Uses for Parchment Paper- 30 Creative Ideas

These creative uses for parchment paper may give you some ideas you hadn’t thought of.

We all know that parchment paper is great for easy clean up after kitchen but it has so many more uses. 

I love anything that makes my life easier in the kitchen or around the home.  I’m always on the lookout for products that will help me do just that.  One item that I use all the time is parchment paper.

This wonderful paper is heat resistant, which makes it perfect to use in the oven and it is really nonstick. so it is wonderful for making cookies.  But the paper can be put to use in many other ways, as well.

The product is a staple in my pantry, and I use it all the time.  These creative uses for parchment paper will show you that the product is not just for making cookies!

Differences between parchment paper, foil wrap and wax paper.

• Parchment paper – also known as baking paper, is a grease proof paper that provides a heat resistant, non stick surface to bake on.  (and has so many other uses as you will soon discover!)
• Wax paper actually has wax on it so it cannot be used in the oven.  It can be used in other ways for those times you need a non-stick surface though.
• Foil Wrap is basically a form of very thin aluminum.  You can use it to line baking dishes for easy clean up but it is not non-stick.  It can be used in the oven to reheat breads and other foods.

The good news is that parchment paper has some of the great characteristics that wax paper and foil wrap do not have. It is heat resistant, AND non stick, so it is the paper that I use most often in the kitchen.

Frugal Tip:  Parchment paper can often be used more than one time.  Save the extra pieces and cut into smaller squares for some of the uses below.  It will make it go farther for you.

Parchment paper is typically coated with silicone, to give it a non-stick property. It is safe to use to at temperatures up to about 420-450 degrees Fahrenheit (the exact temperature depends on the brand you use) and it is best used in a regular or convection oven, rather than under a broiler.

(At higher temperatures, the paper will can brittle and will start to turn brown.)

These 30+ creative uses for parchment paper show that the product is not just for baking cookies!

Lining a baking sheet

This one is a no brainer and is the most common one in a list of uses for parchment paper..  Just pull out a length of paper as long as your baking sheet and line it for non stick baking.

Your cookies will slide right off when you are done baking and you can even reuse the paper more than one time to save money.  It’s faster, too.

You can literally pick up an entire batch of cookies from the baking sheet and transfer them to a wire rack to cool without fumbling with spatulas.

Using parchment paper on your baking sheets also keeps them in new condition which saves money buying new pans.

This is the most common use of the product, but there are so many more uses for parchment paper as you will see below.

Lining baking pans for bars and brownies.

I make bars and brownies all the time for my family and use non stick pans, but even if I spray with extra oil, the brownies and bars don’t always come out cleanly.

To remedy this, I line my baking pans with parchment paper and overlap the edges to make it easy to get the brownies out when they are done.

You can even slice the brownies right on the parchment paper after cooling to make clean up on the cutting board easier!

Parchment wrapped dinners.

The next idea in my list of uses for parchment paper is one that is perfect for those who like to make the presentation of a meal a bit special. It is a very easy and tasty way to make dinner.

Just place some veggies on the paper first and top with fish or chicken.  Drizzle with some fresh herbs and a bit of olive oil and wrap tightly and then bake in the oven.

There will be no pans to wash up and the meal is tasty, very healthy and a lovely way to display the meal.  A really good example of this technique is one that I used recently for salmon in parchment paper.

The site has a step by step tutorial for the recipe and you can print it out, too!

Lining Cake Pans

Parchment paper is typically the size of a baking sheet, since that is how so many people use it, but you can easily use it in other baking pans.

A trick for lining cake pans is to place the pan on the paper and draw a circle with a sharpie pen.  Then just cut the paper to size and line the pan and add your batter.

It makes perfect layer cakes that are easy to remove from the pan every time!

Make your own slice and bake cookies

Parchment paper will also take the cold of a freezer as well as the heat of an oven.

When I make home made cookie dough, I make enough for several batches of cookies.  Then I just roll the dough into logs and wrap it in parchment paper, twist the ends, and freeze it.

When it is time to use is, I can just take it out and do slice and bake cookies!  Why buy store bought cookie dough when you can make your own so easily?  

Muffin Cup liners

Don’t have any paper muffin cups handy?  No problem.

Just cut the parchment paper into 5 inch squares. Grease the insides of the muffin tin, add the squares and push them down into the muffin areas with a small glass. These DIY liners give the muffin a nice presentation when done, too!

Use the paper as a baking rack

I have two baking racks, but sometimes this is just not enough when I am making a lot of cookies.  Just line the counter top with a long roll of parchment paper and place the cookies on it to cool.

