Home » Kitchen Mats » Are Silicone Baking Mats Safe? –  That’s a question that has been plaguing bakers for years. Some swear by them, while others are convinced they’re a health hazard. But let’s be real, if you’re anything like me, you’re more concerned about whether or not your cookies will turn out perfectly than the safety of your baking mat. So, I did some digging and found out that silicone baking mats are indeed safe. But, if you’re still worried, just remember that the worst thing that can happen is your cookies might taste a little rubbery. And let’s be honest, that’s a risk we’re all willing to take for the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies.
Are Silicone Baking Mats Safe?
For my final verdict, read out below!
Why silicon baking mats are necessary for baking?
All the great cafes and expert bakers around the world, prefer to use silicone baking mats for baking out pastries and macrons, purest in their taste to delight their customers. But what is so special about these baking mats?
Silicone Baking Mats are Non-Toxic
These mats are composed of fiberglass and food-grade silica with a little number of synthetic additives, and silica baking mats are completely plastic-free. That is the reason why it does not taint your food with plastic odor and make it unhealthy to eat.
However, this also highly depends upon the manufacturer, if using the right filters to compose a silicone baking mat the user will get a healthy product. Otherwise, the substandard composition of silica mats can be a big risk to your well-being. Such mats allow baked food to absorb the harmful components used to formulate them.
Silicone Baking Mats Adjust With The Oven Temperatures
Studies reveal that good-quality silicone baking mats have got the capability to bear temperatures as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
In most of the baking processes, you generally need to set your oven initially at 70-80 degrees and later on at most 350-430 degrees Fahrenheit. This fact makes these mats highly safe for baking purposes, on the condition that you seriously need to consider the temperature variances and not take them for granted!
Silicone Baking Mats are Non-Sticky
Silicone baking mats have a good non-adherence surface compared to parchment papers, which are composed of cellulose. They sometimes cause the hard dough to get stuck on the paper. Because of this great baking capability, you will not have to grease the surface with oil or flour or prep the silicon mats even slightly before use. Hence, making them more convenient to be used in the kitchen.
Silicone Baking Mats are Environmentally Friendly
One of the biggest reasons behind the popularity of silicone baking mats is their eco-friendliness! These mats are not disposable and can be used for at least a year except when you are a regular baker. After usage, all you have to do is to let them cool down for a while and then wipe the food particles off that may have gotten stuck in the mat during baking.
Silicone Baking Mats Can Be Used With All Oven Friendly Utensils
Except for metal utensils, you can use almost every type of glass material coupled with the silicone baking mat to place inside your oven. However, be careful with sharp-edged utensils. Do not directly use your silicone baking mat as a sheet for cutting pizza or cake slices. You might end up exposing the fiberglass used inside the silica mats, and doing such will make your mat useless!
Silicone Baking Mats Are Long Lasting
Just like butter papers or parchment papers that you have to replace after every single use, silicone baking mats can be used again and again unless you satisfy your baking cravings!
Depending upon the usage and your maintenance habits, you can satisfactorily use a silicon mat for as long as a year! Does not that sound pocket friendly too? A one-time investment in a good quality silicone mat can save you many pennies for a year!
Yes! Silicone Baking Mats Can Be Dangerous Too
It is not necessary that every silicon baking mat you are using for baking will turn out to be great! It greatly depends on the fillers too, that have been used inside your baking mat. Keep in mind that Low-quality baking mats will not be able to host you greatly!
Also, if accidentally your oven temperature even slightly exceeds the mat’s material limits, there can be a high risk of leaching! Not only this but harmful odors may also be released affecting your food quality and making it unsuitable for eating! Particularly with muffins, and bread pans, be very careful with the temperature ranges while using the silicone baking mats.
What To Use If Not Silicone Baking Mats?
If your oven is not much compatible with all the features of the silica baking mat, I described above, it is better to use parchment paper instead. A parchment paper is not much reliable and is only a one-time usage product, but it may work well for beginner bakers!
Remember to not reuse the paper because that might cause your food edges to get harder than they actually should be, hence affecting the overall quality of your baked products.
Conclusion
In conclusion, silicone baking mats are safe to use and can make your baking experience a lot easier. However, if you’re still skeptical, you can always use parchment paper or just bake your cookies directly on the oven rack like a true rebel. Just make sure to keep an eye on them so they don’t burn or fall through the cracks. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can always try baking on a bed of marshmallows or using a shoe as a mixing bowl. But for those of us who prefer to stick to the tried and true methods, silicone baking mats are a great option. Happy baking!
Finally, it always helps to choose a quality silicon baking mat. Our favorite is this silicon mat from Silpat.
