Once you go baking mat, you never go back. These kitchen must-haves will make you wonder how you went so long without them. (Amazon)(Amazon)
As Yahoo's resident professional baker turned kitchen product tester, I have a lot of opinions about cooking tools. With that disclaimer out of the way, I'd like to take this opportunity to shout from the rooftops: Parchment paper doesn't belong on sheet trays! There's a better way to keep food from sticking, and it's called the Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mat. This No. 1 bestseller — which comes in a 2-pack for just $13, by the way — is no secret to home cooks and bakers. Tens of thousands of Amazon shoppers have given it a perfect rating, thanks to its slick material, versatility and the fact that it can be used over and over again. Here's why it belongs in your kitchen.
Roll 'em up, store 'em flat — either way, just be sure to keep 'em within easy reach.
Want cookie trays that'll last for ages? This No. 1 bestselling set from Nordic Ware is super durable, with reinforced rims that'll help prevent warping over time. The pans are made of pure aluminum, which is an excellent heat conductor, promotes even baking and won't rust.
First of all, let me say that parchment does have a place in my kitchen — just not on my sheet trays. I still use it for lining brownie tins and loaf pans, as it gets into those corners nicely and allows me to leave some overhang that can be used to lift my baked goods once they've cooled. But for things like making cookies or roasting vegetables? A reusable liner like the Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mat is where it's at.
These sheets measure 16.5" x 11.6", meaning they'll fit into a standard half sheet tray. Because they're made of nonstick silicone, there's no need for cooking spray, oil or any other greasing agent — your food will easily release on its own. Before I started using these liners, I wondered if my baked goods would manage to brown nicely on the bottoms; after all, these mats are thicker than parchment, so there's more space between the food and the pan. Lo and behold, I've always achieved nice browning with these, and it's actually more consistent than when I was using parchment. I was so impressed, I bought a set for my dad, an avid home cook who now won't roast anything without them.
They're oven-safe up to 480°F, and to clean, a wipe-down with soap and water will do. The one qualm I have is that they're so flexible, it's sometimes hard to wash them without placing something flat, like a tray, under them. That said, all of their other conveniences (i.e. not having to cut parchment to the right size) make them worth it. And they're not just for the oven — I've used them for rolling out pie and pastry dough so it doesn't stick to the counter. Works like a charm!
Over 92,000 Amazon customers use these mats for everything from sweet and savory cooking to arts and crafts.
"I placed this silicone mat on a cookie sheet, seasoned chicken wings and placed them on the mat," explained one satisfied shopper. "I did not pre-grease ... Popped those suckers in the oven and baked ... Turning the wings was effortless. They slid across the mat like bars of soap ... When the food was done, I didn't have to scrape chicken off the cookie sheet. ... My grandma is an avid baker who reuses parchment paper until it can no longer hold cookies, rolls, biscuits, etc. She was hesitant at first when trying out this sheet on her cookie trays. After the first batch of cookies came out, she said they are just the bee's knees. The mat distributed heat and evenly browned the bottom of the cookies. Nothing stuck"
"I use them as a nonstick surface to shape my bread dough into loaves," shared another. "It takes a minimal amount, if any at all, of flour sprinkled on the mat; the dough gets shaped, then into the bread pan it goes. The mats also stay put and don't slip around the countertop, which is really nice, as I give the dough a good workout, and chasing a mat around the counter isn't much fun."
"Easy to clean and heat-resistant — just makes these so useful," wrote a third. "I do crafts on them, set hot pans, use them as cutting boards, placemats ... I use them everywhere. Seems I can't have enough of these."
"What I have noticed ... is that it is a bit hard to clean some stains when I have used the mat over and over again without cleaning in between (when hard batter starts to form...)," said a generally pleased user. "But that is expected, so I am not complaining!"
"Storage isn’t easy because it’s just awkward and keeps unrolling, plus they have a good grip so they stick to everything else in the storage area," shared a final fan. "Not a deal-breaker, I still love them." (Psst: A rubberband will solve the unraveling issue!)
Need some new sheet trays? These are the best, in my humble opinion:
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
