so much about "good" plastic and "bad" plastic that I just use the wax paper and I don't have to worry about it. I do use it to cover watermelon and my mixing bowl if I have to put it in the fridge.

I use parchment when I bake cookies now and I don't bother to wash the pan nearly as often. I use the same 2 pieces (2 pans) at least 3 or 4 times before I use a new piece.

[savecents]

I use all of them.

Plastic wrap to cover leftovers in open containers in the fridge.

Wax paper I use to wrap things before I freeze them to fight off freezer burn.

Aluminum foil I use to wrap things before freezing -- around the wax paper -- and I also use it to wrap things in for grilling.

Parchment paper I use to cover baking sheets when I'm making cookies or baked french fries or broiled fish in the oven. If it is going to make the pan a mess -- broiled fish is extra hard to get out because the temp is so hot -- I use parchment paper. It saves scrubbing pans.

I only reuse parchment paper because its the most expensive of the bunch.

[dakota4600]

We are trying to cut down on plastic wrap use, but are still using the roll DH bought when he was single from Costco. (He wrote the date he opened it and it is now 10 years old, maybe we need to throw it a b-day party ). I only use this for odd shaped items and it never goes near a heat source and is promptly thrown away.

Foil- I use it when roasting beasts (briskets or pork shoulders) overnight in the oven. And use it as well with parchment paper when freezing casseroles so I can remove them cleanly from the pan once frozen. Though I am actively looking for a better alternative as it tends to dissolve in the oven when it is in contact with the fatty areas of the meat.

Wax Paper- We use to line pans when making fudge or other sticky things.

Parchment paper- Use it when baking to line the sheet pan for easier clean up.

[Clever Username]

I use wax paper to line my countertops when I make chocolate dipped strawberries....... mmmmmmmm!
Then afterwards, I get to scoop up any drippings!

[mizbear]

One note on parchment- when I use it- I use the same sheets over for the same product. i.e. cookies.