Types of Silicone Baking Mats

Last Updated: March 1, 2022

Table Of Contents [show]

Features of The Culinary Product

How to Choose a Silicone Mat for The Oven

How to Use the Baking Mat

Applications in and Out of The Kitchen

Nowadays, the silicone baking mats are considered to be among the most useful kitchen tools that not only make cooking more enjoyable and easy. The real silicone baking mat was invented in the late 1980s. Sadly, however, no one believed that such a product could be created, and she was mocked by her family and friends. Undeterred by their disbelief, however, she still decided to make this product a reality.

Her invention comprises special molds that can make food in the form of eggs, muffins, cookies, and other shapes. The use of silicone mold makes it possible to cook food evenly. This is how the original Silicone baking mat appeared. This event changed not only her life, but also the world of cooking. Now every housewife silicone takes advantage of this amazing material.

Silicone baking mat is one of the most efficient baking tools to make great pastry. Made of 100% food-grade silicone material, this heat resistant product is able to withstand temperatures from -40°C till +230°C. Its texture creates a non-stick surface that ensures cookies and pastries come out smooth and intact.

Preventing it from sticking to the cookie or pastry allows air to circulate, allowing for maximum browning of the cookie. Silicone baking mats make cooking and baking much more convenient. The mat is flexible, non-stick and reusable. A must have in every pantry.

Innovations in technology play important roles in increasing the efficiency of everyday tasks we perform. This is true for baking as well. Baking in a dream house, just like modern appliances and kitchen utensils make our lives more convenient, silicone baking mat is another innovation that prevents us from having to dirty a number of dishes while we bake.

The heat-resistant silicone baking mat for baking in the oven still raises some doubts among housewives. In fact, it is a much-needed and very necessary helper in the modern kitchen. Silicone does not stick to raw dough and cooked products, it does not require oil, easy to care for and store.

Thanks to its compactness, the roll does not require much space in the cabinet, it cannot tear or get damaged. Why do you need such a kitchen appliance in your kitchen, how to use it correctly and how to choose a durable and practical one?

Features of The Culinary Product

Silicone baking mats have become trendy over the past few years and have now become the number one accessory in all kitchens. Silicone baking mats are made of heat resistant silicone. The temperature range that these silicone products can withstand is -40 to +260 degrees.

The mat can safely be placed in the oven, but the temperature must be carefully controlled. For best results, ideally the mat should not be used above 375 F (190 C). Sherlock Hemlock’s Third Law of Thermodynamics: hot items cool better on silicone baking pads than on metal cookie sheets.

The silicone mat is very practical and can be used in the kitchen, on the table, for various tasks. The main function of the accessory is to provide a non-stick surface and keep cookware clean, thus making cleaning easier.

A thin sheet is much easier to clean than a tray or large pan. At the same time, silicone does not absorb odors and fats, which allows you to safely use the same product for cooking different types of dishes.

The mats are available in a choice of two-sided or one-sided. In the case of a double-sided mat, you can bake on both sides. In the one-sided one, the second side does not have a smooth surface, this is done to prevent slipping on the table.

Smooth surfaces are handy for baking large items as well as small portions. They are suitable for baking pizzas on them, as well as cookies, muffins and muffins.

Anyone who has used baking paper knows how some items stick to it. Using a silicone baking mat solves this problem. Now you can easily remove your creation from the baking paper without sticking it to the baking paper. To ensure that the silicone baking mat lasts a long time, you should avoid cutting it with a sharp knife and cleaning it with metal sponges and brushes.

Washing in the dishwasher is acceptable, but not necessary, as its surface only needs to be washed in warm water. Always use nylon or plastic spoons to move anything on the silicone baking mat. And don’t store food directly in the mat, this can damage its surface. To avoid any problems that may arise when using a silicone baking mat, you need to follow all the instructions and recommendations.

How to Choose a Silicone Mat for The Oven

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. Here you can prepare not only a noble holiday dinner, but also a delicious tea or a great dessert. To fulfill the different functions in the kitchen, a new assortment of products appears every day. Items for each category are presented in the form of kits: recipe kits, food kits (sausages, ham), etc. The same goes for kitchen accessories.

Nowadays, many people are looking for non-stick mats and baking sheets to make cooking as easy and comfortable as possible. To find the right practical silicone baking mat for appetizing and beautiful baking, you should study the range, analyze the tasks and expectations.

Size and Shape - Important Criteria

Silicone mats are available in round, square and rectangular shapes. Round mats are suitable for baking, while rectangular mats are great for baking pans. When choosing a size, be guided by the size of the baking tray and the oven. But do not worry, if the mat turns out more than necessary, you can simply cut it. Its thickness is very important.

Thinner sheets let in more heat from the metal tray and are cheaper, but don’t skimp and choose a thicker layer. The thickness of the mat makes it less likely that the cookies will burn. Of course, the mat itself won’t burn, but overheating the baking tray can cause the bottom to turn brown. Professional silicone mats are sold in large rolls; you’ll have to cut them yourself.

Markup is a Handy Add-On

Markings are extremely useful and handy because they help you “cut” the dough into the desired shape and size. For example, a perfectly round pizza is easy to make on a square silicone mold with a circle marking. The ruler is convenient to use not only directly when rolling out on the sheet, but also simply by placing the marked side on the dough or other products during cooking.

The markings are usually very functional – several circles of different radii on different sides and a ruler in centimeters and millimeters. Smaller circles are used for depositing items such as meringues and eclairs.

