Will Parchment Paper Catch Fire In The Oven | Know The Common Mistakes

Parchment paper is a great thing to bake with because it won’t stick to your food and makes cleanup a breeze. It’s so popular that you can even find people baking with parchment paper on Facebook and Youtube, which may be one of the most popular uses and probably why you are reading this article now. But what happens if you need to check on your recipe while your food is cooking in the oven?

Are you afraid that if you open the door and let out some of the heat, you might also let in oxygen that could cause the greasy cooking sheet to burst into flames? Will parchment paper catch fire in the oven? It’s not likely, but let’s investigate why. As a safety precaution, we’ll also discuss what to do if your parchment paper catches on fire while you’re cooking.

Will Parchment Paper Burn In The Oven?

The answer is yes, but it’s not something you should worry about. Parchment paper is made from highly flammable cellulose fibers. But the paper itself is coated with silicone and other materials that make it fire-retardant. The silicone coating also makes the paper nonstick and easy to clean.

If you’ve ever had trouble with a piece of parchment paper catching on fire in the oven, it’s because of one of two things:

1. You used an old sheet that had been exposed to high heat and allowed to cool. The silicone coating will start to break down when exposed to high heat for an extended period. So, any leftover sheets from previous bakes should be discarded after a few months.
2. The oven temperature was too high. Silicone melts at around 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 230 degrees Celsius. So, keeping your oven temperature below 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius will prevent any issues with burning through the coating on your parchment paper.

Which Causes The Oven To Catch Fire?

Here are some common mistakes that you can do to catch your oven on fire:

Using a Plastic Container to Cook Food

Using a plastic container will cause overheating of the pan and eventually cause the pan to melt and catch fire.

Not Cleaning the Burner After Cooking

If you do not clean the burners after cooking, the residue left behind will soon catch fire when you start cooking again.

Standing Near an Open Flame While Cooking

This is very dangerous and can cause serious injuries if a fire occurs while doing so.

Ignoring the Warning Signs

Do you know what to do if your oven catches fire? The first thing to do is turn off the heat and pull out the racks, then cover the oven door with a wet towel. This will help prevent the fire from spreading. If possible, open a window and leave the area until help arrives.

Using Foil Pans

Foil containers can cause a fire because they reflect heat back into the oven. Foil containers also melt easily, which causes them to drip hot liquid onto your oven floor or burners. So, never use foil pans in your oven.

What To Do If Parchment Paper Catches Fire In The Oven?

If you place a sheet of parchment paper in the oven and it catches fire, don’t panic. You can use a fire extinguisher or baking soda. If you have a fire extinguisher, use it.

Using a Fire Extinguisher

If you have one in your kitchen, use it to put out the parchment paper’s flame. Fire extinguishers are labeled with a number that indicates how much fire they can put out. When you cannot decide about a fire extinguisher, call 911 and ask for help from the fire department.

Using Baking Soda

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, try to use baking soda for pouring on top of the flames to smother them. Be careful not to get burned by any sparks that fly up!

If you don’t have any of these methods available, follow the below steps:

1. Turn off the oven immediately by closing the door and shutting off the gas valve. Do not open the oven door until it has cooled down completely.

2. Leave the house and call 911 from outside if necessary.

3. Keep your distance from the burning parchment paper as much as possible. Let it burn out on its own before attempting to remove it from the oven or doing anything else to put out the flames unless you have a fire extinguisher.

Frequently Asked Questions

At What Temperature Does Parchment Paper Burn?

The answer depends on how much heat you’re applying to it. Parchment paper is made from a blend of wood pulp and wax or synthetic polymer, so it burns at a relatively low temperature. Usually, parchment Paper Burns At 451 degrees Fahrenheit or 232 degrees Celsius.

Suppose you leave a piece of parchment paper in an oven set at 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 232 degrees Celsius. In that case, it will begin to burn after about eight minutes, according to Cook’s Illustrated magazine. This is because the heat causes the paper’s surface layer to soften and absorb grease from your food as it cooks while also causing the inner layers to begin burning. When these layers ignite, they ignite each other in a chain reaction that produces flames and smoke.

Is Parchment Paper Safe In The Oven?

In most cases, yes, parchment paper is safe to use in the oven. But you have to be aware of when it’s not. Parchment paper can catch fire in certain situations. You can’t leave any paper near an open flame like a pilot light, and you definitely shouldn’t leave parchment paper unattended while it’s in the oven. Because a fire can start if it catches on fire and burns up before you notice. If you want to avoid using any kind of parchment while baking, you can use heavy-duty foil instead.

Conclusion

Parchment paper can catch fire in the oven, but it’s very rare. Your odds of fire are exponentially higher when you’re using aluminum foil to line your baking sheet. Although parchment paper is highly unlikely to catch on fire, if it does someday, you’ll be ready because you know how to deal with it.