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RICARDO Silicone Baking Mat
A silicone mat is a wonderful replacement for parchment paper when baking. You can use it for cookies, pie or pastry doughs, macarons, scones, vegetables and even some meats! Most foods that you would cook on parchment paper can be cooked on a non-stick mat.
Heat conduction is affected by silicone, and also, the mat’s non-stick surface allows, for example, cookies to spread and therefore brown faster. This would require you to get into the habit of checking on them a couple of minutes before the baking time is up.
How to maintain your mat
1. Don’t use a knife on it: If you pierce the silicone mat or slice through it, not only will it become more difficult to clean and therefore deteriorate quicker than you’d like, it will also expose the fibreglass inside; direct contact and inhalation may cause nose, throat, skin and eye irritation. It’s always imperative to move food from the mat onto a cutting board before slicing.
2. Don’t use the broil setting with it: Silicone mats have a temperature limit (our RICARDO brand mats can withstand temperatures of up to 240°C/464°F). So it is wise to not cook with them at very high temperatures or on broil. This is due to the mat’s non-stick coating, which usually tends to break down at temperatures of 260°C/500°F and above. This can cause some discolouration, degrade or damage its non-stick coating, and maybe even release toxic fumes. If you need to cook a recipe at a high temperature, only use non-stick cookware and bakeware that is made to be used in high heat.
3. Don’t use too much sauce: It is also wise to not cook any foods that are too sauce-laden, as it can leak onto and underneath the pan, causing it to stick. This not only makes the mat difficult to clean, but oily residue left from the sauce can remain and make it feel greasy to the touch. And if you also bake cookies on this mat, this greasiness can cause them to spread even faster and further. In this case, we even suggest having separate mats for sweet and savoury recipes.
4. Always wash the mat immediately: To prevent oily build-up and smell absorption, it’s recommended you wash your silicone mat after each use. Simply wash it in warm, soapy water and be sure to let it dry completely before using it again.