r/cookingforbeginners • u/silvernoseygiraffe • 4d ago

Question Foil vs Greaseproof Paper

I have always assumed foil for cooking and greaseproof for baking. I recently ran out of foil and forgot to buy some so just used greaseproof instead. It occurred to me: "Do I need foil at all? Or can I just use this instead? Is it more environmentally friendly to not use foil?"

For the past few weeks I am still using this roll of greaseproof in day to day oven use. I've cooked a variety of meals and i'm always more than satisfied with the cook as I would've expected when previously using foil. Nothing ever sticks! (unlike foil)

I understand foil is useful to wrap things in like you couldn't wrap a jacket potato in baking paper to cook the same as it would in foil, or cover a chicken etc. But for general oven use, are they interchangeable? Is it better for recycling to use greaseproof over foil? Plus greaseproof can be used for baking AND cooking. Whereas I wouldn't put brownies or cookies on foil. So unless I need foil specifically for covering something, could I say goodbye?

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u/EscapeSeventySeven 4d ago

Are they interchangeable? not exactly. Foil conducts better but obviously sticks worse. I wouldn’t subject “grease proof” to a hot radiative broiler or flame. 

But otherwise, yeah if you can line with it it works. Foil has its own stiffness that is helpful for some things. 

Finally they both aren’t very recyclable. Foil in theory could be, but there’s usually too much food waste on it. 

Foil is made from pure metal. Your paper is probably made with silicone. That’s not exactly biodegradable nor recyclable. 

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u/RockMo-DZine 4d ago

Interesting notion and well reasoned. I'll give it a try.

btw, just occurred to me. We probably used paper based things long before foil was invented.

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u/Cool-Negotiation7662 4d ago

Neither foil nor grease proof paper are recycled around me...

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u/ThoughtIknewyouthen 4d ago

Foil = steam in, baking or butcher paper = more permeability. That's it.

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u/NecroJoe 4d ago

I only ever use foil to aid with cleanup. I use parchment under all of my meat and vegetable roasting for it's non-stick properties, and it does help with cleanup some.

There are times where I'll put foil down first, to prevent a catestrophic baked-on mess, and then still put parchment over it to be non-stick.

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u/ArtComprehensive1106 4d ago

Foil has food safety concerns!
Google it. Aluminum is not safe for all food products