Parchment paper is a versatile kitchen essential that can be used for much more than just lining baking sheets. This unassuming, plain piece of paper can help make your cooking and baking endeavors more enjoyable, efficient, and even beautiful. Here are five creative ways to use and re-use parchment paper in your kitchen
En papillote cooking
En papillote, which means “in parchment,” is a classic French cooking technique that involves cooking food inside a parchment paper packet. This method is perfect for cooking fish, chicken, and vegetables because it allows the food to steam in its own juices, creating a moist and flavorful dish.
To make an en papillote packet, simply place your ingredients in the center of a large piece of parchment paper, fold the paper over the ingredients, and crimp the edges to seal the packet. Bake the packet in the oven for the required amount of time, and then carefully open the packet to reveal your deliciously steamed dish.
Homemade piping bags
If you don’t have a piping bag on hand but need to pipe frosting, whipped cream, or other soft ingredients, you can easily make your own piping bag using parchment paper.
Start by cutting a square of parchment paper and folding it diagonally to create a triangle. Then, fold the triangle in half to create a smaller triangle, and then fold the top point of the triangle down towards the center, creating a cone shape. Finally, roll the cone towards the bottom point, creating a small opening at the top. Fill the cone with your desired filling and snip the tip off the bottom to start piping.
Rolling out dough
Rolling out dough can be a messy and frustrating task, but using parchment paper can make it much easier. Start by placing a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface and dusting it lightly with flour. Place your dough on top of the parchment paper and then place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough between the two sheets of parchment paper, peeling off the top sheet when you’re done. This method helps prevent the dough from sticking to your work surface or rolling pin, and it also makes it easy to transfer the dough to a baking sheet.
Grilling or roasting vegetables
Grilling or roasting vegetables on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet is an easy way to ensure that they cook evenly and don’t stick to the pan. Start by cutting your vegetables into bite-sized pieces and then tossing them with your desired seasonings and a bit of oil. Place the vegetables on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and roast them in the oven or grill them over medium-high heat until they’re tender and slightly browned. The parchment paper helps prevent the vegetables from sticking to the pan and makes clean-up a breeze.
Baking decorative pie crusts
If you want to make a beautiful pie with a decorative crust, parchment paper can be a helpful tool. Start by rolling out your pie crust dough and then using a sharp knife or cookie cutter to cut out your desired shapes. Place the shapes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze them for 10-15 minutes until they’re firm. Once they’re firm, arrange the shapes on top of your pie filling and bake as usual. The parchment paper helps prevent the crust shapes from sticking to the baking sheet and makes it easy to transfer them to the top of your pie.
Parchment paper is an incredibly versatile tool in the kitchen. There are countless creative ways to use parchment paper to make your cooking and baking endeavors more enjoyable, efficient, and beautiful.