Silpat Silicone Non-Stick Baking Mat 2020 Review | Zero Waste Replacement for Parchment Paper and Aluminum Foil
The Top Line:
Silpat is a definite BUY. Buy more than one if you bake alot (so you have extra if one is in the dishwasher or freezer). We LOVE this OG brand that makes eco-friendly reusable baking mats.
The Breakdown:
Cost & Products: $24.99 for 11-5/8" x 16-1/2"; comes in a variety of other sizes
How ‘Clean’ Is This? This product lasts. We’ve had this for over 6 years, and its still in tip top condition. Reduces your need to use parchment papers and aluminum foil, which adds up over the years.
Packaging: The item itself came in a paper box.
Purchasing & Shipping: Bought on Amazon, but available at many other retailers - William Sonoma, Sur La Table, Bed Bath Beyond and momre.
Good to Know: Comes in molded muffin and Madeleine pan shapes as well!
What’s Your Impact? Pretty significant reduction in use of foil and parchment paper for baking needs — impact based on how much you bake!
The Efficacy
The Silpat Baking Mat is a nonstick, reusable baking mat made in France — and a brand that’s been around for some time! It was designed in 1965 by French baker Monsieur Guy Demarle, who sought “a better way” to bake baguettes — by designing a long lasting mat that can be reused again and again, while promoting an even distribution of heat.
We use both Reynold’s aluminum foil and If You Care FSC Certified Parchment Paper. We generally prefer using the Silpat if we can!
You don’t need to buy cooking spray/oils to grease the pan!
You don’t need to deal with parchment paper rolling up on you
And it cooks slightly faster than if you are using parchment paper
You can use this in the freezer as well, without worry of damaging the material
The Cost
We compare the Silpat baking mat to traditional and more eco-friendly Aluminum Foil and Parchment Paper brands: Reynold’s and IF YOU CARE and assumed that average family will use 100 sq ft of parchment paper or aluminum foil to line baking trays (you can’t use Silpat for wrapping up a sandwich etc) over the course of a year:
Money Thoughts: For an average family, if you keep your Silpat baking mat for more than 3 years —- it’s definitely worth it from a cost perspective. If you bake more than normal, then it would take even less time to make it worth it!
The Good:
✔ We find that it actually cooks a bit faster to cook than using parchment paper
✔ If you bake/use oven regularly this can really save you money over time
✔ No need for cooking oils/sprays (more money saved + healthier!)
✔ Dishwasher safe, freezer safe
✔ We love that this mat stays flat on the pan (parchment paper always rolls up annoyingly…)
✔ Non-stick surface makes for relatively easy cleanup
✔ Made of fiberglass mesh, and promotes even heat distribution —> even baking
✔ Designed to withstand up to 500 degrees (silicone based mat)
✔ Meets FDA regulations
✔ Certified by National Science Foundation
✔ Kosher-safe
The Bad:
✗ Not much bad here. We’re big fans of Silpat, and especially love them as a pioneer of low waste products!☺
Our Recommendation:
BUY. Buy more than one if you bake a lot (so you have extra if one is in the dishwasher or freezer).
We're on a mission to reduce our personal carbon footprint with small, hopefully easy, changes in our home to fight against climate change. This means we're looking for products that may be all natural, ideally zero waste, reusable or compostable -- while still being affordable!