This isn’t wasteful, either. When you are done, you can roll it up and it will be ready to use the next time you need parchment paper for cooking.

Making snack cones

Do you remember going to a food truck and getting french fries in a cone shaped paper? That was such a fun thing for us to do as kids.  You can do this at home, too.

Any type of potato will do – oven baked fries, normal french fries in a deep fryer, or even healthy sweet potato fries or carrot fries will work.  This is a fun idea for a BBQ meal and quite informal.

You can also fill it with any snack you would like for movie night – popcorn, pretzels, snack mix, etc. The kids will love this!  Just fold a triangle of parchment paper into a cone shape and fold in the top edge and fill with your favorite snack.

Wrapping baked goods

Parchment paper makes the perfect wrapping for any baked goods.  Wrap it and secure the goodies with tape and finish with twine or ribbon for a rustic and chic effect.

This idea is perfect for sending in a gift for your child’s teacher.  Teacher’s like brownies, bars and slices as much as the next person, and I can guarantee you that they have a cupboard full of mugs and don’t need any more!

Using it to catch drips

Nothing is worse than putting a pie in the oven and having it overflow onto the oven floor.  Instead…line a pizza pan or baking sheet with parchment paper and add your pie.

Now, it doesn’t matter if the pan overflows and clean up is easier than just putting the pan underneath without the paper.

Making roast veggies

Parchment paper in the oven is not just for baked goods.  One of my favorite ways to use it is to line a sided baking pan with it and add vegetables to the pan.  Cut up some fresh herbs and sprinkled over and add a drizzle of olive oil and stir to combine.

Bake at 400º F for 30-45 minute or so (depends on the veggie). Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and will please the most picky eater.

Using Parchment Paper for Separating frozen foods

Cut squares of parchment paper and use it between pieces of chicken, pork, or hamburgers before you freeze. It will make it much easier to separate them later.

Separating baked goods for storage

I just cut pieces of parchment paper the size of my storage container and layer my baked goods between the layers so they don’t stick together.

For food photography

This tip for using parchment paper is one that will appeal to all the food bloggers out there.  I often take photos of my baked goods piled one on top of each other.

Small pieces of parchment paper allows me to do this without the food sticking together, lets them sit more evenly and makes for an artistic photo.

These healthy cookie dough bars  that I featured recently were perfect for this task.

Using parchment paper as a craft mat

Parchment paper makes a great craft mat. Use to line your work area when painting or decorating. No more glitter all over your table and floor!

Protect your iron surface

If you sew your own clothes, you will perhaps use fusible interfacing or tape.

This can make a mess of your iron. Just place a piece of parchment paper over it and your iron will stay clean after the job.

Use Parchment Paper to Keep your kitchen scale clean

I have a small bowl that I use on my kitchen scale, but it is a pain to have to clean it every time I weigh something wet or greasy.

And putting greasy items on a scale with no bowl is just plain icky!  Just lay a piece of parchment paper over the top and place your ingredients.  No more messy scale or bowl!

Get Grill marks without the cleanup

You can use parchment paper to get grill marks, either on a grill pan or a,panini press.  Just line your pan before you add the sandwich. You will still get the grill marks but there will be no messy clean up.

Using Parchment Paper for Mess free chocolate strawberries

This is one of my favorite uses for parchment paper. Place a piece of parchment paper on the counter. Dip the strawberries in chocolate and place on the paper.  The strawberries won’t stick and clean up is a breeze.

Be sure to also check out my tips for perfectly drizzled chocolate.

Cooking pizza

This is a twofer tip!  You can make the pizza on parchment paper and transfer it paper and all to a pizza stone[.

Also, when you reheat pizza in the microwave, it softens the crispy bottom. Help to keep it crispy by reheating on parchment paper.

Using Parchment paper for Quick release fudge

I line my fudge dish with parchment paper, overlapping the edges to make the fudge easy to take out later. You can also cut the fudge right on the paper, which leaves your cutting boards mess-free.

Be sure to check out my tips for making perfect fudge every time here.

Making Sushi rolls

Parchment paper makes a great wrapper to hold your sushi ingredients tightly while you wait for the rice and fillings to set.

No expensive sushi roller and clean up is easy!

Parchment Paper Lining under Cheese filled foods

Anyone who has ever stuffed ANYTHING with cheese knows what a mess it will make while cooking.  Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easy clean up.

Keep a souffle in place

Use a strip of parchment paper to line your souffle pan.

The paper acts as a collar and will hold the souffle in place as it rises up during cooking.  Just remove the collar when you are ready to serve.

Use Parchment Paper To Pipe Chocolate

Don’t have icing bags?  Just cut parchment paper into triangles and roll into cones to use to pipe chocolate on baked treats.

