You'd be this happy too if your cookies turned out bakery-perfect every time. (Getty)(Getty)
Homemade cookies are never a bad idea. But spending a ton of time gathering ingredients, mixing the batter and forming the balls of dough, only to have your confections stick? Such a buzzkill. Thankfully, there's an easy fix for this: the Silpat Premium Nonstick Baking Mat. Jennifer Garner frequently uses one when baking in her Instagram videos and her cookies come out perfect — no sticking at all! — every time.
Parchment paper and aluminum foil, we hardly knew ye. "Parchment paper is fine for some things, but these are so much sturdier, as I can simply lift and transfer my baked goods onto a cooling rack," said this fan. "My first one has lasted for so many years, I actually can't remember when I bought it."
If you can bake it in a round pan, this handy little mat can make cleanup a cinch. There's a 9-inch version too.
"Like parchment baking sheets, but reusable," confirmed a fan. "Food comes off easily, it's easy to clean, and since it catches what falls off of what you're cooking, it helps keep the oven/toaster oven clean as well. I picked up this one to try out for pizzas and experiment with baking quesadillas, and it's been working as well as the other shapes and sizes I've been using for the last several years."
When it comes to baking mats, Silpat is pretty much the gold standard. These mats are made in France from food-grade silicone, instantly turning any cookie sheet into a blissfully nonstick cooking surface. Not only do the baking mats eliminate the need for parchment paper (less waste, yes please), but you also won't need to use any oil or cooking spray. Jennifer Garner isn't the only fan; pastry chefs also recommend investing in these baking essentials.
These pan toppers also encourage even heat distribution, so whatever you're baking is less likely to burn. (There's nothing more tragic than a rock-hard, charred cookie, right?) And though Garner uses them for sweet treats, they also work well for savory foods — think meats, veggies and anything else you'd toss on a baking sheet for dinner.
Home cooks and bakers also sing the Silpat's praises. Almost 8,000 Amazon shoppers have given this baking mat a five-star rating, raving about durability and ease of use.
"Where have these been all my life?" one shopper pondered. "I will NEVER make cookies again without using these silicone mats! Yes, they are THAT worth it! I bought two of them and two new cookie sheets to make some oatmeal raisin cookies for a Christmas gift and I have to say that these mats worked amazingly well! The cookies didn’t stick AT ALL! They came off the silicone mats super easily and they were all evenly baked very nicely!"
"Hands down the best!" added another shopper. "I've used knock-off brands for years and I bake a lot of cookies. Decided to buy Silpat and I knew the first batch that these were so much better. They grip the sheet pan much better (making them stay in place), they clean easier and don't discolor, my cookies bake much more evenly and they don't smell like the cheaper options. I'm glad I invested in Silpat and expect these to last much longer so really worth the extra cost."
While nearly all shoppers rave about this mat's performance, even serious bakers have some pause about the price. And others say clean-up could be easier.
"They're excellent heat-resistant, nonstick surfaces, but are frankly a bit annoying to clean," one customer explained. "It's par for the course; flexible silicone mats are just a bit hard to clean so I don't hold it against this particular product, but that's the reason I don't use it for everything."
Wait! Are you more of a cake person? Well, we have good news ...
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.