How come people don't use wax paper any more? My mother used

[raccoon]

it a lot, mostly when baking.

I haven't used it in ages.

[silverweb]

1. Several reasons.

Waxed paper isn't transparent like plastic wrap; it doesn't cling for sealing like plastic wrap; and it's not airtight like plastic wrap.

I've been doing my best to get away from plastic, though, and have started using waxed paper again, mainly for wrapping partially used foods that will be used up on 24 hours or less.

When waxed paper is not the best option, I generally use a food storage container with an airtight lid, like these by Pyrex.

[trud]

2. I hate plastic

and use as little as possible.

I have a box of waxed paper in my pantry, but have no real use for it. My Mom used it to line cake pans, but it seems unnecessary.

[kestrel91316]

3. Waxed paper isn't waxed anymore, IIRC. It's plastic coated.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. No way! Tell me this isn't true!!!!!!!!!!

I use waxed paper all the time in the microwave when heating things so that I don't have to worry about plastic melting onto the food.

Now what will I do!!!!!!!!!!

:puke:

[Lars39]

5. I use old glass lids for reheating plates of food in the microwave.

I use wax paper for making pie crusts, though.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Oh man, I can't think of any round glass lids that I have

that would fit over a dinner plate. Sounds like a great idea though. Maybe I will have to use a paper towel instead of plastic waxed paper.

I wouldn't worry about the waxed paper for pie crusts (pie crusts???? Does this mean pie????? Yummy!). It is the heating of plastic that is really a problem.

[Lars39]

7. I found mine second-hand.

I think the larger one used to fit a big crock pot. I don't do fruit pies anymore, but I make a kick-ass chicken pot pie. :9

[eleny]

11. That's a terrific idea - thanks

I see them often at the thrift although we do have one for our crock-pot. I bet I have others around here from long ago that I've stashed.

[kestrel91316]

8. Actually, I think I was wrong, though it uses a petroleum based wax:

From Wikipedia:

"....There are multiple environmental issues concerned with wax paper. It is biodegradable, although synthetic additives such as petroleum mean that it is unadvisable to do so. Wax paper also can not be recycled...."

I guess it's slightly better than plastic. Even if it's just paraffin wax, I wouldn't microwave it in contact with food.

[silverweb]

9. *sigh*

I guess it's time to invest in more Pyrex.

[northoftheborder]

13. wax paper

How do you know it is plastic, not waxed? I use it for various things in the kitchen, it looks like it always has, waxy.

[TygrBright]

10. I use it all the time!

I pack my sandwiches and cookies in it to take to work for lunch. I wrap cheese in it, then put the wrapped cheese in a loose paper bag and it lasts forever, hardly ever gets moldy. I use it as a liner for the tray I slide prepped food items onto from the cutting board. I wrap a tablespoon of grated ginger in it and twist it up and keep it in the refrigerator for a couple of days. I slide it under the cooling racks when I bake cookies I'm going to frost or shake powdered nuts onto or drizzle melted chocolate onto. I sift confectioner's sugar onto it and then pick it up (carefully) and let it slide into the pan on the stove.

I could go on like this for hours. Suffice to say I use it a lot. It's cheap and I don't feel too guilty about crumpling it up and throwing it away.

helpfully,
Bright

[lbrtbell]

12. I use it more for crafting than cooking, actually - n/t