Does The Color Of Your Parchment Paper Matter? We Asked The Pros

Aluminum foil isn’t the only kitchen staple to come under scrutiny recently. With claims that white parchment paper isn’t as safe to use as brown parchment paper gaining traction on social media, consumers are understandably giving this popular baking tool a closer look.

Being that it’s one of the most-used items in our own kitchens, we decided to talk to the experts. They shared what you need to know about the differences between bleached and unbleached parchment paper, including whether one is safer than the other:

Meet Our Expert

• Paul Hope is the Deputy Content Editor, Home, for Consumer Reports and a classically trained chef.

• James Rogers is the Director of Product & Food Safety Research & Testing for Consumer Reports.

What Is Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper, also known as baking paper, is one of the most versatile tools you can have in your kitchen. Like wax paper, parchment paper is moisture-resistant and non-stick. However, parchment doesn’t contain wax—which melts in heat—making it ideal for cooking and baking.

Parchment paper has a light silicone coating that makes it heat resistant (to a point), which prevents the paper from absorbing grease and moisture. Use it to line sheet pans to ensure your cookies cook evenly and the bottoms don't get too brown, or place it inside your square or round pans for brownies and cakes that will pop out easily after they're baked.

The Difference Between White And Brown Parchment Paper

White and brown parchment paper differ in one big way: brown parchment paper is unbleached and white parchment paper is bleached. This indicates whether or not the wood pulp used to make the paper underwent a bleaching process using a chemical like chlorine. Bleached wood pulp results in parchment paper that is white, while unbleached wood pulp keeps its natural brown hue.

Why Is Parchment Paper Bleached?

Parchment paper undergoes a bleaching process purely for aesthetic purposes. Not only are both parchment colors equally heat resistant, Paul Hope, Consumer Reports’ in-house chef, says that when it comes to performance, he hasn’t seen a difference between using the two.

Related: Which Side Of Parchment Paper Goes Up?

Is It Safe To Cook With Bleached Parchment Paper?

The short answer is yes.

James Rogers, Director of Product & Food Safety Research & Testing for Consumer Reports, says he is unaware of any definitive study or data that suggests it is unsafe to cook with bleached parchment paper. “Most of it’s just cautionary,” he adds. But if you are concerned about chemicals that might leech into your food, Rogers recommends using unbleached parchment paper during cooking.

“If they work the same, why not play it safe?” Rogers says. “If you have a choice, go ahead and use the unbleached [parchment paper] in your cooking.”

Read the original article on Southern Living