Parchment paper

Manufacturing

To get its non-stick properties, baking paper is either treated with a "quilon" (a solution of chromium(iii) in an acidic alcohol to modify the cellulose) or cellulose coated with silicone.

Applications in cooking and baking

A common use is to eliminate the need to grease sheet pans, allowing very rapid turnaround of batches of baked goods with minimal cleanup. Parchment paper is also used to cook en papillote, a technique where food is steamed or cooked within closed pouches made from parchment paper.

Parchment paper can be used in most applications that call for wax paper as a non-stick surface. The reverse is not true, as using wax paper would cause smoke in the oven and would adversely affect flavor.

Other bakery release papers

The non-stick properties can be also achieved by employing a coated paper, onto which a suitable release agent—a coating with a low surface energy and the capability to withstand the temperatures involved in the baking or roasting process—is deposited; silicone (cured with a suitable catalyst) is frequently used.

Other applications

Parchment paper also has relevant properties for other industries. In the textile tube industry, an outer layer of parchment confers the necessary resistance to abrasion, heat and oil. In other industries, parchment is used as a processing aid due to its release properties, whether for furniture laminate manufacturing and rubber vulcanization.

In creative forms such as origami, thin uncoated parchment paper is often used for tessellations and complex models.

Disposal

Parchment paper is composed of cellulosic fibers and therefore is considered compostable both in an industrial setting (EN13432) and at home.

References

References

1. Harlan, Jessica. (2016-02-29). "Why You Need Parchment Paper in Your Kitchen".
2. "Parchment Paper vs. Wax Paper".