Is Parchment Paper Non-Toxic?

Parchment paper is a staple in many kitchens, prized for its versatility and ability to withstand high temperatures. Whether you’re baking cookies, roasting vegetables, or lining cake pans, parchment paper sheets provide a convenient and mess-free cooking experience.

With an increasing shift away from pans with non-stick surfaces, many households are turning to parchment paper for easier, faster clean-up. However, with growing concerns over food safety and potentially toxic chemicals in food packaging, some question whether parchment paper is truly non-toxic.

In today’s post, we will explore whether parchment paper is safe to use for cooking and baking, the potential risks it may pose, and the best alternatives available. In addition, I will share what I use in my own kitchen or recommend based on my extensive research.

Is Parchment Paper Non-Toxic?

Before answering this question, it’s essential to understand what parchment paper is and how it is made. By learning more about its composition, you can make informed decisions about whether to continue using it or switch to alternative options.

Research has shown that caution is warranted when using paper goods in direct contact with food. For instance, numerous chemical additives used in high quality food grade packaging may have adverse health implications in humans (source).

Another consideration about parchment paper is whether or not it is harmful to our environment. Some parchment paper is certified to be compostable, and other – is bleached or may contain pervasive chemicals (source). We will discuss these aspects as well. As history has shown, our health is intertwined with the health of our planet.

What Is Parchment Paper?

To begin, parchment paper is food grade paper, treated to create an oven-safe, grease-resistant surface. Commonly, you can use in cooking and baking to prevent food from sticking to baking sheets, pans, and muffin tins.

Next, parchment paper sheets have a coating to enhance their non-stick propertiesand increase their ability to withstand high temperatures. Since coatings differ from brand to brand, different contaminants may be present in the food contact surface.

What Is In Parchment Paper?

For starters, they form the paper portion of parchment using cellulose, often sourced from flax. In fact, this base is similar to the paper portion of wax paper. Next, they treat the cellulose paper with an acid solution to make it more unified and oil resistant. Following this, they wash the paper and sometimes treat it with glycerin to prevent cracking during the drying process (source and source). In addition, they treat oven-safe parchment paper or coat it with one or more of the following:

• bleaching agents
• silicone coatings
• Quilon coating.

Bleaching Agents

Typically, parchment paper on store shelves today comes in either white or brown color. To achieve the clean white color that some people prefer, they bleach the brown paper. More specifically, bleaching introduces chemicals such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, and/or ozone in the manufacturing process (source).

While that sounds scary, your food does not come in direct contact with the bleached paper because they coat it. For your information, the purpose of bleaching is merely to enhance aesthetics. Moreover, bleaching may even make the paper weaker. Plus, bleaching agents have adverse effects on the environment (source).

Personally, I see no reason to purchase the bleached option when unbleached parchment paper is more eco-friendly.

Silicone Coatings                                                                                

Next, for parchment paper to withstand high temperatures, they treat it with an oven-safe coating. Arguably, the most common coating for parchment paper is food grade silicone. Unlike the paraffin wax used in wax paper, silicone is more heat resistant. Usually, they finely apply silicone particles to both sides of the parchment paper and then thermally process it. This results in durable, grease-resistant, heat-resistant, and non-stick surface.

Quilon Coating

Another form of baking paper uses a proprietary Quilon coating as an alternative to silicone in parchment paper. To clarify, Quilon is a synthetic chemical treatment that has gained popularity in commercial settings because it is less expensive to produce than silicone-coated parchment paper.

Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks with using Quilon parchment paper. First, some sources state you can use this paper only once and then must dispose of it. Second, it may be less grease-resistant. Third, there is relatively little information about its processing and safety. This is particularly concerning as it is made with chromium, a heavy metal (source and source).

Since there is so little information available, and there are concerns about its safety, I would not recommend Quilon coated parchment paper. 

Is Parchment Paper Safe?

Moving forward, I will analyze the safety of silicone-coated parchment paper. I believe some safety considerations exist beyond its manufacturing process. We will discuss these next.

What Are The Potential Dangers Of Parchment Paper?

This area of research is still in development, but we will dive into what is known right now along with the following topics:

• Chemical Leaching From Coated Parchment Paper
• PFAS Contamination
• Breakdown At Higher Temperatures.

Chemical Leaching From Coated Parchment

First off, coated parchment paper is lightly misted with silicone. Silicone is formed from siloxanes that may leach into food at higher temperatures. Thus, silicone migration was a point of investigation in silicone-based food packaging and bakeware, conducted by the Technical University of Denmark. While the study did not find evidence of siloxanes leaching into food from any of its silicone-coated parchment samples, it highlighted the need for further research into the migration of siloxanes at higher temperatures. This means that while silicone-coated parchment is widely used and considered generally safe, additional studies are necessary to fully understand its long-term safety.

PFAS Contamination

Next up, research has shown that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) are used in baking paper and aluminum foil. These migrate into food from different food packaging, highlighting the importance of avoiding these chemicals in food contact materials (source).

