Parchment Paper Temperature! (Must Know Things)
Last updated on October 26th, 2022 at 05:19 pm
It is a common trend nowadays in the baking world to use parchment paper for baking, and the reason is not far-fetched. It prevents baking pan mess, which means less cleaning time.
However, what is the temperature limit for parchment paper for those who’d relish baking at higher temperatures?
Is there a temperature limit where this highly reliable resource will burn? Read on to find out.
Parchment paper can tolerate high temperatures and not burn because manufacturers coat it with silicon during production. However, most manufacturers recommend a range of 420 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes it heat-resistant, waterproof, and non-sticky.
What Is the Parchment Paper Temperature Limit?
Most manufacturers set the temperature limit of parchment paper at 420 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, you can use parchment paper for baking pizza and bread at 500 degrees Fahrenheit without catching flames.
At this temperature, it is highly resilient and does not burn or darken. Nor will it release harmful chemicals when you use it above 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It handles this temperature well.
Therefore, it is suitable for baking because you can subject it to high temperatures, and it will withstand such temperature extremes.
However, it’s important to point out that because it’s paper, it’ll still end up burning with multiple usages. Most of the time, after the third use.
But, it does not burst into flames as you may be thinking. It simply breaks up into plenty of small black pieces.
Consequently, you need to know when to use it and when not to, and the temperature level. That will take your cooking experience to a whole new level.
Taking basic precautionary measures like not overusing the parchment paper can also keep you from experiencing any issues.
That is especially true for cooking or baking at 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Furthermore, note that your parchment paper will burn if you expose it to open flames.
That will ignite the paper and parchment papers when you expose them to fire. They will even burn faster than other paper types.
For this reason, if you’re using parchment paper for functions outside of baking, ensure that you keep it away from open flames.
Additionally, keep them away from environments where they can come into contact with fire.
Don’t forget to take the necessary precautions to safeguard yourself and have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Additional Precautions for Using Parchment Paper
Similar to open flames, if your parchment paper comes into contact with the heating source of your oven, it can also catch fire.
Even though the general public does not fully agree with this notion, generally speaking, you should not use your parchment paper in a toaster oven as it is a confined and small space.
Allowing the parchment paper to come into contact with the lamp or sides of the toaster oven can cause the paper to catch fire.
That also applies to using your parchment paper in a broiler machine. It would be best if you didn’t use your broiler machine with parchment paper inside.
That is because when you enclose the parchment paper within the broiler machine enclosure, it’s 100 percent certain that your parchment paper will catch fire.
Additionally, it would be best if you made your parchment paper a suitable size for the baking sheet you’ll use.
Too much parchment paper means excess paper rolling upward from your tray or sticking out the edge of your pan.
That increases the chances of your parchment sheet contacting the oven’s racks, walls, and heating source.
That will increase the danger of your parchment paper catching fire. Parchment paper from different manufacturers comes pre-cut and as a perfect-fit paper.
If you buy this type, you are certain that your parchment paper won’t go beyond the edge and catch fire.
You must check the packaging of your parchment paper to see the burning temperature point the manufacturers suggest.
Can I Bake with Parchment Paper at 500 Degrees?
Yes, you can bake with your parchment paper at 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even though most manufacturers recommend not going above 450 degrees Fahrenheit, you can still bake at 500 degrees Fahrenheit without issues.
You can even bake pizza or bread at such high temperatures. A lot of users have experimented with parchment paper at 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
They report that the parchment paper doesn’t catch fire at that temperature or release harmful chemicals.
However, it can blacken and turn brittle with use at such a high temperature.
The parchment paper will not turn brittle if you’re baking pizza and other types of flatbread that get cooked within 20 minutes or even less.
The parchment paper can break into pieces for dishes that spend more than 30 minutes in the oven at a high temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, like No-Knead Bread.
It would be best if you always tried to remove the parchment paper before it disintegrates and breaks down completely, or else you’ll have a lot of cleaning up on your hands.
A user also reported baking all her pizzas at 550 degrees Fahrenheit with parchment paper.
She said it turns brown without actually burning, and the pizza comes out with the parchment paper when she removes it.
She also stated that she cooks about three pizzas with a sheet of parchment paper before it becomes brittle.
Another user said she always makes use of parchment paper. Her oven is preheated to 550 degrees Fahrenheit and more.
She also said that she cut the parchment paper into a circular shape that is the same size as the pan so that the corners do not burn.
She doesn’t leave the parchment paper in the oven for more than five minutes and pulls out the parchment paper from underneath the pizza using tongs.
She said it works well every time, especially if you don’t have a peel. Beneath is a table showing parchment paper temperatures and their result.
| Temperature(°F) | Feature |
|---|---|
| 420 – 450 | Stable |
| 450 – 550 | May breakdown |
| >550 | Will breakdown |
Can I Use Parchment Paper in the Oven?
You can certainly use parchment paper in the oven. Whether you want to bake cakes, bread, or cook pizzas, parchment paper is super effective.
You don’t need to worry about the parchment paper catching fire because it’s resistant to high temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, it is non-sticky and water-resistant and will prevent your foodstuffs from sticking to each other and the pan, making cleaning much easier.
Parchment papers are resistant to high temperatures because they have silicon coats that are highly stable to heat.
The manufacturers coat the parchment paper with silicon during the production process.
Is Parchment Paper Flammable at High Temperatures?
Parchment paper is not flammable at high temperatures. It tolerates heat quite well at temperatures between 420 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it cannot withstand the high temperature anymore, it crumbles into tiny pieces.
Most manufacturers quote this temperature value as the temperature limit for parchment paper.
However, some home users have reported using parchment paper in their ovens at temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit and even 550 degrees without it catching fire.
Conclusion
As you can see, parchment paper is a superb product. Through its non-sticky property, it keeps you from having messy pans, therefore reducing clean-up stress.
Its stability at high temperatures also keeps it from catching fire when baking at extremely high temperatures.
Therefore, by taking the precautions suggested above when using parchment paper, you’ll surely enjoy your next baking session.
