20 Different Ways to Use Parchment Paper

In case you were wondering why someone would need 20 different ways to use parchment paper, let me tell you a little story…

So I happened to show my parents one day that you could use parchment paper to line a baking sheet to cook bacon in the oven. The cooking bacon in the oven wasn’t the weird part for them. It was the parchment paper.

My dad kept saying, “I don’t understand how you can put paper in the oven and it doesn’t burn up.”

Then my mom chimed in with one of my favorite quotes now… “I just thought parchment paper was for old ladies baking cookies.”

This led me to the realization that maybe there are more people out there like my parents. More people that don’t understand that there are actually numerous different things you can use parchment paper for.

And for those of you like my dad that don’t understand how paper can go in the oven without burning up… it is treated with silicone, so it is a cheaper alternative to those silicone baking mats that I really want and still don’t have. But I digress…

20 Different Ways to Use Parchment Paper

So my dearest readers, I bring you, the wonders of parchment paper. A list of 20 different ways to use parchment paper.

Line a Pan / Baking Sheet / Cake Pan

One of the more common ways to use parchment paper is to line your cookware with it. It prevents sticking so it makes things really easy to take out when they are done cooking. Plus, it makes cleanup easier.

Also, when you line your pans and sheets, they last longer. You don’t have to worry about having baked on crud that you can never get off which leads to throwing away perfectly good cookware. That is a thing of the past now! Thank you parchment paper.

Catch Spills in The Oven

Ever make something like a chicken pot pie, you fill it up, but maybe a little bit too much? Then you stick it in the oven and it overflows a bit, creating a mess in the bottom of the oven. Now you have to clean it up, or every time you turn on that oven it will burn more and more making your house smell like burned food. No? Just me then?

Well, if I am not alone in this struggle bus, an easy way to save yourself from that horrible smell, or just from having to clean up that mess, is parchment paper!

Stick a piece of parchment paper on a flat pan of some sort. It can be a pizza pan or a large cookie sheet. Then stick that under whatever you are cooking that has the tendency to spill and make a mess. I usually put it on a lower rack so nothing messes with what I am actually cooking. It works out great. TADA! No more spills in the bottom of the oven.

Line A Counter

Just like lining your pans and oven for easy cleanup, this one does the same thing. Need to do something messy on your counter? Baking something usually requires it. That is why I tend not to bake from scratch too much. I don’t like the cleanup.

You can, however, make that a bit easier by laying down some parchment paper first. It will have all the crumbs and flour and whatever you are making a mess with all in one easily transferable package. When you are done, pick it up and throw it away.

Placemat

Along the same lines as lining your counter, you can make a small placemat for a young child… or a messy adult. I don’t judge.

Just cut a rectangle, or whatever shape you want, from the parchment paper and you have a super fast DIY placemat. And most times, you can reuse it when your messy eater is done.

DIY Piping Bag

If you have ever gone to decorate a cake, or cupcakes, or cookies and realize you don’t have any piping bags, I have good news for you! You can make your own out of parchment paper!

Its really easy, you make a cone out of a triangular piece of parchment paper.

Here is a quick video tutorial if you want to learn how to fold a parchment bag for piping: Learn How to Fold a Parchment Bag For Piping.

Pipe Chocolate

This one kind of goes with the last tip, but it is also kind of its own thing. It is a smaller version of the last tip, and you don’t need to use any cake decorating tips. You just snip off the end of the parchment paper cone and doodle things in chocolate. It is really fun and a super cute decoration for desserts.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Going along with chocolate… you can use parchment paper to help you make chocolate covered strawberries.

After you dip the strawberries, simply place them on top of a sheet of parchment paper. The silicone in the paper creates a nonstick surface. So, once they harden up, simply pop the strawberries off the paper and wrap them up however you like… or just eat them right off the paper.

Bags or Wrapping for Food Items

Ever want to give someone special a gift you just cooked or baked, but you didn’t have a cute container or way to wrap it? No worries, just use parchment paper.

Parchment paper can easily be turned into a bag for smaller baked goods like cookies. It can also wrap a sandwich, homemade bread, or whatever you want to give as a gift. It is easy, cute and rustic. Give it a try next time Christmas comes around and you have a loaf of something you need to pass around to some people.

En Papillote

En papillote literally means cooked and served in a paper wrapper. So it only makes sense that parchment paper would be the perfect item for the job.

This is usually meant for more delicate meats, like chicken or fish. You could even use it for cooking up some veggies. It does a great job steaming food.

You put your food items onto the parchment paper, plop in some butter, spices, whatever you want. Then you fold the edges until you get to the end. Give the end a bit of a twist to tighten it all up and you are good to go. Stick it on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven. You have now used parchment paper to cook something en papillote.

And you can serve it up inside the paper. It looks really nice that way.

Here is a quick video tutorial on how to cook en papillote.

DIY Paper Cups for Muffins & Cupcakes

For those times that you run out of cupcake liners, parchment paper is there to save the day. Cut a square of parchment paper, 5X5 inches should work, then simply push it into the cupcake tin. You can use anything that fits inside the tin like a small cup or even a measuring cup. Whatever fits.

