Silicone baking mat review, four innocuous words that when put together instantly make me think of freedom from buttery, greasy fingers. Buttery, greasy, icky fingers that are going to need some serious soap and hot water to get them grease-free.
Admit it; you’ve been there, too.
Thought progression then takes my mind to all the times I’ve roasted veggies and had to scrub the baked on grease and veggie drool from my sheet pans. Of course, there’s that teeny weeny bit (mostly in the corners) that survived my scrubbing efforts and seems to grow exponentially larger each time that pan visits the oven.
If you use your oven for more than extra storage, I bet your most used sheet pan would need a sandblaster to bring it back to its former spotless newness. Am I right?
But, what exactly is a silicone baking mat? Are they better than parchment paper?
Silicone Mat Review: What Is a Baking Mat?
Related Read: Top 10 Baking Tools You Need in Your Kitchen
Baking mats are a non-stick, heatproof material you place on your baking pan. These mats make it easy to remove whatever you bake and eliminate clean-up scrubbing.
Ideally, the baking mat is the same size as your pan, whether you cut it to fit or purchase a mat the same size as your pan.
In this silicone baking mat review we are going to look at the three most common forms of baking mats: parchment paper, PTFE mats, and silicone mats. We’ll present some of your best choices for these below as well.
The use of a baking mat eliminates the need to grease the pan, dissipates heat more quickly lessening the chance of burnt baked goods, promotes even baking and browning of your baked goods, and will lengthen the life of your pan.
With our silicone baking mat review we also want to remind you, it’s important that you do not exceed the recommended temperature of the product you use.
Unless of course, you plan on entertaining several companies of firefighters. Seriously, fires have been started by bakers not heeding that warning.
Let’s start with parchment paper
Parchment paper is a bit tricky when it comes to temperature limits. It’s usually rated as safe up to 420 degrees, however, many people use it up to 500 degrees without it catching fire. That’s because of how it’s made.
Parchment paper is paper that is coated on both sides with a nonstick material, most often silicone, making it a good choice for nonstick baking. Among its many other uses, parchment paper is useful for separating food before freezing, like premade hamburger patties.
You can purchase parchment paper in rolls or flat sheets of varying sizes. While the rolls are less expensive, the much easier to use flat sheets make them warrant serious consideration. Time does equal money, so they say.
Recommended Read: The Best Cake Pans for You!
Parchment paper is disposable, inexpensive, and can be cut to fit any pan. While it may not be the most eco-friendly, it’s the only choice when you need to throw and go during those marathon baking sessions, think Christmas or school bake sales.
A quick look at the PTFE baking mat
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nonstick baking and grilling mats are reusable, can stand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, can be trimmed to fit any pan, and washed in the dishwasher.
PTFE mats are commonly sold in sizes 16 inches by 13 inches, and as an added bonus, you can also use them on your outdoor grill.
PTFE is a manmade chemical and is better known as the trademarked Teflon™, much like we think of nose tissue as Kleenex™. If you are chemically sensitive, you may want to avoid these mats.
Then there’s the silicone baking mat
Silicone baking mats are flexible, reusable mats made out of fiberglass or nylon encased in food-grade silicone. They come in a variety of sizes to fit most of your pans, can stand temperatures up to 482 degrees Fahrenheit and depending on the manufacturer, can be washed in your dishwasher.
Because they make silicone mats with either a fiberglass or nylon core, you cannot cut these mats to size. Which means you have to purchase mats for each of your pans, making these the more costly of the three options.
Putting cost aside, the advantages of a silicone mat are, they are reusable making them more eco-friendly than parchment paper, nothing sticks to them, they can go from freezer to oven and microwave (depending on the manufacturer), and they are easy to clean.
How We Reviewed
This silicone baking mat review was an independent analysis of the different baking mats available for today’s consumer. While researching we compared the scientific data available, benefits as well as concerns, and professional and consumer reviews.
We feel strongly that these products are the best you can use for this purpose, according to our research.
We have no business or financial ties to any of the manufacturers mentioned on our list. Though we may receive a small commission if you choose to make a purchase, it will not cost you any more, and helps us keep the lights on.
