Silicone baking mats are one of the most versatile kitchen accessories you can have as a baker. Silicone baking mats have a couple of special things about them that make them unique.
- no greasing necessary
- no flour required on the silicone baking mat to roll out dough
- capable of almost every temperature in the oven and in the freezer
- easy to clean – wipe with a damp cloth
- reusable
- Make sure silicone baking mat is clean. Place it on a baking sheet.
- Pipe or place dough, batter, etc. on the baking mat.
- Bake food for required time on your recipe.
- Remove the food from the oven.
- Let macarons cool while still on the baking mat. Other foods can be taking off of the silicone baking mat and onto a cooling rack.
- Wipe the silicone baking mat clean with a damp cloth and set to dry.
- Silicone baking mat can be rolled up or stored flat.
How to use a silicone mat for macarons
When you’re using your silicone mat, make sure it’s completely free of grease, debris, etc. You only want to use your silicone baking mat when it’s very clean. If it has residual grease on the baking mat, your macarons will absorb the grease and will not turn out.
If you’re using a silicone baking mat for macarons, you need to bake them for an extra minute or two. The texture of the silicone requires them to be baked longer than using parchment paper. Otherwise, the macarons will come off of the silicone baking mat not fully cooked. They will be a bit gummy on the bottom, making them not a perfect flat bottom.
Pipe the macaron batter directly on the silicone baking mat. Let them dry for 30 minutes, and then bake them for the required amount of time, plus 1-2 minutes.
Drying the macarons for 30 minutes allows a skin to form on the macarons, which makes them have a perfect shell when they bake.
How to use a silicone baking mat for chocolate
Silicone mats are special because they have a bit of a thickness to them, which makes it very easy to peel delicate foods of the silicone mat.
Silicone baking mats can easily be put in the fridge or freezer for intricate foods like piped chocolate decorations.
Place the silicone baking mat in the freezer with your piped chocolate decorations for about 20 minutes. You can gently peel the chocolate off of the mat, and then use for your dessert decoration.
How to use a silicone baking mat for rolling out dough
Place your dough directly on the silicone baking mat. Only flour your rolling pin and the dough. Roll out your dough to your required thickness. You can use cookie cutters to cut the cookie dough out while the dough is still on the mat. Gently lift the cookie off with a a flat spatula.
How long do silicone baking mats last
Silicone baking mats last 2000-3000 bakes in the oven. Depending on how many times you bake per year, your silicone baking mats should last 5-10 years.
Silicone baking mat substitute
You can substitute parchment paper for a silicone baking mat. Silicone baking mats act as reusable parchment paper.
Silicone baking mat vs Parchment paper
| Silicone Baking Mat (Silpat) | Parchment Paper |
|---|---|
| Reusable | One time use |
| Lines a baking sheet | Can line many different baking pans such as: baking sheet, loaf pan, deep baking sheet, cake pans |
| Cookies - need to cook for a couple min longer than parchment paper, roast vegetables, caramel, butter lamination | Cookies, scones, cakes, breads |
| Do not use over 500 degrees F. Ok to use for almost every temperature in the oven | Do not use over 420 degrees F - has the potential to burn the paper |
| Flatter more rounder cookies | Cookies will be taller and will not spread out as much |
Are silicone baking mats dishwasher safe
Silicone baking mats are not dishwasher safe. They need to wiped down with a cloth and a small amount of dish soap to remove any grease that may be present. This will help the silicone mat retain it’s life and remain well kept for future baking.
