No, you cannot use sandwich paper for baking. The main reason is the wax coating on the sandwich paper. This melts at high temperatures, which is not safe. Don’t worry, there are many other options that you can use for baking and cooking purposes. In this blog, you will learn about sandwich paper and its alternatives.
What is sandwich paper?
It is a specially designed lightweight paper. It is made for cold food storage and room-temperature packaging. It has a wax coating such as paraffin wax or vegetable oil. It is used to wrap sandwiches, burgers, and other foods. It is also used to line baskets and trays and keep bread safe from drying out. The following are some of the features of custom sandwich papers:
Easy assembly
This can be easily folded around any food item. It is very smooth to touch because of the wax layer.
Grease-resistant
This property of the sandwich paper makes it one of the best papers for wrapping tasty sandwiches and burgers. It prevents the sauces from leaking onto the hands of the customers.
Breathable
The sandwich paper is porous and allows the right amount of air to pass. It preserves the bread and food without letting it become soggy.
Tear-resistant
This is a highly flexible and tear-resistant paper. It does not get torn.
Food safety
This paper is made with FDA-approved materials.
Customized branding
The personalized branding helps your business gain more recognition.
Sandwich paper has all these features, but it lacks one feature, which is heat resistance. That is the reason it can’t be used for baking or cooking purposes.
Is sandwich paper oven-safe?
No, this is not safe for the oven. This is because the sandwich paper has a coating of wax, which melts at high temperatures. The temperature limit of sandwich paper is 185 ℉ to 250 ℉. When you heat this paper above this range, the wax will melt and destroy your food. The following negative reactions can also occur:
Coating melts away
The wax coating melts at higher temperatures. This can then reach your food and the trays. This will eventually spoil your recipe.
Excessive smoke production
When the wax melts, it will eventually fall on the tray. This will cause a very strong and bad smell of smoke in your kitchen.
Ignition risk
The wax melts and turns the sandwich paper into regular paper. When this gets in contact with a heating source in the oven, it immediately catches fire.
What paper can you use for baking?
This is the question that many people ask. They get confused about what other options are available to them. There are so many papers that are readily available in the market for baking and heat-based cooking. Some of the most used ones are
Parchment paper
This has a coating of silicone. The maximum temperature that custom parchment paper can endure is 450 ℉. This is the reason they are the best for baking.
Aluminum foil
This is a readily available item on the market. It is often used in cooking and baking. If you want to make highly sticky food, you should oil it to prevent sticking.
Silicone mats
These are reusable products that are best for people who have a bakery. They can be used many times.
Butcher paper
This one is not used for baking but for smoking and barbecuing. This is specially made for this purpose to make the right crispy briskets.
You can prevent any disaster or unusual events by using the right paper.
Is sandwich paper the same as parchment paper?
These two papers often confuse people. Many people believe that both of them are the same. But this is not true; they are completely different and serve different purposes. Here is a quick comparison of sandwich wrapping paper vs. parchment paper:
| Feature | Sandwich paper | Parchment paper |
| Coating | Wax coating | Silicone coating |
| Heat tolerance | Very low (only up to 250 ℉) | Very high (up to 450 ℉) |
| Surface style | Semi-permeable to heat | Non-stick |
| Best used for | Packaging different food items | Baking, roasting, and air-frying |
Best paper for wrapping and baking food
If you have a food business or run a home-based bakery. It is very important to know different types of paper for different needs. Here are some of the papers that are used for wrapping and heat-based cooking:
For cold storage and wrapping
- Sandwich paper
This can be used to wrap sandwiches and wraps. This is also used in some stores to store burger patties in the freezer.
- Kraft paper
Baked items and goods that have been cooled down to room temperature are wrapped in this paper.
- Burger paper
The custom burger paper is used by many brands to wrap their iconic burgers. This helps to increase awareness of their brands.
- Deli paper
Baskets are often lined with deli paper in which fast food is served.
- Cheese paper
As the name suggests, it is made especially to wrap and store cheese.
- Fry paper
This paper is used to wrap hot fried food and to line the baskets in which it will be served.
For hot cooking and baking
When you want to find papers that can be used for heating and cooking, the following are some of the options:
- Parchment paper
This is the paper that is made especially to bake different types of foods.
- Aluminum paper
This is not a paper, but it is a readily available heat-safe option.
- Butcher paper
This is designed especially to endure smoking and barbecue temperatures.
Conclusion
Now, if anyone asks you about using sandwich paper for heat-based cooking, you can simply tell them that it’s a no. But if you put sandwich paper in the oven by mistake, you should simply stop it and change the wrapping paper. It is not made for baking. There are many alternatives that you can use.
It is very important to choose the right paper. You can’t just use a single paper for all purposes. Considering the needs of the food industry, there are so many types of paper. If you want to know more about wrapping paper, you can read our blog: Which food paper is ideal for fast food wrapping?