Silicone Baking Mat Review: Which to Choose?
There are many silicone baking mats on the market. For this silicone baking mat review, we picked the following three mats.
There are even more choices for non-stick options, below.
Silpat™ Perfect Baking Mats
In a silicone baking mat review, not including Silpat™ would be akin to reviewing colas and not including Coke™. Frenchman M. Guy Demarle invented the first silicone baking mat in 1965, with its original intended use for commercial kitchens.
Now that we have acknowledged the inventor of the silicone baking mat let’s discuss his invention. According to their website, Silpat™ Perfect Baking Mats use a proprietary fiberglass mesh and the highest quality food grade silicone for their construction.
Silpat™ Perfect Baking Mats are made in France and conform to U.S. regulations on food grade silicone, and are FDA, NSF, and Kosher certified.
- Turn ANY pan into a non-stick surface and save time cleaning up! Use Silpat instead for any baking recipe (sweet or...
- Made of fiberglass mesh and the highest quality food grade silicone, which provides consistent heat distribution and...
- Silpat is the original non-stick baking mat and has stood the test of time with use by the most demanding chefs in the...
Silpat™ Perfect Baking Mats can withstand a temperature range of -40 degrees to 480 degrees Fahrenheit, making them safe to go from freezer to microwave or oven. They are perfect for a variety of baking challenges because nothing sticks to them, I can personally attest to that.
These mats couldn’t be easier to clean, place them in the dishwasher (I put mine on the top rack), swish in warm soapy water or wipe with a cloth — no scrubbing needed.
The only drawback is their cost. Because of the fiberglass core, you cannot trim these mats to fit your pans. Meaning you will have to buy at least one separate mat for each size of your pans.
AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mat
AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mats use durable food-grade silicone to make their mats. While there was no mention of fiberglass, it would be safe to assume there is some fiberglass embedded in the silicone.
Fiberglass is what allows silicone mats to distribute heat evenly and is in most silicone baking mats.
These made in China silicone mats can withstand temperatures up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit. However, several reviewers commented these mats burned in temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Baking mat (2-pack) for easy and convenient baking, roasting, or food prep
- Food-safe silicone mats can be reused, again and again
- Non-stick, flexible silicone releases food without the need for oil, cooking sprays, or parchment paper
There were no lower end temperatures given, but many reviewers routinely used their mats in the freezer.
They are easy to clean with warm soapy water, on the top rack of your dishwasher, or with a soft cloth. As with the Silpat™ Perfect Baking Mats, these cannot be cut to fit your pan, so you would have to buy mats for each of your pans.
Kitzini Silicone Baking Mat
Kitzini Silicone Baking Mats have a fiberglass core fully coated with food grade silicone. Due to the fiberglass core, as with both mats above, you cannot trim these mats to fit your pans.
These mats, made in China, can stand temperatures from freezing to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Kitzini’s website and Amazon reviews.
Kitzini Silicone Baking Mats are easy to clean with warm soapy water, in your dishwasher, or with a soft cloth. It is good to note that all mats made of silicone will retain a sticky and somewhat greasy feeling after washing. It’s the silicone you are feeling.
- Baking mat (2-pack) for easy and convenient baking, roasting, or food prep
- Food-safe silicone mats can be reused, again and again
- Non-stick, flexible silicone releases food without the need for oil, cooking sprays, or parchment paper
Since you cannot cut these mats to fit your pan you will have to purchase mats for each of your pans. Kitzini Silicone Baking Mats are priced similarly to the AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mats.
There Are Other Choices
This silicone baking mat review takes a look at three alternatives to silicone mats.
ZeZaZu Parchment Paper Sheets for Baking
Admittedly I’d never heard of ZeZaZu Parchment Paper Sheets for Baking before either. But this made in Europe (Sweden) parchment paper is hands down our choice when using Parchment Paper.
