Freezer paper is excellent for storing meats and fish for long periods. Unlike other types of cooking paper, however, freezer paper doesn’t have many different uses. Can freezer paper go in the oven?
Freezer paper can not go in the oven. It’s coated with a wax, or sometimes plastic, coating that melts at high temperatures. To prevent this, don’t use freezer paper above 90°F. Only use freezer paper for storing food. Alternatives to freezer paper for food storage include wax paper, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap.
This article covers the multiple uses of freezer paper, including how it differs from parchment and butcher paper.
Later in the article, you’ll find a table comparing the three types of cookware paper based on a handful of categories.
What is the use of freezer paper?
Freezer paper is thick and coated with wax or plastic on one side, boasting a paper layer on the exterior.
Freezer paper is used for storing food in the freezer. The food is placed on the wax-coated side of the freezer paper, which locks in moisture and prevents oxidation to reduce freezer burn and spoilage.
The other side of the freezer paper is used to write down the type of meat inside and the date you froze it.
What other uses does freezer paper have? Well, people also use freezer paper for wrapping cheese. It allows the cheese to breathe but ensures it doesn’t dry out.
Another use of freezer paper is in craft projects. It is used for painting and quilting.
A Handy Tip: Freezer paper uses heavy-duty paper and appears much stronger than foil. It is used for storing meat such as chicken and steak.
Let the wax portion remain inside with the paper layer outside when using freezer paper. Now place the cut of meat in the freezer paper and use tape to shut it. But that’s not all. Now, wrap the entire package using an aluminum foil’s airtight layer.
Can freezer paper go in the oven?
Freezer paper is great for storage, but that’s about it. Can it go in the oven?
Freezer paper can not go in the oven. The wax coating is not heat resistant and can melt into the food as it cooks. Keep freezer paper away from high temperatures and only use it to store food.
Freezer paper can also catch fire in the oven after the wax melts. The paper cannot withstand high temperatures and will ignite if it gets too hot.
You can think of parchment paper as the ideal material for heat, while freezer paper is for cold temperatures, including sustaining the freshness of meat and cheese.
It’s unsafe and hazardous to use any plastic in the oven or microwave.
A Handy Tip: The freezer paper contains everything required to keep your meat colorful, fresh, and flavorful for up to 12 months. To make food last longer, wrap it in freezer paper and put it in another container to freeze.
Is freezer paper the same thing as parchment paper?
Freezer paper and parchment paper don’t share many similarities. Parchment paper is the more versatile of the two.
Freezer paper is not the same thing as parchment paper. Freezer paper should be used solely for storing and freezing foods, while parchment paper is used for baking and cooking in the oven. Unlike parchment paper, freezer paper cannot go in the oven.
Parchment paper is also called baking paper. However, most people name freezer paper and baking paper interchangeably, though they’re not the same material.
The differences between freezer paper and parchment paper
These two types of paper are used for different kinds of things in the kitchen.
Let’s take a look at the three key differences between freezer and parchment paper.
- Coatings
- Different uses
- Temperature tolerance
Coatings
Parchment paper and freezer paper differ in the coating material used.
Parchment paper is coated with silicone for its heat-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick properties. Freezer paper is covered with wax or plastic, which is not heat-resistant.
Additionally, parchment paper comes in bleached and unbleached varieties.
Different uses
Parchment paper and freezer paper have different uses. Can parchment paper go in the oven?
Parchment paper is used for cooking or reheating foods. Its heat resistance makes it ideal to use in the oven. Another name for parchment paper is baking paper, as it is essential in baking. Freezer paper is used for storing food, commonly meat and fish, in the freezer.
Another use of freezer paper is to store cheese. It allows the cheese to breathe but, at the same time, prevents it from drying out.
So, you can see that parchment paper and freezer paper have diverse uses.
Do not use freezer paper as a parchment paper substitute.
Temperature tolerance
What temperature can both materials tolerate? As the name implies, you can use freezer paper in the freezer. You can use it to store your meat, fish, and even cheese.
Parchment paper can withstand temperatures between 420 and 450°F. Freezer paper, however, should not be used above 90°F as the wax or plastic coating will start to melt.
So, you can use freezer paper in the freezer, as it can tolerate low temperatures. However, you cannot use freezer paper in the oven. Why? The heat from the appliance would melt the wax and paper coating.
Is freezer paper the same thing as butcher paper?
Freezer paper and butcher paper can both be used for food storage, but their similarities essentially end there.
Freezer paper is different from butcher paper. Freezer paper is used strictly for freezing food. Butcher paper can be used for storage and cooking inside the oven or smoking meats. Butcher paper is not coated in plastic or wax and is heat-resistant up to 500°F.
Another name for butcher paper is “Kraft paper.” It is produced from Kraft pulp and is quite heavy-duty. Butcher paper is also like a brown paper bag, though it is much sturdier and thicker.
