While still springy and malleable, this mat has a weighty build that helps it to stay in place on countertops or baking sheets. Plus it's dishwasher and oven safe up to a whopping 550 degrees F. This silicone baking mat is not only covered by a lifetime warranty but it's also thoughtfully designed at a standard size that should easily fit the majority of baking sheets you’ve already got at home," say Monica and Jessica Valenzuela, co-owners and bakers at Little Boxes NYC Bakeshop. Since food-safe silicone has a temperature range of minus 60˚C to 250˚C (with some special grades having a tolerance of up to 300˚C) the mats can be used without worrying about them melting, or becoming misshapen. Wax paper is a great alternative to a silicone baking mat when needed for cold or room temperature uses. Need an extra surface for chilling chocolate dipped goodies or for creating lettered decorations? Wax paper is your friend!

Not sure which way up your mat should go? Place the mat with the writing side facing up. Step 3: Add Your Batter or Dough The only downside of silicone from a safety point of view is the upper limit of the temperature tolerance. Read on to discover the perfect substitutes for silicone baking mats for all your kitchen needs. Silicone Baking Mat Substitute Food-grade silicone contains no BPA whatsoever, meaning that there is no risk of silicone baking mats in your kitchen harming you after being exposed to high temperatures. That’s a relief, to say the least. Proper Silicone Baking Mat Safety PracticesFood grade silicone makes them safe to use and types labeled “food grade” are the best type of silicone mat to buy if you plant to cook on them. 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. Most parchment paper will come with individual heat limits that vary according to the manufacturer (often between 420°F to 450°F). If not adhered to, the paper can darken and turn brittle. Often Needs Cooking Spray One of my favorite silicone mat uses is making bread without a baking pan. Crusty home made bread is made for a silicone mat. I just form mine into any kind of loaf that I want it to be (I love the look of free formed crusty bread!) Just make sure that if you use a cookie sheet for your clay, do not use it later for food. For Nail Art:

It should also be noted that although aluminum foil is oven-safe, it is not microwave-safe. Heating any items wrapped in or on aluminum foil in the microwave may cause the foil to spark and possibly ignite. If heating via this method is necessary, always opt for a different substitute. Cooking Spray The key to the versatility and efficiency of a silicone mat is that it contains a fiberglass grid that does not retain heat the way metal pans do. 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 This mat is dishwasher safe, but the thin, floppy build makes it fairly easy to wash in the sink by hand: "The lighter color of this mat could retain more stains over time, but the material wiped clean pretty easily after the first initial uses," says Rachel.If you ingest BPA, there’s a chance it can affect the hormone system in your body. You would need to eat quite a lot of it, which makes the risk very low. Despite this low risk, it’s something that people still care about, leading to various manufacturers labeling their products ‘BPA-free’. An added bonus is that the bottoms get evenly browned, so there is no need to stir them during cooking. Calling them “baking” mats may actually be a bit of a misnomer because these silicone wonders can be used in far more places than the oven. They make amazing work surfaces for kneading bread or rolling out cookie dough. Additionally, silicone mats are great surfaces for drizzling, glazing or crafting delicate cake toppings like tempered chocolate garnishes. Downsides: Where the New Zero Co. mats really shine is their soft, flexible design. They can easily be rolled or manoeuvred into a crowded dishwasher for easy cleanup.

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. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat and then either cut the fruit up into chunks or leave it whole (if smallpieces) and place the whole baking sheet in the freezer for a couple of hours. 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." But be sure to avoid using aluminum foil for acidic foods like tart fruits, berries or rhubarb. They can react with the aluminum foil, altering the taste of the food. Making lemon bars in lieu of brownies? You best skip the aluminum foil and use parchment paper instead. In short, yes. Silicone is extremely resistant to a wide range of temperatures, as well as being incredibly flexible and easy to manipulate in your kitchen.Don’t touch silicone that’s fresh from the oven. While silicone is totally safe to be used at high temperatures, it will still conduct and absorb a lot of heat. If you touch silicone that’s still in the oven or has freshly come out of it, it will be hot, and you could burn yourself. Polymer clay is often used to make jewelry. A silicone baking mat makes a great work surface to form the pieces of clay. The only downside would be if you were looking to cook at a higher temperature than that. Temperatures like that might occur on a grill or within a pizza oven. A pizza oven is typically around 300˚C, while grills can range from 250˚C to 450˚C. 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. 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

You'll find that most baking mats come in half sheet and/or quarter sheet sizes, meaning they'll fit perfectly in the accompanying baking sheets. For professional or semi-professional bakers, you can also find baking mats in a full sheet size, but keep in mind that most home ovens aren't large enough to accommodate this size sheet pan. Indeed, you’re already halfway there – you’ve found the definitive guide on how to use silicone baking mats, including when to use them, and when it’s better to use an alternative method in place of silicone in your baking endeavors . What Is a Silicone Baking Mat Used For? In light of this, cooking spray should be used sparingly in these situations as there are often less damaging alternatives nearby. Butter, Margarine, or ShorteningSilicone baking mats come in different sizes, from a quarter or half sheet to a small jelly roll or extra-large size, and more. Make sure that you're getting the proper size(s) that will fit in your pans and work well for you. Several manufacturers also have silicone mat sets with multiple sizes available in them. Silicone baking mats are perfect for anything that you want to protect from over-browning or uneven cooking. Tuiles, meringues, and wafers will be much easier with the use of a silicone mat. Even old, dark pans can be used again with the help of a silicone baking mat to aid in even heat distribution.