Parchment is a paper product that may be treated with PFAS chemicals. In case you aren’t familiar, PFAS chemicals are problematic because they are exceptionally long-lasting chemicals that contaminate both humans and the environment. In fact, the EPA states that exposure to some PFAS in the environment correlates with harmful health effects in humans and animals. Thus, opting for PFAS-free parchment paper is an eco-friendly choice. Continue reading for a parchment paper recommendation that is third-party tested for PFAS contamination.

Breakdown At Higher Temperatures

Most parchment paper is rated for use at temperatures up to 428°F. Exceeding this limit can cause the paper to degrade, potentially releasing unwanted substances into food or even catching fire. As a reference, in the above-mentioned study conducted by the University of Denmark, the parchment paper was tested with baked goods at 392°Fd for four hours. While all eight of the baking paper samples performed safely in these conditions, results could vary at higher temperatures. Keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to use parchment paper.

What Are Safe Parchment Paper Alternatives?

If you prefer to eliminate parchment paper, consider these eco-friendly alternatives:

• glass bakeware
• stainless steel bakeware
• cast iron bakeware.

Glass Bakeware

Well greased glass baking dishes provide an excellent alternative for roasting and baking, as they do not leach harmful substances and can withstand high temperatures. A light coating of oil can help prevent sticking and eliminate the paper waste caused by parchment paper. Besides, there are many versatile glass pans available. When handled correctly, glass is both safe and affordable. Find some glass bakeware options in my Amazon shop’s cookware & baking section.

Stainless Steel Bakeware

Next, stainless steel options can withstand greater temperature changes than glass and are less fragile. Just as with glass bakeware, a coating of oil can help prevent sticking and eliminate the paper waste caused by parchment paper.

My favorite stainless steel cookie sheet, jelly roll pan, and pie pan that don’t require parchment paper and that are made in the US are produced by 360 Cookware. For a 25% discount code, click here. Some other stainless steel options are available in my Amazon shop’s cookware & baking section.

Also, for those concerned about ceramic cookware safety, check out my post Is Ceramic Cookware Safe?.

Cast Iron Bakeware

Last, high quality, well-seasoned cast iron pans can provide a naturally non-stick surface for baking and roasting. In fact, cast iron improves over time with proper seasoning. Unlike non-stick pans with potentially toxic non-stick coatings, cast iron bakeware can last a lifetime or longer with proper care.

The safest cast iron pans I’ve found are made by Stargazer and Field, both of which are seasoned with non-GMO oils. For your convenience, I’ve included Lodge cast iron kitchenware in my Amazon shop, some of which I use in my own home. I purchased Lodge pieces long before Stargazer and Field became available.

Best Parchment Paper Brands

Now, back to parchment paper. For those who prefer the convenience of silicone-coated parchment, you can find the IF YOU CARE, Katbite and Patapar parchment paper in my Amazon shop. Specifically, the IF YOU CARE parchment paper is unbleached parchment paper, free of Quilon coatings, and third-party tested for contaminants like PFAS chemicals (source). Katbite has an unbleached paper option as well, also tested for PFAS, and generally safe for cooking and baking while prioritizing environmental and health considerations.

For those who are curious, both IF YOU CARE and Katbite offer rolls of unbleached parchment paper, unbleached parchment paper sheets, unbleached parchment paper baking cups and more. Personally, I have used IF YOU CARE high-quality brand in my own kitchen for years, along with glass, cast iron, and stainless steel options.

As for Patapar vegetable cooking parchment, it is not your typical parchment paper. Since it is uncoated, it does have some limitations. However, according to the manufacturer, it is heat-safe up to 425°Fand suitable for most cooking and baking needs. Additionally, it underwent third-party testing for PFAS, with results showing non-detectable levels (source).

Conclusion: Which Parchment Paper Is Non-Toxic?

Research Suggests That Unbleached, PFAS-Free, Silicone-Coated Parchment Paper Has The Potential To Be Safe. Alternatively, You Can Use Greased Glass, Stainless Steel, Or Cast Iron Bakeware.

In conclusion, there are valid reasons to approach baking papers with caution. Indeed, certain chemicals used in parchment paper production may have adverse impacts on our bodies and the health of the planet.

In my opinion, bleaching parchment paper is unnecessary and far from being eco-friendly. Next, Quilon coated parchment paper lacks the necessary safety information for proper review and raises concerns as it is made with chromium, a heavy metal. 

On the other hand, current research indicates that harmful chemicals do not leach into food from high quality silicone parchment paper. At the same time, research on its long-term safety in cooking and baking is still ongoing. If you want a well-studied alternative, greased glass and stainless steel bakeware or cast iron pans offer safe and effective solutions to avoid potential health concerns.

For those who prefer the convenience of silicone-coated parchment, it remains a generally safe choice within recommended usage guidelines. My top brand recommendations are available in my Amazon shop.

Also, you are welcome to check out non-toxic products in my IRLFY shop as well as use educational information available on the I Read Labels For You blog. Be sure to get access to my unmatched e-books and arrange a video meeting with me if you have questions regarding healthy living.