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Freezer paper is an incredibly handy product to have in your kitchen. It is one of the best ways to ensure your frozen goods stay incredibly moist and unchanged inside of the freezer.
But if we are being completely honest, we love multi-use products. They save so much space and make your shopping list short! But, is freezer paper one of these? Can it be used in other ways than inside of the freezer?
Even more specifically, can freezer paper be used inside of the oven? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Freezer paper contains a layer of plastic on one of its sides. This is what helps trap the moisture of the item in the freezer. However, this plastic will melt in any hot appliance.
So, today we will explore exactly what freezer paper is and how it compares to other well-known kitchen papers.
We will also naturally look at why you cannot use it inside an oven and whether there are any other alternatives available in a pinch!
What Is Freezer Paper?
Trust us, you have probably used freezer paper before without even realizing it. That is why so many people don’t even know what it is or how it should be used.
Freezer paper often disappears under the spotlight of parchment paper and wax paper.
Freezer paper is unique in that it is made with heavy-duty paper and a layer of plastic on one side of the sheet.
This plastic coating is what helps seal in the moisture when you store food or ingredients inside the fridge or freezer.
To use freezer paper properly, you have to use the plain paper side on the outside of the food. The waxy coating (smooth and shiny side) should directly make contact with the item you are freezing.
The paper side is very handy because you can directly label your food on it. No need to struggle with stickers that come off after a day!
Furthermore, the paper is very thick and durable. This makes it a better wrapper option than aluminum foil (even heavy-duty ones) because they tear extremely easily, especially on sharp corners.
Benefits Of Using Freezer Paper
While freezer paper may not have an unlimited amount of uses, it works extremely well when sued for its intended purpose.
As we have mentioned above, freezer paper is a great option that will protect your food. Because of its thickness, it won’t tear open easily when stored inside the freezer.
This means that it will help protect the contents from foreign smells and objects. It also allows it to better perform some of its other functions.
Freezer paper is also one of the best options that will help retain moisture in your food. If you have ever defrosted a previously moist item (like cake for example) you know that it came out dry and bland once defrosted.
And, not only does it help seal in moisture, but it also helps prevent frost. Frost forms on top of the surface of items.
It differs from freezer burn which starts when ice crystals form inside of your item. But, while it won’t completely prevent freezer burn, it will help slow it down!
Freezer Paper Vs Wax Paper Vs Parchment Paper
As you already know, freezer paper is a very thick paper with a plastic coating on one of its sides.
This differs from wax paper, which has plastic coatings on both sides. The paper coating on freezer paper is specifically intended for labeling. You cannot label on wax paper.
Wax paper is also meant for storage (and sealing in moisture), but specifically for fridge-stored items instead.
Parchment paper (or baking paper) on the other hand doesn’t have any plastic coatings. Also, it is very thin as compared to wax and freezer paper.
So, for this reason, baking paper is specifically intended to be used inside of an oven, and not for storage.
Can Freezer Paper Go In The Oven?
To keep it short and simple, freezer paper cannot be used inside the oven. This is because of the plastic coating that it has on one side. And as a side note, wax paper should also not be used inside of the oven.
The plastic coating isn’t suitable for oven use and will melt in the intense heat. Even at a low heat like 122ºF, it will start melting.
Furthermore, when plastic melts, it releases extremely dangerous chemicals which cannot be ingested by us.
And, if you are still not convinced enough, freezer paper won’t work as a non-stick paper when it has melted stuck onto your food!
So, bottom line, you cannot and should never use freezer paper inside of the oven, air-fryer, and toaster oven.
What Can You Use Instead Of Freezer Paper In The Oven?
If you need a non-stick surface to go inside of the oven, there are loads of options. The easiest is probably non-stick parchment and baking paper.
This product has specifically been designed to be able to handle extremely high temperatures.
Other alternatives would be a silicone mat or sheet (such as this one). This sheet has an infinite amount of uses and is naturally non-stick.
It is on the more costly side when you initially purchase it, however, a couple of rolls of non-stick baking paper easily covers the cost (long-term).
And, if you don’t have any of those options available, you can simply use non-stick cooking or baking spray. Or, an even simpler alternative, melted butter or cooking oil.
Freezer Paper Alternatives For The Freezer
If you want to store something inside of the freezer but cannot seem to find any freezer paper, fear not, as there are other options available.
We will be honest, none of them works as well in as many ways as freezer paper will. But in a pinch, they will do!
The best alternative would be aluminum foil. Try to store the item tightly inside of the foil and then inside of a container. The container will help prevent the foil from easily tearing.
One added benefit the foil has is that it works very well to protect the item from frost and freezer burn. The biggest downside is that you cannot directly label on it.
Then, you can also use any type of plastic wrap. Make sure to invest in a good-quality option. When you buy cheap, the plastic sheets don’t stick to each other to create a nice airtight seal. This means your item won’t be protected at all.
But arguably the best option that is a lot less wasteful, is to simply use an airtight container. Make sure that it can be placed inside the freezer. Some materials, like thin glass, are far too fragile.
Related Questions
Now that we’ve gone over why freezer paper can’t go in the oven, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!
Can you use baking paper instead of freezer paper?
Baking paper won’t seal in the moisture that freezer paper, foil, and plastic wrap do.
So, you would essentially just be wasting your food!
Are freezer paper and butcher paper the same thing?
These two are not the same thing. Butcher paper is made from a much more breathable material and doesn’t have a plastic or wax coating on it.
Its intended use is short-term cold-meat storage, not long-term freezing. So, please don’t use these interchangeably. Your food will be ruined!
Can you use freezer paper inside of the microwave?
Unfortunately, you also cannot use freezer paper inside of a microwave.
These appliances also use very high temperatures that will melt the freezer paper instantly.
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