Parchment Paper

When using parchment paper, a common mistake some people make is confusing it with wax paper. Here's a vital cooking tip – wax paper is not heat resistant and will emit smoke or could catch fire when heated, while parchment paper is safe for oven use. Another usual issue is not cutting the parchment paper correctly. When using round pans, it is key to snip the paper into round shapes to sit snugly at the bottom. It is also important to remember that excessively high heat can cause the parchment paper to brown or curl up which can be troubling while in use. Getting the most out of parchment paper can go beyond the usual baking sheet liner. It can be used to fold into containers for small, wet ingredients when prepping meals. It can also be used to wrap pieces of meat or fish with herbs and spices to lock in flavors and moisture. Moreover, getting creative with parchment paper, you can refashion it into cones for piping icing on cakes or cupcakes. Here's a lesser known hack with parchment paper. To prevent the paper from rolling up when you're trying to line a pan or baking sheet, crumple it up first and then straighten it out. This makes it more pliable and easier to manipulate.