So, what’s the primary use of butcher paper? As the name suggests, butcher papers are produced for use by butchers. They serve as papers for wrapping meat cuts before being distributed to customers.
This paper is inexpensive and foldable. And you can cut it to size to wrap any quantity of meat you want to wrap.
A Handy Tip: Put your meat in butcher paper and store it in a freezer. It freezes fine. The only challenge you’ll have with keeping meat in butcher paper is that the paper can’t hold the juices. So, your freezer will be a mess by the time you’re ready to use the meat.
Freezer paper is excellent for storing meat in the freezer, as the name suggests, because of its wax coating that helps hold meat juices in place.
The differences between freezer paper and butcher paper
Freezer paper and butcher paper are not the same thing. In fact, they’re very different. Each is used for storage, but other vital differences set them far apart from each other.
Here are the primary differences between freezer paper and butcher paper.
- Coating
- Different uses
- Temperature tolerance
Coatings
The two types of paper have different coatings.
Butcher paper is made with a coating referred to as “sizing,” and freezer paper has a wax or plastic coating, making it unusable in the oven.
As such, butcher paper is usable in the oven, but the wax coating on freezer paper becomes hazardous at high temperatures.
Different uses
These papers are used for different things because of how they’re made.
Butcher paper is used for wrapping raw meat and fish, often for short storage periods. Unlike freezer paper, butcher paper becomes soggy from the meat’s moisture and is not as good for freezer storage. Butcher paper is excellent for smoking meats or cooking in the oven.
Temperature tolerance
The most notable difference between the two types of paper is the temperature tolerance.
Butcher paper can withstand temperatures up to 500°F, whereas freezer paper should not be used above 90°F.
Ideally, freezer paper should only be used for freezing foods and should not be exposed to temperatures above room temperature.
| Comparison | Freezer paper | Parchment paper | Butcher paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coating | Plastic or wax | Silicone | Sizing |
| Uses | Freezing meats; table cover for crafts | Baking or oven cooking | Wrapping raw meat or fish; smoking meats and oven cooking |
| Temperature tolerance | Less than 90°F | 420-450°F | 500°F |
| Useable in the oven? | No | Yes | Yes |
Does freezer paper prevent freezer burn?
Freezer burn isn’t the end of the world, but it’s a sign you didn’t store the food properly. Does freezer paper help mitigate freezer burn?
Freezer paper prevents freezer burn by keeping air away from the food to prevent oxidation and by locking in moisture with its one-sided wax coating.
Freezer burn is damage experienced by food stored in the freezer.
This damage is due to oxidation and moisture loss. It clearly indicates that the food wasn’t appropriately wrapped in airtight packaging. Thus, the air has reached the stored food and initiated spoilage.
The freezer paper’s weight makes it easier to conform to the food item wrapped inside of it. These characteristics put freezer paper in a better place to prevent freezer burn.
Can freezer paper go in the microwave?
We have revealed here that freezer paper cannot go in the oven. Now the question is, can it go in the microwave?
Freezer paper cannot go in the microwave because the average temperature of household microwaves (100°F) exceeds the maximum temperature tolerance of freezer paper (90°F). Freezer paper has a wax or plastic coating on one side, which melts at high temperatures.
The wax or plastic coating could melt and seep into your food. There is a possibility of the paper side catching fire, too. So, it is not safe to use freezer paper in the microwave or the oven.
3 freezer paper alternatives
If you don’t have freezer paper in your kitchen, don’t panic! Other alternatives are available. Let’s discuss each of them.
- Wax paper
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
Wax paper
This paper boasts a wax coating, giving it an excellent ability to prevent dehydration of your stored foods. So, food items stored in wax paper can remain fresh for a considerable period.
Aluminum foil
If you’re wondering, “Can I use aluminum foil in the oven?” here’s your answer!
Use aluminum foil if you don’t have freezer or wax paper. It can handle hot and cold temperatures. Aluminum foil can also prevent moisture loss to some extent.
Plastic wrap
This wrap does a great job storing food items in the refrigerator and reheating them. You can also use it to store foods in the freezer short-term. The only drawback is that it doesn’t prevent moisture loss like other alternatives.
Do not put plastic wrap in the oven or microwave.
Summary of Can freezer paper go in the oven?
Freezer paper can not go in the oven because of the wax coating on one side that melts at high temperatures.
Freezer paper helps store meat, fish, cheese, and even seafood in the freezer. Its plastic coating helps it shut out air and trap moisture in the stored food item, preventing freezer burn.
You cannot use freezer paper in the microwave. Furthermore, we also explained that freezer paper and butcher paper aren’t the same. Butcher paper is thicker but not a wise choice for storing meat or other food items in the freezer.
If you need to use paper in the oven, use parchment or butcher paper.