If you get confused when purchasing food wrapping papers such as freezer paper and butcher paper, then you are not alone. Many people get confused about whether they are the same or not. The short answer is that no, they are not the same. Both papers might look alike, but they differ greatly in all aspects.
In this blog, you will learn about the differences and uses of both papers. Moreover, we will also tell you which one you should buy based on your needs.
Major difference between freezer paper and butcher paper
Before we go into the details of these papers. Let us see the major difference between both the papers:
| Feature | Freezer paper | Butcher paper |
| Coating | Coated on one side with a polyethylene layer | Uncoated and slightly porous |
| Moisture resistance | Very high | Moderate |
| Air permeability | No, airtight seal | Very high, allows smoke to escape |
| Heat tolerance | Very low because of coating | Very high, can handle the smoking heat |
| Best used for | Long-term freezer storage | Smoking and barbeque |
What is freezer paper?
As the name suggests, freezer paper is a specialized paper made to bear the minus temperatures of freezers. It keeps the food product safe for a longer duration. This is because it blocks the air completely.
Materials that are used to make it
This paper is made from simple kraft paper. It is coated with polyethylene on one side. The other side remains uncoated. The coated side is shiny.
Different styles of freezer papers
You can use different styles of freezer paper according to your business’s needs. The following are the two major styles in which this paper is available:
Rolls
They are rolls of freezer paper that can be cut in custom sizes.
Sheets
Precut custom freezer paper sheets are also available in the market. It is preferred at commercial and deli shops.
How does it work?
This paper has one shiny side, which is coated. The product that has to be stored is wrapped facing the shiny side of the paper. The other side is not coated and offers a smooth surface on which you can write. This makes the process of storing the products easier by writing dates and quantities.
This prevents freezer burn, as it does not allow any contact of air with food. The food does not interact with air and remains fresh.
What is butcher paper?
This paper is made of wood pulp and is slightly porous. This is used for storing raw meats but for a short period of time. The main use of butcher paper is for covering the marinated meat for barbeque and smoking.
Materials used in making butcher paper
This is made using wood pulp with thick fibers. It resists tearing even when it is exposed to blood from raw meat, oil, or water. It does not have any coating, even on one side. This allows the air to escape freely to the outside.
Types of butcher paper
The following are some of the types of butcher paper that are used:
White butcher paper
This is the bleached butcher paper that offers a smooth surface. This is most commonly used for wrapping sandwiches, fish, and small meat cuts.
Brown butcher paper
This is unbleached. It has a brown color and is often used as a tray liner.
Pink butcher paper
This butcher paper is loved by pitmasters. This is very efficient for heating.
How does it work?
Many barbeque food shops use branded butcher paper, and it is their favorite product. This is because this paper has no coating and allows the steam to escape outside easily. This mechanism effectively retains the perfect amount of moisture for cooking.
Comparing the uses of both papers
Below we have compared different tasks and which paper is useful for which task. This will guide you in an easy way to choose the right paper:
| Task | Freezer paper | Butcher paper | Reason |
| Freezing meat for a longer duration | Best | Poor | Butcher paper can cause freezer burns because it is not airtight |
| Smoking a brisket | Dangerous | Best | Butcher paper lets the steam escape |
| Wrapping fresh meat | Good | Best | Butcher paper is ideal for short-term storage |
| Fabric designing | Best | Poor | You can make designed designs by ironing the freezer paper on the fabric |
Prices and availability in the market
These papers are easily available in various retail stores. You can find them in the storage section, where all types of papers are present. If you don’t find it yourself, you can simply ask the staff to help you find one.
However, if you like to order branded and custom-printed papers for your food business, there are different online dealers available. Wax Papers Hub offers customized papers with exclusive bulk orders and discounts and wholesale prices.
When talking about the price of both papers, freezer paper is generally more expensive as compared to the butcher paper. This is because of the coating that is done on this paper. However, when you place an order on our website, you can get more discounts on large orders. This is because as the number of units increases in order, the peer unit price is reduced. The main reason is production cost is evenly divided.
Which one should you choose?
It entirely depends on your business nature and needs, which one you should choose. Here is a recommendation of when to choose from both the papers.
You should choose freezer paper if
- You want to store meat in your freezer for longer durations
- You need an airtight seal
- You need to create different designs on different fabrics
You should buy butcher paper for the following needs
- Barbeque
- Smoking brisket or turkey
- Need a budget-friendly tray liner
- Wrap sandwiches
- Table cover for seafood boil
- Short-term storage of meat in your freezer
Conclusion
Now after understanding the differences between these papers, you can decide which one to buy. These papers look the same but have completely different uses. Freezer paper is made for proper storage in the freezer for very long durations, while butcher paper is mainly for smoking and barbeque. You should choose the correct one so that your food is not spoiled and remains fresh.