ZeZaZu Parchment Paper Sheets for Baking comes in flat, 100 pre-cut unbleached sheets that measure 12 inches by 16 inches, the perfect size for most baking pans. Flat sheets mean you won’t have to battle for the paper to lie flat on the baking sheet. Also, no fold marks on the bottom of your baked goods, and no fighting paper memory when wrapping foods for the freezer.
- 🍀 HIGHEST QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE - ZeZaZu Parchment paper sheets use virgin wood pulp and high-grade silicone for...
- 🍀 REMOVE THE NEED FOR GREASE - In oven trays and baking sheets, and even in frying pans. Parchment paper reduces the...
- 🍀 EASY TO LOCK PACKAGE - For convenient storage. Our parchment paper lays flat and comes in our factory designed...
ZeZaZu (easier to say than type) is certified for dry and fatty foods up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit according to ISO9 9001, ISO 22000, and ISO 16001 standards. It has certified FDA approval, and it costs less than most other precut parchment papers.
Healthy Chef Tools Premium Non-Stick Baking Mats and Cookie Sheets
Healthy Chef Tools Premium Non-Stick Baking Mats and Cookie Sheets are made of fabric coated with PTFE. These very thin mats are easy to trim to fit all of your baking pans.
Healthy Chef Tools Premium Non-Stick Baking Mats and Cookie Sheets, made in China, can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not only do these mats make excellent non-stick covers for your baking pans, but you can also use them on your outdoor grill. Now you can have clean pans and clean grills.
- BLACK COLOR HIDES STAINS BETTER – Buttery foods, especially, can leave discolorations on light-colored mats. That’s...
- NO MORE SCRAPING FOOD FROM METAL PANS – Simply wipe these reusable baking mats with soapy water and food residue comes...
- TRIM TO FIT ANY PAN – The durable fiberglass fabric resists tearing and won’t curl like parchment paper. These...
Attention pizza lovers, per the manufacturer, you can put these mats directly on your oven grill for the crispiest crust and best pizza ever.
They are easy to clean in warm soapy water, your dishwasher, or with a soft cloth. Once cleaned and dried, the mats are thin enough to store in your pans.
Alto Fresh Copper Grill Mats & Bake Mats
Alto Fresh Copper Grill & Bake Mats are fabric coated with copper-colored PTFE. These thin mats make them easy to trim to fit every one of your pans.
Designed in the USA and manufactured in China, these mats can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use these mats on an outdoor grill, making them a good choice for those bar-b-ques at the park.
They are easy to clean in warm soapy water, the top shelf of your dishwasher, or with a soft cloth. These mats are thin enough to store in your pans.
Amazon customers rated this product 4.5 out of 5 stars. Eighty-three percent of reviews rated it 5 out of 5 stars.
Silicone Baking Mat Review: Let’s Take It Out of the Oven
This silicone baking mat review surely has us all agreeing: It’s time for a baking mat, but which one? Well, that depends on for what project you are using it.
Parchment paper has many uses and should be a staple in your kitchen. You couldn’t make salmon en papillote or collar that cheese souffle with a baking mat.
Parchment paper is the answer for those times when you have to throw and go cookies for Friday’s cookie sale. Sadly, there are times when your time and sanity trump eco-considerations.
I’ll repeat, ZeZaZu is our hands-down choice for parchment paper; and you can’t deny, ZeZaZu is fun to say.
So what about silicone mats versus PTFE baking mats?
I will admit I have some PTFE mats I use in my cake pans. But after this silicone baking mat review, I will think twice before using them again. That “chemically sensitive” consideration along with learning about birds susceptibility to “Teflon toxicity” got my attention. And not in a good way.
Silicone baking mats are a plus for any bakers’ kitchen, no matter what you’re baking. If you’re putting a pan into your oven, put a mat on it.
So which one? Of the three we reviewed it’s a near tossup between the Silpat or the Kitzini.
Which silicone baking mat did you choose, and how did it work for you?
I have Silpat baking mats, use them, love them, need more of them. But, after doing the research here, I’m going to give Kitzini mats a try.
If you have baking mats, which ones do you have? If you don’t, did our silicone baking mat review help? Let us know in the comments below.
Last update on 2024-12-23 at 08:27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
