Things You Didn’t Know About Silicone Baking Mats

Silicone baking mats are a reusable alternative to parchment paper. Place them in a baking pan and you instantly have a non-stick baking surface that you can use, wash and reuse. Made of silicone with an embedded heat-conductive fiberglass or nylon fiber mesh, these nonstick mats were originally used in restaurant kitchens. They have become increasingly popular with home cooks over the past decade.

 

Content

1. What are silicone baking mats?

2. Can I use a baking mat instead of parchment paper?

3. What are silicone baking mats used for?

4. How do I use a silicone baking mat?

5. How do I clean a silicone baking mat?

 

1. What are silicone baking mats?

Silicone baking mats are sheets made of silicone, usually woven with fiberglass threads to keep the mat strong. They are flexible and bendable and are primarily used to cover baking pans. Because of their non-stick properties, they are also great for baking messy or sticky mixtures. Silicone baking mats come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different sized baking pans.

 

Silicone Baking Mats

2. Can I use a baking mat instead of parchment paper?

Yes you can. Using a baking mat to cover the baking sheet will help protect it from sticking or scratching.

 

Baking Mats VS Parchment Paper

You can use baking mats and parchment paper interchangeably in a number of ways. While both are great for baking or cooking, baking mats are reusable and durable, while parchment paper can only be used once or twice at a time. Baking mats are great for flat surfaces, while parchment can be shaped to fit deeper pans, such as loaf pans. We've broken down the uses of baking mats versus parchment paper in the list below.

 

Baking Mats

Eco-friendly and cost-saving

Reusable

Versatile for baking

Minimal cleanup

 

Parchment paper

Not reusable

Primarily used to protect baking pans

Extra flexibility

Minimal cleanup

Silicone Baking Mats

3. What are silicone baking mats used for?

You can use silicone baking mats in many different ways. Here is a list of ways you can use a silicone baking mat.

 

Replace the parchment paper or aluminum foil on the baking sheet

Keep the baking sheet clean

Knead bread or roll out cookie dough by placing the silicone mat flat on the countertop

Place on a tray to heat food in the oven

Cover baked goods in the oven to ensure they rise evenly

Place under the cake ring to prevent cake batter from sticking to the baking sheet

 

Many brands of silicone baking trays live up to their name. However, it can be helpful to grease or spray the silicone mat before placing the dough or food on it, as you will need to remove the freshly baked goods. No matter what mess your chocolate chip cookies make on the cookie sheet, a silicone mat will help prevent the mess and your cookie sheet will keep better for longer.

 

Not just for baking

Silicone baking mats aren't just for baked goods and pastries. In fact, you can use silicone mats on just about anything that goes into your oven. Bake fish or roast a whole chicken on a silicone mat.

 

If it goes on a pan, it can go on a silicone mat. All the benefits of easy-to-clean, non-stick cooking still apply when cooking savory foods!

Silicone Baking Mats

4. How do I use a silicone baking mat?

Whether you're baking cookies, kneading dough or baking cakes, you can use a silicone baking mat. To use as a pan liner, simply place the mat flat on a cookie sheet if you want to make cookies. If you're concerned about cookies sticking, spray the mat with non-stick spray before setting the cookies down.

 

For the work surface, you can also place a silicone mat on the work surface if you plan to knead bread or roll out cookie dough. This will save flour and prevent your countertop from getting messy in the process.

 

5. How do I clean a silicone baking mat?

 

Dishwasher.

Yes, silicone baking mats can be cleaned in the dishwasher! Roll them up and place them on the top rack of the dishwasher. If there is still a little grease residue, try any of the following methods

 

Lemon juice.

Soak the baking mat in very hot water for 10 minutes and squeeze in fresh lemon juice. Put on kitchen gloves and scrub well underwater with a sponge or towel, then dry on a drying rack or with a towel. Repeat as necessary.

 

Baking soda.

Wet the pad under running water. Sprinkle baking soda over the entire top. Wearing kitchen gloves, rub the baking soda and residual water droplets together to form a paste, concentrating mainly on stubborn stains. Let the paste sit on the mat for 20 minutes, then rinse off with hot water. Dry on a drying rack or with a towel. Repeat as necessary.

 

Extremely hot water and grease-resistant detergent.

Soak the mat in very hot water for 20 minutes, then spray with a few drops of grease remover or heavy-duty detergent. Natural varieties do not work well for this. Use a soap designed to handle tough stains. Wear kitchen gloves and scrub well underwater with a sponge or towel, then dry on a drying rack or with a towel. If the stain is severe, repeat the process.

 

Wipe the silicone mats clean with a little soap and water, then air dry them. To dry them, it's best to lay them flat.

 

Are silicone baking mats safe?

Yes, silicone baking mats are safe for baking. The temperature limit for silicone baking mats is 428 degrees. These baking mats can also be kept in the refrigerator.

 

However, the safety of silicone baking mats should be kept in mind when purchasing them. Now that silicone is becoming more popular, some companies are adding fillers to their silicone molds and mats. Silicone fillers can be harmful to our health because they release toxins when heated or cooled.

 

If you are not happy with the filler in the silicone you buy, you may smell a strong burning odor once you bake with it. The best option for finding a safe silicone baking mat is to buy from a respected manufacturer. You can always contact the customer service team if you want to determine the components of the mat before you buy.

 

Baking with a silicone baking sheet makes baking and cleaning easier and allows you to make more baked goods at once. Experience the benefits for yourself and try baking with a silicone baking mat!

 

Bocheng is involved in the manufacture of PTFE coated fiberglass fabric, PTFE adhesive tapes, PTFE mesh conveyor belts, and silicone coated fabric etc, which provides a new solution for various industrial machines, such as packaging, printing, textile and dyeing industries. Moreover, silicone baking mats, food grade bbq grill mats, stove burner protectors, toaster bags also provide the cooking and bakery industry with more convenient experience.

 

For more information about the silicone baking mats, welcome to contact us at +86 523 8783 8773 /+86 187 9678 7261 or write to us at JerryYao@k-fabco.com. We will be happy to help you out!