THE RELUCTANT GOURMET COOKING COMMUNITY

LADawg · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 207 Location: Lower Alabama

For the first time in my life, a few weeks ago I baked some cookies on parchment paper, rather than oiling or buttering a cookie sheet. After doing this I don’t know why I didn’t do it years ago. I guess I just always greased the cookie sheet because that’s what the recipe said to do and it was the way my mother did it. Anyway, no more of that for me.

Yesterday, I took another bold step! I use a Silpat for the first time. I don’t even know why or how we got the Silpat, but it was among the items that we had in storage when we were full time RV’ers.

Just like using the parchment, the cookies slid right off the baking sheet, and left no mess to clean. Tanger has a huge outlet mall (at least 120 stores) here in Foley, and our old (but only used once) Silpat will soon be joined by new one. There are at least 3 kitchen/cooking stores in the outlet mall and I remember seeing Silpats in at least one of them. I also remember seeing similar silicone type baking items. I think I will try at least one of these, most likely the muffin pans.

Oh, if I don't find what I need at the Taner outlet there's a Bed, Bath and Beyond just 6 miles down the road. I checked them out on the internet and they claim they have Silpats in stock.

ninjabut · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 836 Location: No CA USDA zone 8

Don't know what a silpat is, but I'm guessing it's those silicone baking thingies.
I got some loaf pans at a yard sale, and promptly put a knife through it! VERY easy to puncture, as I found out! LOL
I've got my eye out for some muffin "tins" so I can keep baking healthy muffins for breakfast.

kell · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 473 Location: NWND

I think silicone stuff sounds kind of neat, but it just boggles my imagination to put something plasticy / rubbery in the oven. Let me know what you think of yours ( aside from the fact that it's easy to stick a knife through :lol: )

ninjabut · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 836 Location: No CA USDA zone 8

Yea, they'll probably tell us that after we've all ditched our regular baking things in leiu of the silicon stuff that it's going to kill us all! LOL

tullius · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 60 Location: colorado

I looked into the safety of silpats through various sources & it turns out that silicone is inert & non-reactive so it won't leach into foods & is actually what most parchment paper is coated with! Just make sure yours is food grade silicone without fillers.

I use the cookie sheet liners & the pot holders & think they're great.

Here's some general info-
http://www.ehow.com/about_5343595_dangers-silicone-bakeware.html