Silpat Silicone Baking Mat Assessment

Parchment paper and aluminum foil are solely good for one use, and cooking sprays can depart stains behind on sheet pans even after scrub, however utilizing a silicone baking mat is excellent. Manufactured from food-safe silicone with a fiberglass inside, reusable baking mats are the best way to go for simple baking and roasting.

My favourite is the Silpat half-sheet baking mat, the unique silicone baking mat invented in 1965. After seeing so many optimistic evaluations, I made a decision to buy one at my native Crate & Barrel a number of years in the past and haven’t regarded again since.

The Silpat baking mat is straightforward to make use of, nonstick, versatile, simple to wash, and doesn’t take up a lot room in your cupboards when not in use. Whether or not I am making crispy oven-roasted veggies, delicate desserts, or a myriad of issues in between, right here’s why I haven’t regarded again from my favourite baking mat.

How I Use the Silpat Baking Mat

Whereas I exploit mine most frequently for baking, these are additionally superb for sticky recipes like do-it-yourself granola or chocolate bark and savory favorites like roasted veggies and sheet-pan dinners. I additionally love that these are freezer-friendly for a few of my favourite frozen candy treats like chocolate-covered bananas or strawberry bites, which carry off the mat with ease.

You additionally don’t want to put this within the freezer or oven in any respect to place it to good use! Place your Silpat mat beneath a wobbly slicing board to maintain it in place throughout prep work; simply watch out to not really lower or slice into the mat itself. To chop down on the quantity of flour wanted to roll or knead dough for pizza or baked items, I like putting my Silpat mat down first for simple cleanup. 

What I Love Concerning the Silpat Baking Mat 

Some pure put on and discoloration in your baking sheets is regular, however utilizing a Silpat baking mat will hold your trays wanting new for years to come back. The model provides quite a lot of measurement choices to suit totally different baking trays, together with spherical mats and even one for a toaster tray. Plus, you can even get them in seasonal prints, and a few include cookie and macaron marks for exact baking.

I additionally love that even after numerous rounds within the oven and simply as many rounds of cleansing, I haven’t skilled any curling or warping with my mat, because of the completely sealed edges. The notched corners are additionally an added contact that makes it simple to take away your mat from the baking sheet after every use.

The Caveats

A half-sheet Silpat baking mat, which measures 16.5 inches lengthy by 11.6 inches broad, will set you again near $30, whereas different manufacturers typically provide two baking mats for across the identical worth. With that being stated, these are the unique silicone baking mats, they usually have remained well-loved by skilled and residential cooks over time at the same time as different choices have been launched. So, I nonetheless discover them to be well worth the price ticket.

Nevertheless, a baking mat might not be mandatory for each recipe. In truth, some professionals really don’t suggest utilizing them for all cookie recipes as a result of they will trigger denser cookie dough to unfold out and never cook dinner evenly.

Suggestions and Methods

• These mats are technically dishwasher-safe, however I’ve at all times cleaned mine by hand with none points. Keep away from washing them with any abrasive cleaners although.
• If it’s worthwhile to lower into one thing that’s cooking or baking in your mat, take it off the mat first. Sharp utensils ought to by no means be used in your Silpat baking mat, as publicity to the fiberglass inside could be harmful.
• I desire to maintain my mat rolled within the authentic field, nevertheless it may also be saved flat. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be folded throughout use or storage. 
• Silpat mats can stand up to temperatures from -40°F to 428°F.
• This baking mat shouldn’t be used within the broiler, uncovered on to an open flame, or saved beneath your oven.

How It Compares

Since Silpat first created its silicone baking mat practically 60 years in the past, competitor manufacturers have launched a number of different choices at numerous worth factors. There are some pure silicone mats available on the market, however the fiberglass mesh in Silpat mats reinforces the construction and supplies even warmth all through the mat, eliminating cold and warm spots. 

Personally, I’ve not used every other silicone baking mats to match this towards, however after years of single-use parchment paper and unlined trays (greased or not), I undoubtedly desire utilizing my Silpat mat. I like not having to create as a lot waste by avoiding parchment paper and aluminum foil (particularly as a result of this mat is an ideal match each time), and my baking sheets are undoubtedly thanking me in the long term for not getting them as stained.

The Verdict

There’s a motive Silpat Silicone Baking Mats proceed to be extremely really useful by baking professionals. Silpat mats are light-weight however sturdy, present wonderful warmth distribution, are simple to wash, and supply constant outcomes. I, for one, do not plan on giving mine up any time quickly.