Parchment Paper vs Butter Paper: A Detailed Review

The right materials and tools are essential for the growth of every bakery business. And two most important things used for baking and cooking are parchment paper and butter paper. People often get confused with parchment paper and butter paper. Likewise, there are so many other terms used for each of them interchangeably, like baking paper, wax paper, or greaseproof paper. 

You can lead a successful baking business if you have a clear understanding of all these different kinds of paper used in baking and cooking. This blog has accumulated a detailed review of parchment paper vs butter paper. Read on to understand the key differences and similarities!

What is Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper is one of the most essential things in baking because it helps you bake your goods to perfection. Not only does it prevent baked goods from burning, but it also ensures they are baked correctly. It is also known as baking paper as it is used for baking. Parchment paper is heat-resistant, making it ideal for baking even at high temperatures. 

Another trait of parchment paper is that it is food-safe because it is made from cellulose fibres and then coated with silicon. The coating of silicon on the parchment paper makes it non-stick. It means that when you use parchment paper for baking, items won’t stick to the pan. Cellulose-based paper used for parchment paper also makes it grease-proof.

What is Butter Paper?

Butter paper is used to wrap cooked food. It is not naturally grease-proof but coated with a wax, which makes it grease-proof. Oily, buttery, or greasy food items are generally wrapped in butter paper to ensure customers enjoy food without any mess. As far as parchment paper vs butter paper is concerned, butter paper is completely different from parchment paper.

As discussed earlier, parchment paper has exceptional heat resistance, which makes it ideal for use in baking at high temperatures in the oven. Butter paper has no resistance to heat. This is why it is advisable to avoid using butter paper for baking items in the oven at high temperatures. Butter paper is also known as greaseproof or wax paper. 

Uses of Parchment Paper

The application of parchment paper depends on its traits. Majorly, it's used for baking goods. Another amazing thing is that Parchment paper sheets are reusable if you keep them clean after baking. The following are a few uses of parchment paper that everybody should know when understanding parchment paper vs butter paper:

• Parchment paper is used for lining baking sheets and pans. 
• Heat-resistance of parchment paper helps you cool melted chocolate.
• You can use parchment paper to prevent food from sticking to surfaces. 
• Store or preserve the sticky dough by rolling it out onto the parchment paper. 
• Various sizes and shapes of parchment paper packets are created for cooking food. 

Uses of Butter Paper

Now the question triggering in your mind must be, so what is butter paper used for? The answer is that butter paper is also used for cooking and serving food. The following are a few applications of butter paper you must know when exploring parchment paper vs butter paper:

• Printed butter papers are used to wrap food for serving to the customers.
• The versatility of butter paper makes it ideal for using it into arts and crafts.
• Butter paper is specifically used for cooking en papillote to prevent moisture. 
• Grease-proof paper is used to roll out the sticky dough to make baking easier.
• Butter paper can be used to store frozen food so it comes out easily without sticking.
• Wax paper can be used for packing premium retail products for enhanced presentation.

Parchment vs Baking Paper

Most people get confused with parchment paper and baking paper. Parchment paper is the same as baking paper. They are two different names for one thing. Parchment paper is also known as baking paper because it is ideal for baking due to its heat-resistant and non-sticky properties.

Key Difference Between Parchment Paper and Butter Paper

Let’s break it down for you to understand parchment paper vs butter paper. The following are a few factors that help you understand the key differences between parchment paper and butter paper:

• Durability

Strength is an important factor, and the key difference in terms of strength between parchment paper and butter paper is that parchment paper is more durable. Baking paper can be reused multiple times to bake different products.

• Colour

Parchment paper comes in white or off-white, while butter paper has a light brown or translucent colour. Baking Paper can be bleached or unbleached. On the other hand, butter paper (also known as greaseproof paper) is generally a lighter shade and may have a translucent quality according to your preferences. 

• Cost

As parchment paper is more durable and heat resistant, it is quite expensive as compared to butter paper. What makes parchment paper costly is a special silicon coating and heat-resistant properties.

• Weight

Parchment paper is coated with silicon and also made from cellulose; this is why it is heavier than butter paper. The lightweight butter paper reduces your shipping costs when shipped in bulk.

• Thickness

As there is a thick coating of silicon on the parchment paper, this is why it is thicker than the butter paper. The higher the thickness, the more durable the baking paper is.

• Texture

The texture of parchment paper is smoother than that of butter paper. Wax paper can be printed in different designs and coatings for branding purposes. However, the only silicon coating on the parchment paper makes its texture clean and smooth.

• Branding

Butter paper is suitable for branding because it supports printing and customisation. If you get parchment paper printed with chemical inks, it may affect the quality of your baked items or may induce an ink smell to the food. This is why it is preferred to use parchment paper in its plain form.

Difference Between Wax Paper and Parchment Paper

Some people often get confused with wax paper and parchment paper when they want to understand parchment paper vs butter paper. Basically, wax paper is another name for butter paper. So, the difference between wax paper and parchment paper is that parchment paper is heat-resistant, and wax paper is not.

Are Grease-Proof Paper and Butter Paper the Same?

Another frequently asked question is what the difference is between butter paper and greaseproof paper. The answer is very simple; butter paper and greaseproof paper are the same thing. As butter paper has greaseproof properties, this is why it is often called greaseproof paper instead of butter paper. 

Is Greaseproof Paper the Same as Baking Paper?

Never confuse greaseproof paper with baking paper. Baking paper is another name for parchment paper. And greaseproof paper is butter paper. So the key differences between parchment paper and butter paper we have discussed before, are completely applicable to the difference between greaseproof and baking paper.

Conclusion

Parchment paper and butter paper are two important components of baking and cooking. Individuals and businesses must have a proper understanding of them to master the art of baking and cooking with the right tools. The key differences between parchment paper vs butter paper are that parchment paper is heat-resistant, oven-safe, and has non-stick properties. 

On the other hand, butter paper is not heat-resistant and has grease-proof properties, which make it ideal for wrapping food. Know that parchment paper is also known as baking paper because it is used for baking. On the other hand, butter paper is known as grease-proof paper because it protects the food from moisture and grease. 

Feel free to share your queries and questions about parchment paper and butter paper. We would answer all of your questions!