What’s the Difference Between Wax Paper and Butter Paper?

Do you know what is the most common mistake made by home cooks? It’s reaching for wax paper when you actually need butter paper. Both the papers look identical but one is a master of the freezer whereas the other is the king of the baking. So do your know which is which? Well here is a hint for you. One is processed to withstand heat while the other melts at high temperature. Hence the answer is, wax paper is used to prep and wrap food and butter paper goes in the oven. But before you ruin your next baking tray let’s make a comparison between wax paper vs butter paper and find the differences.

A quick comparison of wax paper vs butter paper

Both wax and butter paper have a translucent, waxy appearance which make them look identical. However, behind their crinkly exterior look is a profound difference that can either save your meal or cause a culinary disaster. Therefore, it is important to know the difference to avoid any kitchen hazard.

What is wax paper?

If you haven’t seen a wax paper before, then it is a thin, translucent tissue-like paper with a coated paraffin or soybean wax on both sides. This food-grade paraffin coating acts as a barrier against moisture and preserves freshness. This is the reason a wax paper is known as the “Moisture Specialist” of the kitchen. However, every advantage has its disadvantages and in the case of wax paper the biggest drawback is the heat. It is not heat-resistant. Therefore, keep wax paper out of the oven otherwise the wax will melt and ruin your food and the oven. At higher temperatures like 120°F or above, the paper itself will scorch and can catch fire.

What is butter paper?

Many people know butter paper by another name that is ‘Sandwich Paper’ or ‘Greaseproof Paper’. It is identical to a wax paper in appearance and texture, the only difference is butter paper is a little dense and non-porous that’s why it prevents grease from seeping through. It can tolerate a high temperature of 450°F, thus making it the gold standard for baking cakes, cookies, and pastries.
Many people often ask, “Is butter paper same as parchment paper? However, the answer is ‘NO’. Due to high heat tolerance of the both they might share some similar functional use but there is a difference between parchment paper and butter paper. The difference lies in their coating. Parchment paper is silicon -coated whereas butter-paper has a wax coating. That’s why parchment paper has an edge over the butcher paper in the oven.

When to reach for wax paper vs butter paper

While they look like twins in the drawer, wax paper lives for the ‘cold’ side of cooking, while butter paper thrives where things get a little greasy. In case you don’t make any mistake next time we have listed the top uses of both types of papers.

Best uses of wax paper

It is perfect for rolling out pie crusts or pizza dough without the mess.
You can use it to separate hamburger patties or steaks in the freezer so they don’t stick together.
If you are breading chicken or decorating cookies line your countertop with wax paper for an easy cleanup.
You can also place chocolate-dipped strawberries, truffles, or fudge on it for cooling.

Best uses of butter paper (H3)

You can wrap greasy burgers, buttery croissants, or oily kebabs in it without the mess.
It is used as a rustic-looking liner for fish and chips or appetizers served in baskets.
Among all butter paper uses, the most prominent one is it is excellent for lining cake tins and brownie pans.
Since butter paper is breathable in nature, it is excellent for wrapping hard cheeses to prevent mold growth.

Wax paper vs butter paper for baking

Everyone loves home baked cakes, cookies, and pastries but choosing the wrong roll for baking often turns baking activity into a kitchen disaster. So, if you are serious about baking, butter paper is the winner every time. It offers the high-heat safety that wax paper lacks. But you can use wax paper to wrap cooled cake slices, no-bake cheese crusts, cookies, or to elevate your food presentation. Just remember! Whatever you are baking butter is the safest option.

Conclusion

In the debate between wax paper vs butter paper, we get to know their differences and kitchen uses. And at the end of the day, choosing between the both comes down to one simple question: Is there heat involved? For this just remember the golden rule of the kitchen, when the oven dial turns up, leave the wax paper in the drawer. And if you need food-grade packaging, you can contact us. Boxit Packages is offering all types of parchment, wax, butter, butcher paper, and custom Kraft packaging boxes that are durable and food-safe. You can order online and avail free shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, using wax paper for baking cookies, cakes, and pastry is a fire hazard. Wax paper melts at 120°F whereas the temperature inside the baking oven is more than 400°F. Therefore, it's not safe to use wax paper for baking.

You can use wax paper to wrap your sandwiches, covering your food in the microwave, and storing food in the freezer.

Yes, it is safe to use wax paper in the microwave.

No. Both butter and wax paper are not eco-friendly. Wax paper is non-recyclable because of its wax coating whereas butter paper has a silicon coating which makes it non-recyclable.

Butter paper is usually slightly more expensive than wax paper due to the manufacturing process.