This trick also works for baked goods. If you need to stack up some cookies in a container, grab a square of parchment paper the same size as the container and put it over each layer. It keeps things looking good as well as nice and tidy.

Slice and Bake Cookies

If you like to make things ahead of time, then this tip is for you. You can make cookie dough ahead of time and roll it into a log. Then place that log onto some parchment paper and roll it up. Twist the ends and place in the freezer. You now have a roll of cookie dough that is ready to be sliced and baked. How easy is that?

Separate Food for The Freezer

This is another quick and easy trick for parchment paper. Say you want to make some hamburgers ahead of time. Make your patties and stack them up. Don’t forget to stick a square of parchment paper in between each hamburger patty. This will keep them from sticking together. It makes it much easy to grab what you need and thaw those out.

I have even seen some people use a small can the same size as the muffin tin. They place the paper over the can and press it down. Crease the paper where it naturally falls and you are done. Place those into the cupcake tin and fill it up with your dough or batter.

Crispy Pizza in The Microwave

If you are anything like me, you don’t really like to reheat things in the microwave because they just come out mushy and gross. I know if I have to reheat things, I usually do it in the oven which just ends up taking a bunch of time and making more dishes.

Solution: parchment paper. Put your leftover pizza on a piece of parchment paper before you put it into the microwave and you will have a nice crisp in your pizza again. Hallelujah.

A bonus tip about reheating pizza in the microwave… I have read that if you put a glass with some water in it into the microwave with the pizza, it makes it just like the first time you ate it. I have not tested this and I don’t know how true it is. If you have tried it, let me know what happened. I would love to know.

Funnel

I don’t own a funnel. I don’t know why. Many times I have needed something to help me get an ingredient into a smaller container. I did discover though that parchment paper makes a great funnel for dry ingredients.

Simply put them onto the paper, roll it up and dump it wherever you need it. Easy, right? You can also use this trick for slowly putting flour into a mixer that is mixing something already. It really cuts down on the mess. For that matter, you can use parchment paper as a shield so flour doesn’t go flying all over the kitchen.

Cartouche

This is usually for more delicate types of cooking, something like poaching or simmering. I wouldn’t use this for anything boiling.

But what it is essentially, is a parchment paper lid. You cut a circle the size of your pot and put a small hole in the middle. Place this over whatever you are poaching or simmering and voila! Cartouche.

The reasoning for this is because sometimes when you make a sauce, there is a ‘skin’ that forms on top of it right? Well this stops that from happening. It also stops liquid from evaporating too quickly, so I wouldn’t use this method if you are trying to reduce a sauce.

Here is a quick video tutorial on how to make a cartouche.

Grater Cover

As I was perusing the internet, I stumbled upon a video of someone using parchment paper to cover their grater for ginger. As I watched it, I realized how genius this actually was.

All they did was place a rectangle of parchment paper the same size as the grater right on top of the grater. Then, on top of that, they just rubbed the ginger over the grater.

It didn’t tear the paper or anything, and then once they were done, they didn’t have to figure out how to get all the ginger out of the nooks and crannies of the grater. Just lift the paper off and there it is.

I don’t see why this hack wouldn’t work for things other than ginger. I know I am definitely going to give this one a try though!

And now for some uses that aren’t related to the kitchen:

Background For Photos

You can use parchment paper as a background for your food photography. It is actually a versatile and really perfect looking background.

Parchment paper adds an unexpected element to any food photo. It also gives a good clean look.

I tend to like the unbleached paper more for food photography, but either would work in my opinion.

Craft Mat

Much like the placemat idea earlier, you can use parchment paper for a craft mat.

The nonstick surface is really helpful when you are using regular or hot glue. Or if you need to paint something smaller. Any time I paint feathers, I use a piece of parchment paper underneath it.

It really makes cleanup a breeze.

Craft time with toddlers also isn’t as scary because you can use this paper under whatever they are working on to keep things clean. Its great.

Protect Surfaces While Ironing

Much like the placemat idea earlier, you can use parchment paper for a craft mat. The nonstick surface is really helpful when you are using regular or hot glue. Or if you need to paint something smaller.

Any time I paint feathers, I use a piece of parchment paper underneath it. It really makes cleanup a breeze.

Craft time with toddlers also isn’t as scary because you can use this paper under whatever they are working on to keep things clean. Its great.

Sewing Patterns

This can work for sewing patterns or for patterns for cosplay. I don’t sew much so I can’t tell you exactly how to make patterns, but I know there are tons of people that do it.

However, I do make lots of costume things from foam.

I have made a few patterns and every time I use parchment paper to help me make the patterns I need to transfer to foam.

And the best thing is, once you are done, you just fold it up and store it to use again later.

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Ok my darling readers, that was a very long list of 20 different ways to use parchment paper, and if you are still here I am very impressed.

I hope some of these ideas helped you in some way to realize the wonders of parchment paper.

Now go out there and do some amazing things with parchment paper, and don’t forget to let me know what they are!

Also, if I missed something on this list, let me know. I’m sure we would all love some new ideas for using parchment paper.

If you need some meal ideas, check out my post on 8 easy meals for lazy days. Maybe you can use some of these new parchment paper ideas? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time,