With the variety of paper options to use in the kitchen, you may be wondering, can you put wax paper in the oven? No, you cannot put wax paper in the oven as it has a low melting point and will quickly melt. However, there are paper options that work well for oven use. A good alternative is parchment paper, which can be used in the oven.

Some people refer to waxed paper as parchment paper. However, they are two different papers and one can withstand the heat of the oven, while the other can’t.

Wax Paper versus Parchment Paper

Wax paper and parchment paper might look similar; however they serve different purposes in the kitchen. Wax paper has a thin coating of wax on each side, which is great for preventing food from sticking to it. It is not heat resistant though. At the higher temperatures, the wax coating will melt and the paper will catch fire. Therefore, don’t use wax paper in a hot oven or toaster oven.

Parchment paper can be used in the oven. It is a good choice for lining baking sheets, cake pans, and other baking containers. Lift brownies and other dessert bars out of the baking container easily once they are cooled and cut into bite-size pieces.

The main difference is one can be used in the high heat of the oven and the other cannot. Yet, both types of paper can be used in the microwave oven.

What is Wax Paper?

Wax paper is a paper that has been coated with a thin layer of paraffin wax on both sides of the paper.

Use wax paper for cooler applications such as lining countertops before kneading bread or rolling out pie cruses. It helps prevent messes and the food does not stick to the paper because of the wax.

Wrap cookie dough in wax paper for chilling before rolling out.

Additionally, wrapping food items in wax paper keeps it from sticking together when freezing. It allows you to separate the food items with ease without having to thaw first.

Line trays and pans with wax paper to keep the food from sticking. For instance, when I make my peanut butter balls, I line baking sheets with wax paper to keep them from sticking to the tray. They remove easily from the wax paper. Line a baking tray before pouring in your fudge. Once it sets, you can remove the fudge easily from the pan and cut into small bite-size pieces.

Each piece can be wrapped in the wax paper to prevent it from drying out and building up condensation as the wax paper is a good moisture-resistant paper. The paper is good for food storage because of the food-safe paraffin wax.

So, there are many uses in the kitchen for paper that has the paraffin wax on it. However, heating in the oven is not one of them as wax paper melts.

What Is Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper has a silicone coating which makes it heat-resistant and nonstick. This is good for lining baking pans and baking trays when you don’t want the food to stick. Best of all, this can go in the oven without the risk of burning.

So, to sum it up, parchment paper is for hot applications and wax paper is for cold.

Can you bake cookies on Wax Paper?

No, it is not safe to bake cookies on wax paper in the oven, toaster oven, or even the air fryer. It can smoke, the wax can melt into the cookie dough, and it could start on fire. Therefore, reach for the parchment paper if you want to bake cookies in the oven with a paper lined baking pan.

Great Uses for Wax Paper

Measure dry ingredients. Sift and mix dry ingredients and fold the wax paper in half to pour into a container or mixing bowl.

Wrap candies. Wrap candies to keep them fresh without the paper sticking. This is works well with homemade caramels.

Keep cookies layers separate. Make cookies ahead of time. Store in plastic containers with pieces of wax paper between each layer. This assures that the cookies will not stick to each other during the freezing or thawing process.

Rolling Pie Crust Between Wax Paper Sheets

Cover the countertop for food prep with easy clean up. Roll cookie dough or pie dough between layers of wax paper to help prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin and counter. There is no need for extra flour.

Cover food in the microwave. Wax paper works well in the microwave to reduce food spatters when heating food. Simply place a piece of paper over the food.

Wrap sandwiches. Keep sandwiches from falling apart and fresh. Wrap sandwiches in the paper to help prevent moisture and keep the ingredients from falling out while eating. Precut sheets work nicely for this application.

Lining a Baking Pan with Parchment paper

Substitutes for Wax Paper in the Oven

Parchment Paper. Parchment paper is moisture-resistant, non-stick, and it can withstand temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, it works great as a pouch for steaming salmon and other types of fish with vegetables.

Silicone Baking Mat. A silicone baking mat that is food-grade and oven safe is a better choice for lining cookie sheets. It will withstand the high heat of an oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Since it is a non-stick surface, it is great for baking cookies without adding extra oils. It is easy to clean and can be used over and over.

Aluminum Foil. Lining baking sheets with foil is a good option for the oven as it makes for easy clean up. However, food might still stick to it; therefore, grease it with a non-stick cooking spray or a brush of melted butter to prevent sticking.

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