Why is Parchment Paper important in the Kitchen?

 Food is an indulgence that people across the globe find comfort in. The idea of leaving your stressful job and coming home to a relaxing evening of fine wine and luxuriously rich chocolate is a fantasy dream come true. The wafting vapours of a big bowl of delicious spaghetti signifies the wafting off of our troubles into thin air. Food, both the process of preparing it as well as savouring it, is the sole antidote to all our worries. There can be nothing more therapeutic for a day of unwinding better than relishing a plate of gooey delectable brownies or a creamy sponge cake that is lighter than air. Baking these sumptuous treats gives us the cherished happiness that we so long for in all our lives. However, how heartbreaking is it when these yummy foods do not turn out as perfectly as we had hoped? When, after pouring our heart and soul into meticulously baking them, they come out looking misshapen or crumbled or burnt by the edges? And worse yet, when the treats come out looking as close to perfect as they can get, but the pan is greased with messiness in every pore? To avoid these small yet truly crushing moments, the course of action is to use the best premium-quality culinary equipment that is freely available in the commercial market today.

The culinary world today is brimming with flawless-quality kitchen materials that adorn kitchens everywhere and help in our cooking-cleaning processes. Leading companies like Asahi Kasei and many more are churning out innovative products every year. Some of the products that are ruling the current market are premium cling wrap, frying pan foil, aluminium foil, baking trays, baking sheet, and the most important while baking, parchment paper. Parchment paper, essentially, is a cellulose-based composite that has been processed into thin paper-like sheets by giving it a bath of sulfuric acid. Its structure attributes it with properties such as non-stick, grease-proof, and resistance to the humid state, and these are the very features that make it a massively beneficial equipment to use while baking. Today, it has become indispensable in the professional baking process. We shall delve into the myriad merits of using parchment paper in the kitchen:

• Even and Wholesome Baking: One of the most consistent benefits of using parchment paper while baking cakes or cookies is the evenness of the baking. Parchment paper ensures that the heat is evenly spread across the pan, regulating the temperature by creating a thin airy layer between the baking sheet and the paper. It also gives a dense texture to the ingredients while baking them, giving them a stronger structure and not allowing them to melt or deform more than necessary. The cookies are crunchy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside.

• Clear, Defined Structures and Avoidance of Sticking: Using parchment paper to line the baking tray while baking brownies gives them a precise and clean-cut shape and makes sure they stay that way when they come out of the oven. And its non-stick surface makes the brownies slide right off the pan without the dreaded hassle of having to forcefully yank them off, completely destroying their perfect shape.

• Insulation while Cooking: While baking chicken or fish, wrapping the meat in parchment paper makes a steam pocket that cooks the meat in a gentle manner. It comes out with a tender, moist, and succulent texture that has the guests coming back for seconds. And unlike plastic wrap or cling sheet that suffocates the food by blocking out air, parchment paper allows it to breathe. This ensures that the food stays fresh and crisp and does not turn soggy.

• Easy Cleanup: Parchment paper’s resistance to grease and moisture makes the process of cleaning infinitely easier and faster. Food does not crumble, burn, or stick stubbornly to the pan, and we do not need to spend endless hours viciously scrubbing the pans to get the food stains out. Even our plates and pans remain fresh and usable for longer.

• Easy Storage: One of the most pressing concerns in today’s age is the wastage of food through irresponsible or careless storage. Even with the most attentive care, our food sometimes begins to corrode or smell if not stored properly, eventually leaving us with no option but to throw it out. However, with parchment paper, the food remains fresh and healthy for longer, its nutrients remain intact, and its texture remains unhampered. Thus, simply wrapping our food in it makes it durable and edible for longer.

In conclusion, taking all these profuse advantages of using parchment paper while cooking, microwaving, and baking, we have no choice but to stock our kitchens with abounding amounts of it. Its usage washes away any of the frills that hamper the joy of cooking and baking, and allows us to passionately indulge in it to our heart’s desire. Parchment paper and its usage ensures that our culinary processes are riddled with the utmost ease and comfort.