Parchment paper, or baking paper, is very useful in the kitchen. You can lay it on baking sheets and put it in cake pans and other baking containers to form a barrier between the food and the surface of the pan. It prevents preparations from sticking to containers and burning and makes it much easier to remove food once it is cooked.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using baking parchment
Step 1. Bake cakes
Use baking paper to keep them from sticking to the molds. Cut out a piece that covers the bottom of a cake pan. It should be long enough so that its edges protrude from the top of the container by 2 to 5 cm. Cut out a second sheet and lay it at a right angle to the first so that it covers the entire interior surface of the mold. Pour the dough onto the paper in the container. When the pastry is done, simply lift the edges of the paper to easily unmold it.
- If the mold is round, cut a disc of baking paper the same size as the bottom of the container and butter the sides as usual.
- Apply a small amount of oil or butter in the corners of the pan to prevent the paper from slipping. This will adhere to the mold or dish and will not move when you pour dough or place cookies on it.
Step 2. Protect your countertop
To keep it clean, place your pastries on baking paper when decorating them. When you need to pour icing or decorations like sugar sprinkles on cakes or cookies, place them on baking paper. Throw it away when you're done.
To prevent sprinkles or sugar pearls from escaping, place the paper on a baking sheet with raised edges. This way, even if the decorations roll, they will remain contained by the edges of the plate
Step 3. Line a baking sheet
Cover with parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking. Cut out a sheet that matches the size of the baking sheet and place the raw cookies on top. Bake them normally in the oven.
The foil will distribute heat more evenly, keep the underside of the pastries from burning, and keep them from spreading out too much during baking
Step 4. Line muffin cups
Cut out small squares of paper to put inside. Cut out a square for each individual mold and insert it into the socket. Press on it with the bottom of a glass to push it in so that it bends and goes to the edges of the mold. Pour the batter inside and bake the muffins following the directions in the recipe.
When they are cooked, you can easily unmold them on a clean tea towel by turning the molds over and peeling the baking paper from their underside
Step 5. Improvise a pastry bag
Use it to decorate pastries. Cut out a square of baking paper and roll it up on itself to form a cone. Fill it with icing and cut its tip with scissors. Use the cone to decorate your cakes and other sweets.
You won't be able to make a nice fine pattern with this cone, but if you don't have a pastry bag, it will allow you to frost and decorate pastries in a simple way
Method 2 of 2: Use parchment paper for cooking savory dishes
Step 1. Cook fruits and vegetables
Roast acidic vegetables and fruits on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. It will be easy to clean after cooking vegetables, and fruits like strawberries and tomatoes will be delicious. Place a sheet of baking paper on a baking sheet and distribute the fresh produce in an even layer on its surface. Cook them normally and discard the paper at the end.
- Aluminum plates can make sour fruit taste very bitter, and the acid can react with this metal and damage it.
- Some vegetables cook better on aluminum foil than on parchment paper. Potatoes, cauliflower, beets and corn become more tender on foil.
Step 2. Roast the meat
Whether you're cooking beef, chicken, or pork, cut out a sheet of parchment paper large enough to cover the bottom of a baking sheet. Place the prepared meat on the foil and roast it as usual. When you are done with the meal, simply discard the baking paper.
If you are roasting a whole chicken or turkey, use aluminum foil and not greaseproof. The aluminum foil helps keep the flesh tender when you cook such a large piece
Step 3. Protect from fish
Place the fillets on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. When you cook fish directly on a griddle, it often sticks to the metal. Place it on a sheet of baking paper to cook it. When cooked, it will come off easily without snagging.
This method is especially convenient for cooking fish with the skin on
Step 4. Shape seasoned butter
Butter flavored with herbs and other spices is delicious and makes a perfect gift. After preparing it, place it in the center of a large sheet of baking paper. Use this to roll up the preparation and give it the desired shape, such as a ball or a cylinder.
You can use this method to roll cookie dough. You can then cut the cylinder into discs easily
Step 5. Make a papillote
Use it to steam vegetables in the oven. Fold a sheet of baking paper 30 x 35 cm in 2 and cut it into a heart shape. Put vegetables (or fish) in the center. Wrap the edges of the paper around the food as tightly as possible so that it is completely enclosed. Place the papillote on a baking sheet and cook its contents normally.
The paper can completely cover the ingredients or form walls all around. In both cases, the vegetables will cook in their own steam and cleaning will be very easy
Step 6. Line a gratin dish
Cut a sheet of baking paper large enough to cover the inside surface of a baking dish and protrude slightly at the top. Cut out a second sheet and put it in the container, positioning it at a right angle to the first so that all the walls are lined. Assemble the gratin in the lined dish and put it in the oven. When it is cooked and has rested for 10 min, remove it completely from the container by lifting the edges of the paper that protrude.
It will be much easier to cut the gratin than if it were in the dish. You just have to cut it out from the paper and throw it away at the end
Advice
- Most baking papers are biodegradable. Think before throwing the sheet away. If it's not too burnt or dirty, compost it.
- Parchment paper is not the same as wax paper. The latter should not be used in the oven, unlike parchment paper, which can withstand a temperature of up to 220 ° C.