In the event you peruse the meals storage merchandise aisle at your native grocery store, you’ll discover that there are plenty of choices relating to meals wraps! Apart from the usual plastic wrap and aluminum foil, there’s additionally parchment paper, wax paper, freezer paper, and so forth. I’ll admit that up till lately, I didn’t truly know what the variations have been between these supplies, and which sort of wrap I ought to use for various sorts of jobs. I lastly bought fed up with being mystified within the meals storage aisle, so I made a decision it was excessive time to be taught a factor or two about every of the completely different sorts of wraps.
Hopefully these of you who’ve been questioning the identical issues will be taught one thing new too from right this moment’s put up. And if in case you have a use for considered one of these supplies that’s or isn’t listed right here, I’d love to listen to about it within the feedback part! 🙂
Associated: 9 Of The Greatest Methods To Use Plastic Wrap Round The Home
Parchment Paper
Parchment paper is the wrap of selection for baking, since it will possibly face up to temperatures as much as 420 levels. It’s additionally nonstick, which makes it a useful kitchen instrument.
For occasion, you may roll out a bit of dough between two sheets of parchment paper, and the paper will simply peel away once you’re prepared to make use of it.
Parchment paper can be helpful as a result of it’s nice at retaining moisture. Many individuals use parchment paper to create particular person pouches for cooking fish or hen and veggies collectively. The parchment paper retains the moisture contained in the pouch, steaming the meals and holding it from drying out. The paper could get saturated with moisture throughout this course of, nevertheless it stays sturdy and makes cleanup simple!
Wax Paper
Wax paper is a light-weight paper coated in a skinny layer of food-grade wax. It’s much like parchment paper in that its’ non-stick floor makes is a helpful kitchen instrument, however not like parchment paper, it CANNOT face up to excessive temperatures. In reality, it may catch hearth in an oven!
One benefit of wax paper is that it’s usually the extra reasonably priced choice. Because it’s low-cost, you need to use it to line your counters when working with messy meals like chocolate, sprinkles, and breadcrumbs.
Wax paper is breathable, which makes it an incredible selection for wrapping and storing cheeses and sandwiches. Moisture can go by way of the paper, which retains cheeses and breads from getting slimy or soggy.
Aluminum Foil
In contrast to wax paper, aluminum foil is NOT breathable.
Its impermeability makes it nice within the freezer, as a result of it protects meals from drying out whereas stopping potential odors from permeating into your frozen meals.
However probably the most helpful half about aluminum foil is its potential to face up to excessive temperatures. Use it to cowl roasts within the oven, or to wrap up racks of ribs. Or you may simply make your life a bit simpler by lining pans with it, making clear up a breeze.
Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap is nice for overlaying up bowls or containers which are going into the fridge to assist maintain meals contemporary.
Some manufacturers make a “microwave-safe” plastic wrap that you need to use to manage splattering when reheating issues in your microwave.
One other helpful utility for plastic wrap is to make use of it for “sous-vide” cooking. Wrap a bit of hen or fish tightly in a number of layers of plastic wrap, guaranteeing that the plastic wrap kinds a well-sealed pouch. Submerge the pouch in water that’s simply barely simmering, and depart it in till your hen or fish is cooked by way of. Moist and scrumptious!
Freezer Paper
Freezer paper is coated with a skinny layer of meals grade wax, however solely on one facet. So consider freezer paper as wax paper on one facet, parchment paper on the opposite.
It was designed for freezing meat, with the waxed facet in opposition to the meat itself. The wax prevents moisture loss and protects the floor of the meat, whereas the unwaxed exterior will be written on to label and date the merchandise.
Freezer paper makes a nice crafting materials, too! The “shiny” (waxy) facet of can function a non permanent adhesive when heated with an iron. Quilters usually use freezer paper for appliqués, reducing a form out of freezer paper after which ironing the form, wax-side down, to their chosen material. They’ll then lower across the paper, and even peel it off and reuse it a number of occasions.
One other artful utility for freezer paper is to use it as a stencil. Reduce away a design from a bit of freezer paper, iron it wax-side right down to a t-shirt, pillowcase, or tote bag. Then you may unfold a layer of material paint onto your merchandise, and when the freezer paper is eliminated, your form might be completely painted in your merchandise.
