July 6, 2007 - 5:39pm
Parchment Paper - Temperature Limit?
I bought a roll of Wilton parchment paper. The packaging says the temperature limit is 400 degrees.
Some of the recipes I want to use it with call for temps up to 500 degrees. Can the parchment paper still be used? What can the adverse consequences be?
Colin
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I do not make extensive use of parchment for hearth breads, but I do use it for pastry. I find that above 400 F rich doughs (croissants, etc) will scorch on the bottom. At 500 F any corners that peek out from beneath the loaf will almost certainly turn dark brown, but if the dough is lean this may not mean anything for the bread. When I use it for pastry, I often use 2 half sheet pans stacked to try to insulate a bit.
I don't know about Wilton's parchment paper, but I use Reynolds' at 500 degree. The paper turns brown in color around the bread and gets a little brittle but it still does its job.
I use the pre-cut paper from King Arthur at tempt up to 500+ Will get browned at the edges, no problems noticed.
(I will do a PSA and say, sadly, KA's pre-cut parchment although a great deal and seemingly convenient, comes rolled up like a Christmas paper roll in a tube!..very frustrating to unroll the whole thing, take a piece, re-roll etc. Don't have the room to store it flat between two half sheetpans. I provided feedback to KA, who is normally responsive, but only said they regret I am having trouble. It would be usefull if it came in it's own cardboard holder).
SD Baker
When I first received my rolled up Parchment from KA, I too wished it was flat. But, I decided to leave it in the roll tube and store the tube in my bottom drawer in the kitchen storage area. When I need a sheet, I stick my finger in the tube and pull the inner most sheet from the coiled up sheets. It works great and they stay clean and convenient. Works for me.
As for parchment working in high heat. Parchment solves so many other dough transportation issues I don't mind a little scorching outside of the dough footprint.
Eric
I just finished baking 3 baguettes on the parchment paper, on a baking stone, and they look good. The high temperature was 500F. The paper turned brown around the edges and turned brittle, but mostly stayed in one piece.
Colin
I use this all the time at 500 D. I slide it onto the hot stone and after 10 minutes pull the parchment out with no problems or scorching.
So, thank you all for your amazing answers to this question, however, as someone who loves to simplify things into a yes or no answer... I believe that the answer is YES it is totally ok to use 400 degree parchment paper in at least up to 500 degrees. I have only tested it as of now to the 450 mark, but the biscuits that I just made on the 400 degree only paper turned out great and I was using 450. :D The edges were a little burnt (of the paper) yes, but didn't have any flavor or negative effect on the baked good. :) And yes they were goooooood!!