That overpriced silicone baking mat I bought was a total letdown

I spent $35 on a fancy silicone mat from a kitchen store two months ago because I thought it would replace parchment paper forever. First time using it at 375 degrees for cookies, the edges curled up and it slid around the pan. Now it sits in a drawer while I just use the $4 roll of parchment from the grocery store. Anyone else fallen for the hype on these things?

2 comments

2 Comments

william_taylor18d ago

Actually, most silicone mats are fine up to like 450 or even 500 degrees, not 350. I looked it up after I almost melted one once. The real issue is that a lot of them say "oven safe" but don't tell you the edges are flimsy if they're not the right brand. I got a cheap one off Amazon and it curled at 400, but my friend's Silpat has been through hell and back at 425 with no problems.

the_jenny18d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, were you using it without anything underneath? Those silicone mats actually need to sit flat on the pan with nothing between them and the metal, otherwise they slide around like crazy. Also most of them are only rated up to 350 degrees, so 375 might have been pushing it past what the edges could handle. I ruined my first one the same way before I read the fine print on the package. It's still not a perfect replacement for parchment though, especially for crispy things where you want that browning effect.