Wax paper is a useful tool to have in the kitchen. This non-stick and water-resistant tool has many purposes when you are cooking. With so many different uses, it is very easy to run out of wax paper. What are you supposed to do when you run out of wax paper but need more?
You can run out of wax paper very quickly. Luckily, there are many substitutes that you can use when you run out and cannot buy more. Some of these substitutes like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and parchment paper are most likely already stored somewhere in your home. There are also many other types of paper, like butter paper and freezer paper, that you can use.
Continue reading to learn more about wax paper. Also, continue reading to learn about ten alternatives that you can use as substitutes for wax paper when you run out and are unable to buy more.
Wax Paper Overview
Wax paper is a great tool to have in the kitchen. The non-stick and water-resistant properties of wax paper allow for there to be many uses that wax paper can serve.
The most common use of wax paper is to line baking trays. The wax paper makes it so that whatever you are baking does not stick to the tray. This allows for your food to be more easily taken off the tray once you have finished cooking and makes cleaning the baking tray much easier since no food should be stuck to it.
Some other uses for wax paper include:
- Preventing water from seeping into your food
- Retaining the moisture and aroma of your food
- Lining baking trays, so food doesn’t stick
- Used to wrap food that you plan on storing in the freezer
Is Wax Paper Necessary?
While wax paper is a useful tool that you can use when cooking or storing food, it is not necessary to use wax paper to do these tasks. Wax paper can make it easy to accomplish these tasks when cooking in the kitchen, but you do not need to use wax paper.
There are many options that you can use to line baking trays or use non-stick sprays to make sure that your food doesn’t stick to the baking tray. You can also not use any non-stick tool and just cook your food on the tray. If you properly clean the baking tray after cooking with it without any non-stick tools, it can be difficult, but you can still get the tray clean.
There are also other things you can use to store food in the freezer or make sure your food does not lose moisture or its aroma. It is still best to use wax paper, but you can use alternatives for wax paper if you have none on hand.
What Can We Use Instead of Wax Paper?
When you run out of wax paper and are unable to buy more, you may wonder what you can do to make sure you have a way to keep your baking trays from having cooked food stuck to them or to keep your food stored well. Luckily, there are many alternatives you can use as a substitute for wax paper.
Below you will find ten alternatives for wax paper that you can use as substitutes when you no longer have any wax paper.
Parchment Paper
Parchment paper is one of the most common substitutes for wax paper. It is often the case that parchment paper is used to replace wax paper and vice versa.
Parchment paper is a great alternative for wax paper because they are both made to be water-resistant as well as non-stick. Both are also grease-resistant. Parchment paper can often be used to line baking trays in order to ensure that cooked food does not stick to the tray. This is also one of the primary purposes of wax paper.
Parchment paper can also be used to wrap foods that you plan on storing in the freezer, much like wax paper. If you plan on storing your food in a container before placing it in the freezer, you can use parchment paper to line the container, so the food does not stick to the container.
Aluminum Foil
It is highly likely that you already have some aluminum foil that you keep in the kitchen. Aluminum foil is often used to wrap foods that you plan on storing in the refrigerator or used to help cook some food in your oven, like baked potatoes.
Aluminum foil can also be used as a great substitute for wax paper. While aluminum foil helps to retain the moisture of your food as well as retain the aroma of the food and help prevent unwanted messes, aluminum foil is not non-stick. Luckily, the aluminum foil will help to keep the baking trays from having food stuck on them, and the aluminum foil can be discarded.
Aluminum foil tends to be the best choice when it comes to baking foods in the oven, but you should never put it in the microwave. Many choose to use aluminum foil for this purpose more than wax paper, which makes aluminum foil a great alternative to wax paper.
Paper Bag
A common use for wax paper is wrapping foods that you want to store in the refrigerator or the freezer. A great alternative for wax paper that does well to protect foods you store in the refrigerator or freezer is the paper bag.
You should never use a paper bag when cooking food. The temperature of the oven will cause the paper bag to burn. Only use a paper bag to store food when using it as an alternative for wax paper.
Silicone Rubber Molds
When baking, you may want to consider silicone rubber molds as a substitute for wax paper. Not only are silicone rubber molds flexible and durable, but they can also withstand the high temperatures of the oven. This substitute can be used many times.
Freezer Paper
Freezer paper is designed to protect the foods that you plan on storing in the freezer. This is also one of the common uses for wax paper, so freezer paper can be an excellent substitute for wax paper for this purpose.
The plastic coating of the freezer paper allows for the paper to last for a long time. This can make it a great option for storing your food in the freezer. Freezer paper allows for your food to stay in the freezer for a longer period of time compared to the length of time your food can stay in the freezer when stored using wax paper.
Butter Paper
You may have never heard of butter paper, but you may have heard it be called “sandwich paper”. The name comes from the ability of the paper to wrap sandwiches, which is one of the most common uses for this paper.
You do not want to use butter paper to line baking trays. The paper is not non-stick. Butter paper does work great for keeping your food moist.
Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap is also a great alternative for wax paper. You most likely already have some plastic wrap in your home. This substitute works great to help you store your food.
Plastic wrap tends to not be as sturdy as wax paper, so it is best to only use plastic wrap if you plan on storing your food for a short period of time. If you plan on storing your food for a longer period of time, you want to look into using freezer paper or freezer bags.
Beeswax Wraps
Beeswax wraps have recently started growing in popularity due to the growing trend of reducing waste. Beeswax wraps are not like other alternatives in that they are made using materials that can either be recycled or can naturally decay.
These wraps can also be used many times before you will need to dispose of them. It is best to use beeswax wraps to cover food that has been recently cooked, but you want to let the food cool down before you completely cover it using the beeswax wraps. You never want to use the wraps to cover raw food.
Silpat Paper
This is one of the pricier substitutes for wax paper. This reusable substitute is often referred to as a “baking mat” and is quite durable.
Silpat paper can be used for all of the purposes for which you would use wax paper. It is versatile and flexible, so it can be a great tool for covering food for storage. It is also resistant to high temperatures, so it is great for lining baking pans.
Oil, Butter, or Flour
When you do not want to go out and buy substitutes for wax paper that you will eventually end up disposing of, you can consider using baking items like oil, butter, and flour as a substitute.
If you tend to bake a lot, you most likely have these ingredients in abundance in your home. By coating surfaces like baking pans with oil or butter, you can give the baking pans more of a non-stick quality that will help with your cooking. It can also incorporate more flavor into the food.
Conclusion
Wax paper is a great tool for cooking and food storage. While it is not necessary, it can be a great help in the kitchen. When you run out, there are many options that you can choose from that serve many of the same purposes as wax paper. Aluminum foil, parchment paper, and silpat paper tend to be three of the best options for substitutes for wax paper.
