Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mat, 2 Piece Set, Old Standard, Rectangular, 101.6 x 76.2

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Various brands and manufacturers will stipulate different heat limits for each of their own silicone baking mats, but they often range from 420°F to 480°F. Silpat, a very popular brand of silicone baking mat, can be used at temperatures up to 500°F. Tip: As silicone mats allow for more spreading, leave more room between baked goods (about an extra ¼ inch more on each side than normally). This prevents the possibility of baked goods touching as they spread and bake. Step 4: Bake as Usual My silpat mat is a bit bigger than my pan, so it forms sides and covers the bottom. Clean up is a breeze with soap and water. (See my recipe for asparagus wrapped in bacon. It’s delicious and cooks really well on a baking mat!) Making Decorative Chocolate drizzles. Just make sure that if you use a cookie sheet for your clay, do not use it later for food. For Nail Art:

Place a silicone baking mat on a cookie sheet, and make free form shapes or get extra creative and make forms that resemble trees, stars or whatever you like. This a neat tip for how to use a Silpat mat. Grate some Parmesan cheese and form it into a circle on the silicone baking mat. Bake it until it is golden brown. Remove with a silicone spatula and place over the top of a small glass and form into a cup while the cheese is still warm. Just pipe your egg whites into meringue shapes and bake them at a low temperature. They will be perfectly cooked on the bottom and the sides and you have far less likelihood of burning the bottoms. Either way, there are multiple silicone mat substitutes you likely already have on hand in your kitchen which can easily be swapped for a silicone baking mat. Wax Paper I love roasted veggies. Cooking them in the oven brings out the natural sweetness of vegetables but it can make a real mess out of roasting pans. I fix this easily when I use a silicone baking mat for roasting vegetables by placing the mat on a normal baking sheet.Oven Safe Temperature: 480 degrees | Sizes Available: 11.5 x 8.5 inches (quarter sheet), 16.5 x 11.6 inches (half sheet) Using a Silpat baking mat to bake and roll a Swiss Roll cake makes this baking project a breeze. The cake mixture is baked on the pan and then filling is added and the whole cake is rolled right on the silicone mat. Delicate Decorations: Ever wanted to try making piped chocolate decorations? Your silicone baking mat can help with that. Just pipe your decoration onto the mat and pop into the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes. They’ll peel right off! Silicone baking mats should never be used at temperatures higher than those listed as the max temperature and should never be used under a broiler. Parchment Paper

Wax paper, however, cannot be used in the oven, as the wax can melt off and the paper and subsequently catch fire – yikes! If in need of a silicone baking mat substitute for warmer temperatures (such as cookie baking), read on. Parchment PaperSilicone’s flexibility is also a key feature that people love. Personally, I love how easy it is to remove food from the molds or cake pans – I can twist it to either side and food will easily pop out. Silicone molds are also popularly used amongst chocolate makers and patisserie chefs for that exact reason. To preserve the life of your mats as long as possible, it is advised to handwash with warm water and gentle soap after every use – this will help you to avoid baked-on grease. The discoloration is normal after several uses, so don’t scrub too hard as abrasive sponges can damage silicone. When Not to Use Silicone Mats It is not just edible projects that can be made on Silpat mats. You can get crafty with DIY projects, as well. Place cookie cutters and fill them with peppermints to make ornaments. Protect your Work Surface Flour, however, has its limitations. It will be of no help if you were planning on using your silicone mat for more savory baking, such as meats, fish, or veggies. Final Takeaway But are silicone baking mats safe to use? After all, some people are concerned about using products made with silicone because of allegations that it could be toxic. So what’s the truth?

Read on to discover the perfect substitutes for silicone baking mats for all your kitchen needs. Silicone Baking Mat Substitute In the battle of parchment paper vs the silicone baking mat, who wins? As with most baking tools, each has their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal situations for each to be used within. If you want to find out which one to use, a silicone baking mat vs parchment paper, keep reading! What’s the Difference Between a Silicone Baking Mat vs Parchment Paper? I have never not been a fan of store bought pizza and find most retail pizzas way too high in calories, so I make my own and slim it down by making various substitutions. Congratulations, you’re now wholly informed about silicone baking mats. We’ve covered all the bases – you know the best reasons to choose silicone, whether it be for environmental motives, ease of cleanup, or the fact that you’re just tired of burnt cookie bottoms, and when not to use them.Although there are compostable versions out there, most parchment paper is used once or twice and ends up in the kitchen bin. This isn’t terribly sustainable from an environmental perspective, especially if you’re an avid baker who bakes multiple times a week. The Final Breakdown Many reviewers enjoy using this large mat on top of their workspace to protect their counters. The standard size measures 27.5 x 20 inches, which won’t fit most baking sheets, but it comes in a variety of sizes for larger or smaller surface areas and baking trays. Every baker knows what a mess you can make on a counter or cutting board when you are rolling out dough. Use silicone baking mats instead. The come in several sizes. The larger one is perfect for rolling dough. BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical that’s used to make plastic. It hardens plastic from a rubbery texture so that, when cooled, it can be rigid, like Tupperware. Net Zero Company's whole mission is to help you reduce your waste and its impact on the environment, so offering an eco-friendly alternative to parchment paper and foil is exactly what you would expect from them: "For an eco-conscious brand, this set of silicone mats hits all of the high points," says Rachel. "Arriving in post-recycled cardboard, this set of mats is billed as a parchment paper replacement."