For many people, baking paper is one of the best inventions in the kitchen. Admittedly, thanks to the baking paper you save yourself having to constantly clean the baking tray. It’s very simple – frozen products can be prepared quickly and easily.
However, consumers should pay particular attention to some of the manufacturer’s instructions when using baking paper.
Health hazard: You should keep these things in mind when using baking paper
Thanks to cellulose fibers and a thin layer of silicone, products do not stick to the baking paper. This means that the sheet metal does not have to be cleaned after each use.
How often you can use the baking paper depends on the degree of soiling, the baking time and especially the temperature. According to the manufacturers, the baking paper can be used up to six times.
As a study by the Institute for Consumer Goods (IfB) Lüneburg of the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) found in 2014, baking paper that has been used too often can have a negative impact on the health of consumers.
When using baking paper, consumers should not exceed the maximum temperature of 220 degrees Celsius. If the baking paper is exposed to high temperatures for too long, it will become brown and brittle. Substances harmful to health could then be transferred to the products. It is therefore advisable not to put the baking paper in the oven while it is preheating.
If it is necessary to bake at a higher temperature, consumers should pay attention to the labeling on the packaging, which specifies a maximum temperature. Some baking papers are above standard temperature and can be exposed to heat up to 250 degrees.
Be careful with silicone mats too
Many people also use silicone mats or washable Teflon-coated baking sheets instead of baking paper. Teflon-coated baking mats can usually be heated up to 270 degrees and can be reused up to a thousand times. However, caution is advised here too: Teflon can contain PFAS, which is harmful to the environment and health and is suspected of being carcinogenic. The EU is therefore currently examining a possible ban on the chemical.
By Eva Gneisinger