Parchment paper versus wax paper – it’s important to know the difference, so you don’t set your house on fire.
Parchment paper:
- Can use in the oven up to 450 degrees F; is heat- and grease-resistant.
- Is also nonstick and moisture-resistant.
- Can be used to make pastry bags, wrap foods for storage, etc.
- But, is primarily used for: lining baking sheets, cake pans, or bread loaf pans.
Wax paper:
- Literally has a thin coating of wax on each side.
- Is nonstick and moisture-resistant (like parchment).
- But, is not heat-resistant.
- Is less expensive than parchment paper.
- Is primarily used for: covering counter tops, wrapping food for storage, and layering in between food for storage, such as hamburger patties.
It may be tempting to substitute wax paper for parchment, since it’s cheaper, but we cannot do that if it will be going in the oven. It can catch on fire.
Also, wax can melt. Apparently it isn’t toxic to our foods, per say, but let’s just go ahead and assume we all want wax-free food. In addition, the wax can get into the baking pan and make it difficult to clean.
In conclusion: Only swap out wax paper for parchment for non-baking purposes.