You can also use the same technique with a larger hole to frost the entire cupcake in one squeeze.  This YouTube video show how to do this.

Making Chocolate Garnishes

One of the best uses for parchment paper for decorating fancy cakes is this tip. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Use the parchment icing tube from the previous tip, and pipe chocolate decorations on the parchment paper.  Place in the fridge to cool and then peel off and use to decorate cakes and cupcakes. Very elegant. This YouTube video shows the technique.

Rolling pie dough

This is another of my favorite ways for using parchment paper and I do this all the time. Transferring a pie crust to a pie plate without damaging it can be a challenge.

To help with this, place a sheet of parchment paper under your pie dough, and plastic wrap on top when rolling it out.  Then remove the plastic wrap, pick up the parchment paper to transfer the dough to the pan. 

This also keeps your counters tidy and it rolls very easily.

Making stromboli and braided breads

Lay your parchment paper on the counter and assemble your stromboli on the paper.  Lift the whole thing and place it on a baking pan to bake. This also works for any braided pastry too.

Crispy grilled cheese

Wrap your grilled cheese sandwich in parchment paper and place it in a toaster oven (or regular oven.)  The bread will get extra crispy, the cheese melts more evenly, and there is no clean up needed!

Using Parchment Paper for Kid’s place mats

Children and cloth place mats are a match made in laundry heaven.  For make shift place mats, cut a piece of parchment paper to size and use it in place of a cloth place mat. No laundry and it can be reused.

Reader suggested uses for parchment paper

This post is quite popular and I often get comments from readers that suggest ideas for using parchment paper that I hadn’t considered. Here are some creative ideas for using this kitchen tool.

If you have a suggestion for using parchment paper that I haven’t listed here, just comment below and I will include it with a shout out to you!

1. Cheryl suggest using parchment paper when she sews. She copies the pattern off on parchment paper because she finds it so much sturdier than thin paper patterns. Cheryl also says it is easier to store after use.
2. One of the readers of my blog, Carol N, suggests using a piece of parchment paper on top of a casserole with melted cheese before she adds foil to keep it hot while transporting the casserole to a pot luck dinner.  The parchment paper keeps the hot cheese from sticking to to foil. Easy solution to a sticky problem!! Thanks for the tip Carol!

Who would have thought that there were so many uses for parchment paper when most people think of it as a way to just bake cookies?  I don’t know how I ever worked in the kitchen without it!

Now it’s your turn. How do you use parchment paper in a creative way?

Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in July of 2016. I have updated the post to add new tips and photos, a video and a printable card.

Would you like a remind of this post for using parchment paper? Just pin this image to one of your household tips boards on Pinterest.

Creative Uses for Parchment Paper

Print

Parchment paper is often used for baking cookies that won't stick but it has dozens of other uses in the kitchen and around the home. Check out these ideas and print the card to attach to the inside of your cupboard or a reminder of it.

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty easy

Materials

• Parchment Paper

Instructions

!USING PARCHMENT PAPER IN THE OVEN

1. Lining baking sheets for cookies, brownies and bars
2. Cut it to line cake pans for easy release
3. Catching drips under food
4. Baking fish in parchment paper packets
5. Making crispy grilled cheese
6. Roasting Vegetables
7. :Lining souffle pans
8. Under cheesy foods
9. Make breads and strombolis
10. Making pizzas

!IN THE KITCHEN

1. Get grill marks without a mess in your panini press
2. Make your own cupcake liners
3. Drizzle chocolate strawberries
4. Keep counters clean when baking
5. Protect your kitchen scale
6. Making snack cones and icing cones
7. Rolling out pie dough and transferring it
8. Lining fudge pans
9. Making sushi rolls
10. Making chocolate garnishes

!AROUND THE HOME

1. Use it as a craft mat
2. Wrap baked goods for gifts
3. Protect your iron
4. Use it for kid's placemats
5. Food Photography
6. Between frozen hamburgers
7. Separating baked goods in storage containers
8. Wrap your slice and bake rolls for the freezer
9. Top cheesy casseroles under foil for transporting
10. Trace patterns to make them more sturdy

Notes

Parchment paper is heat proof and freezer proof giving it many uses. It has a non stick finish that works great with any food and recipe project.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Non Stick Parchment Paper With Sturdy Box And Sharp Cutter.
• 
  Kirkland Signature Non Stick Parchment Paper, 205 sqft
• 
  ZeZaZu Parchment Paper Sheets for baking, Precut 12x16 inches - Exact Fit for Half-sheet Baking Pans, Unbleached, Non-stick, RECLOSABLE PACK

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