I’m a simple home baker. I don’t need every clever kitchen gadget to make a batch of cookies. Honestly, I’ve reached for a butterknife over an offset spatula to frost cakes more times than I can count.
Baking isn’t all about gear but, there is one kitchen splurge that I keep stocked in my pantry, without fail: the parchment paper sheet. I was first introduced to large pre-cut parchment paper sheets working in bakeries. They’re lightly coated in silicon and measured to fit a half-sized sheet pan. When it comes to large scale food production these are a huge time saver. At home – they’re an easy insurance policy. A low cost, long-lasting casual game changer. No matter how many biscuits you have coming out of the oven, here’s why you should buy yourself a pack of parchment paper sheets most immediately.
- Parchment paper sheets make every pan nonstick and easy release. So no more ??? about whether the peanut butter fluff cookies will stick to the pan or the banana bread will turn out of the pan without a hitch. Parchment paper coats every pan in disposable silicone and makes loaves and bars super easy to lift from the pan instead of inverting.
- Sheets are pre-measured to be a half-sheet pan size, making them easy to cut in half for quarter sheet pan bakes. Most importantly, they’re served up flat instead of rolled. I don’t know about you but wrestling a rolled piece of parchment paper is a battle I despise when I’m baking. Not to mention the quiet agitation when I don’t get a clean tear of paper off the parchment paper roll.
- Two magic words: less dishes. I can Dirty Every Dish with the best of ‘em and I’m eternally thankful for a sheet pan I only have to wipe clean with a dishcloth.
- While parchment paper sheets are billed as disposable, I treat them as though they’re reusable. Baking cookies? Those sheets can be used at least 5 times (at least they can in my kitchen). They’re so reusable, I generally keep old sheets, gently wiped clean, nestled inside my sheet pans so they’re ready to go when I am.
- I might use parchment paper like craft paper. It’s super versatile. I reach for a sheet to cover the counter if I’m decorating cookies. It can be used, wrapped in a bundle, to steam fish. I use two sheets to roll out a crumbly dough like gluten-free pie crust. Do I have a round of brie wrapped in parchment paper in the cheese drawer right now? Yes, absolutely.
There’s a lot of reasons to love it the humble (though somehow bougie) pre-cut parchment paper. Welcome this little kitchen hack into your life.
Should I make you an extensive list of my favorite kitchen splurges that are actually worth the money and kitchen drawer space? Lemme know in the comments below.
choptool
For a cooking lover, parchment paper is a must-have in the kitchen
Dottie
Yes to precut parchment paper. I also use the precut paper rounds for cake pans. They are a lot easier than the roll. I always keep a roll on hand, but the precuts work so well.
I would love a post on kitchen splurges or favorite tools (even multiple posts with examples of how you use your tools).
Not that I expect that you would devote a post to it, but I’d love to know tips on using a Kitchen Aid mixer. I have to store mine (no counter space) and I find myself always pulling out a hand mixer. I need to use my Kitchen Aid to justify its existence in my house. I consider myself to be a good cook, but I haven’t yet discovered the beautify of my mixer.
Jen
Yes to the splurge list! or cooking/baking basics to have on hand. Thanks for the parchment suggestion and tip to reuse!!
tdchinges
I’ve been baking for 10 years and I can’t even remember how much parchment I used
Tiffany
Show me the storage for these blessed things. I’ve started buying the Reynolds folded sheets to fit in my drawer because the big flat box was doing me no favors.
Bridgette
I keep mine on the pantry shelf against the wall standing on the thin end with the exit hole exposed so I can easily reach in and grab. If I’m doing a lot of baking that day, I stand it behind the knife block on the counter for easier access. Standing on the thin end only takes up the width of the box so not much space at all. I’d imagine it could also fit like that in a lower cabinet.
Joy the Baker
That’s exactly how I keep mine as well!
DKS
Yes, please to the good gadgets and tools.
And also- until you told us, long ago, that parchment could be re-used, I tossed mine after every use. No more.
I agree with everything you said here about the pre-cut sheets, because of course I do.
JessicaD
Yes please! I am that weirdo who buys half the things off those dumb buzzfeed /. amazon lists on Facebook and winds up with yoga toes! garlic skinners! the hair mushroom! and a windshield that WILL NEVER FOG AGAIN. So yes, please. Something Joy-advised would be delightful. :)
Erika
Yes! I’d love to know your thoughts on what you deem splurge-worthy.
I need to just bite the bullet and buy some parchments sheets; I love the stuff but the “curls” drive me bonkers.
Erin
Yes please Joy! I would love to know some of the other worthwhile splurges in your kitchen.
Lydia Lepic
I’ve been on Team Parchment for pretty much my whole life. (Momma always had a roll in the drawer with the foil and waxed paper.) But you may have just convinced me to up my game to the precuts.
Totally off topic, but I’m just sitting here on the couch recovering from surgery, and once again you have brought me a little spark of joy, Joy. Way back in 2011 your podcast with Tracy Shutterbean helped me through the miserable loneliness of of a deployment–he was a reservist, so no base families for mutual support. Then when he came back and I graduated from college, we moved to a town where we didn’t know anybody. Your baking box with King Arthur Flour felt like I was receiving a Christmas gift from you. Your first cookbook is well worn, and it now flops open right to the cinnamon roll recipe which is butter stained and baptized in cinnamon. If I ever have the great luck of bumping into you in real life, I will probably squeal like a fan girl and ask if I can hug you. ?
Joy the Baker
Oh Lydia! We should absolutely have a hug! We’ve earned it after all these years together! I hope you’re recovering well to surgery. Sending you my love!