Borders - a Useful Little Thing

To make biscuit rolls, use a heat-resistant silicone pastry mat with rims. The low rims prevent spillage and create the desired shape. It is not necessary to take the biscuit out of the mold, just grease it with whipped cream and roll it up.

However, nothing prevents you from baking other products on a baking tray with a rim. This method is also suitable for baking sheet marshmallows. But here there is one disadvantage – it is not possible to cut such a mold to reduce the size.

Perforations for Better Baking

Thanks to the micro perforations, the silicone surface allows hot air to pass through. The holes allow the heat to pass through, allowing the food to bake better. Perforated baking mats are not suitable for liquid dough, jam, or marmalade.

But they’re great for baking scones, bread, rolls, pies, and pizzas. The main thing is not to grease the food. Because then it will leak out and stain the surface of the baking tray. It is better to cover it with parchment paper for protection.

Notches - Advanced Features

Silicone baking mats with non-stick coatings and notches are worthy of special mention. They are not as versatile as smooth mats, but they are extremely useful for specific tasks. In the same category there are molds with cells for making even and beautifully shaped cookies, macarons, the neatest meringues.

There are other varieties, and each manufacturer seeks to find a unique solution to interest the consumer with their products. The advantages are that they are easy to put dough in and you do not have to think about the distance between the products, it is already provided in advance.

Textures Surface Features

If you want to buy a silicone texture mat, take your time and make sure it is designed for baking and not for patterning or embossing on raw dough. If the temperature range allows for baking in an oven, then feel free to buy it.

A textured surface is perfect for baking cupcakes and biscuits. The nonstick surface and elasticity of the silicone make it easy to remove the dough from the mold, and the pattern stays crisp and beautiful.

Silicone Mats for Serious Purposes

Thicker heat-resistant mats, which can be classified as trays, are designed for roasting meat as well as poultry and fish. In this area, the most interesting covers are those with frequent meshes. The fat in this case, as in the case of a grill pan, will be in less contact with the food itself, hence the food will be less greasy and less unhealthy.

The pronounced ribs provide extra air circulation, which allows the food to bake more evenly. This design is not suitable for working with liquid dough, but it can be used for baking bread.

How to Use the Baking Mat

You can only take advantage of the benefits of this useful device if you know how to use the silicone baking mat correctly. Otherwise, you may encounter failures.

The silicone baking mat is only suitable for baking on a hard, flat and smooth surface.
Silicone mats are non-stick and do not require additional oiling. However, for some recipes, oiling is recommended.
The surface of the silicone utensil is not suitable for working on the grill mode.
It is forbidden to cook on an open flame, and on a burner, even on an electric burner – even more so.
Cutting on silicone surfaces is undesirable, as there is a possibility of damage to this coating. But there are also wear-resistant types, because silicone is also used to make cutting boards for kitchens.
When working in a gas oven, the silicone baking mat should always be placed on a pan or tray, but not on a rack near a fire.
Lay the cloth is allowed in a rolled up form, fixing the rubber band or with a special clasp, depending on whether it is provided in this model.
They can also be used for cooking in the microwave oven.
As for washing, it is necessary to use cleaning agents without alkali.
Do not strongly roll up the silicone mat, this may lead to its premature damage.
Silicone products can be placed in both cold and hot ovens.

What’s more, if you don’t like the newfangled silicone, consider a baking stone. You can use it to make bread and pizzas without worrying about them burning or sticking.

Applications in and Out of The Kitchen

The non-stick silicone mat can be used not only for baking baked goods in the oven, with its help you can get much more :

Creating icing and chocolate decorations on products with indentations and drawing chocolate patterns and lace.
Ability to dry fruits, seeds and nuts in the oven and outdoors.
Use as a tray for hot dishes.
Freeze vegetables, fruits, and various prepared foods. Place the food on the silicone mat in the freezer, a tray can be used to give it hardness, and freeze it. Nothing will stick to the surface of the silicone. Frozen food will be easy to remove from this surface.
Molding with polymer clay or plasticine, probably already appreciated by many needleworkers using this kitchen novelty.
Rolls of minced meat or liver pâté. These products are not only easy to roll, but also to roll up on a silicone mat.
Roll out the dough with a rolling pin. On a silicone mat does not stick even the most capricious dough, and it is also easy to wash and dry. But you should pay attention to special mats and molds for rolling out dough and shaping reliefs. They are more adapted for these purposes.
Decorating with sugar mastic and rolling out layers to cover tores.
Shaping and breading cutlets, breading meat and fish.
Laying out and drying marshmallows. The marshmallows can be easily removed from the molds without being damaged.
Protects the surface of the table during crafts with hot objects, as well as glue and other caustic substances.

Using this cooking utensil, you can cook dishes such as steamed vegetables or baked chicken breast without using oil. Also, using these liners is less time-consuming because they are easy to use and easy to clean. They will last a long time as their popularity grows day by day. The price for food grade silicone kitchen utensils is very attractive, whether it is a brand name product or not.

A silicone baking mat is a very versatile item. It is used for cooking in the oven, in a pan, as well as for washing dishes. Like all silicone products, it has its advantages and disadvantages. It is a pleasant surprise that this silicone baking mat has the highest durability and flexibility.

It has a special place in the kitchen, and some as an accessory to the dining table. The advantages of this product are undeniable, and we have disclosed them in detail for your convenience.