The invention of paper has made our life so much easier. And thanks to the creativity and all the innovations made by mankind, we can see several types of papers with different uses for each.
However, two kinds of paper are wax paper and baking paper.
Both these papers are different and are used for separate uses, whether in the kitchen or for some design purposes.
These papers have different characteristics, costs, uses, materials, and such things.
Key Takeaways
- Wax paper is coated with wax on both sides and is not heat-resistant, making it unsuitable for baking. In contrast, baking paper is coated with silicone and can withstand high temperatures without melting.
- Wax paper is commonly used to wrap food while baking paper is often used as a non-stick lining for baking pans or trays.
- Wax paper cannot be used in the oven as it will burn while baking paper can be used without any issues and reused.
Wax Paper vs. Baking Paper
The difference between Wax Paper and Baking Paper is that wax paper has wax in them, and users must be cautious because it is not suitable for use in the oven. In contrast, baking paper can be used more than wax paper.
Baking paper, also known as parchment paper, has a silicone coating. The purpose of the silicone coating is not to let substances get stuck in the paper. Well, the baking paper has another important characteristic, and that is being resistant to heat.
Comparison Table
| Parameters ofย Comparison | Wax Paper | Baking Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Coated with | Wax paper is coated with paraffin or with a soybean coating. | The baking paper has got a silicone coating on them. |
| Used in | Wax paper is mainly used for wrapping, or it can also be used for storing purposes. | Baking paper is mainly used for baking; as the name suggests, โbake.โ |
| Preference | Wax papers are preferred only because of their storage capability. For example, the paper used to wrap butter can be stored in the refrigerator but not in an oven. | Bakers prefer using baking paper because of its silicone coating, which helps prevent stickiness. |
| Stronger | Wax papers are not that strong when compared with baking paper. | Baking papers are quite strong and made with strong paper fibers. |
| Oven Used | Wax paper cannot be used in an oven because it is moisture-resistant and non-stick, and it could even catch fire. | Baking paper is quite strong and does not allow the fire to catch them. It can be used for oven purposes. |
What is Wax Paper?
Wax paper is a type of paper that is made moisture-proof, and it is mainly used for storage purposes.
As the name goes, the wax papers have wax in them, and users must note that you cannot use this item for oven purposes.
Using it for oven purposes can lead to catching fire. However, this does not mean that wax paper does not have other uses because it has plenty of uses.
Wax papers are used for wrapping food items, storing sandwiches, and opening containers.
The manufacturing processes of wax paper and baking paper are quite different. Different materials are used for making each type of paper.
As it was said earlier, wax paper cannot be used for oven purposes because it has wax coating in them.
Wax papers go through a process called super calendaring. Well, super calendaring is compressing a paper and making it more transparent.
After this process, wax papers are coated with soybean or paraffin wax.
However, if you compare the cost of each paper, baking paper is much costlier than wax paper.
What is Baking Paper?
Well, baking paper, on the other hand, is used for baking purposes.
Baking paper can also be used in the oven for cooking because baking papers are stronger than wax paper and are fire-resistant.
Baking paper can have the ability to withstand the heat of 420 degrees F.
However, if you have purchased baking paper, you must check the heat threshold because different brands have different heat strengths.
Baking paper can also be used for wrapping purposes, and the paper can also serve as a cooking lining so that you do not have to put any grease on them.
However, some recipes can be cooked without the help of containers because baking paper can do a lot because of its strong heat-withstanding capability.
Baking papers use strong fiber and go through an acid dip before cleaning everything.
However, baking paperโs result happens after going through further steps because the paper passes through rotating drums that help improve the strength of the fiber.
After all those things are done, it is time to put silicone coating in it.
Well, when you compare the manufacturing process of wax paper and baking paper, baking paper requires much longer steps, which may be why baking papers are not available at a low price.
Main Differences Between Wax Paper and Baking Paper
- Wax paper has got a paraffin coating or a soybean coating in it, whereas baking paper is coated with silicone.
- Wax paper cannot be used in an oven as it is not heat resistant and could catch fire easily, while baking paper can be used in an oven because it has heat resistant capability.
- Wax paper is mainly used for wrapping and storing purposes, whereas baking paper can be used for wrapping and as well as for cooking purposes.
- Baking papers are made up of paper fibers and are quite strong than wax papers.
- Baking papers are more expensive than wax papers.
Iโve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. Itโll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS โฅ๏ธ
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
