Silicone Baking Mats - neat tips for using them

Have you used any of the newfangled silicone baking sheets that have been out for a few years?

I've had a popular brand of silicone baking sheets in the past, and they've worked fairly well.

Silicone baking mats replace the need for parchment paper, wax paper, oil, or grease!

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    However, when I received this BakeItFun Silicone Baking Mat, I realized that this new product was going to be a lot more fun to use! It's a standard half size baking sheet size, which is great, about 1/2" narrower in width than the Silpat. It fits my rimmed baking sheets better.  This is a USA Half Size Baking Mat - 16-1/2" x 11" (280x420mm).

    See the "ruler edge" on all four sides of the baking mat?  I really like the measurement guides on all four sides because they make the mat so versatile. Nice for rolling out dough to the correct measurements!  I also think the "cookie placement" circles on the sheet itself are a great option. I'll be using this for years to come.

Make French fries with no oils!  There's no need to turn the fries or potato wedges half way through the baking time, because they evenly brown on both sides.  Best of all, the crispy browned outside edge of the fries or wedges stay where they're supposed to, without being left behind on your pans. If you're eating the Trim Healthy Mama way, this will be perfect for E meals!

Use your mat in the freezer, microwave and conventional ovens.  I'd not thought of the freezer or microwave before!

Use your baking mat for kneading dough or rolling pie crust. 
No sticking, and no adding extra flour unless you want to!

Roast veggies in the oven, without a mess.

Low-carb, alternative pizza crusts work well on these mats, without sticking, even Trim Healthy Mama-approved and Paleo low-carb recipe options. 

When putting egg washes on homemade breads, it's easy to clean it up after baking the bread.    




 

Freeze individual pieces of fruit and veggies on the mats, and place them in storage bags or containers after they have frozen.

Dipping chocolates and other candies for the holidays?  They won't stick to these mats.  Nor will your taffy and caramel candies!

Spread out homemade fruit leather on the mats to dehydrate in the oven.

Make those fancy restaurant Parmesan Cups:  Grate fresh Parmesan cheese and sprinkle it in a circle on top of the silicone baking mat.  Bake until cheese is light gold in color.  While hot, put the cheese         "circle" over a small ramekin and top it with a larger one until it cools.

Make lollipops without a mold (Glass Candy), or Stained Glass Cookies.

Do you like cheesy nachos but don't like cleaning up afterward?  Using a silicone baking mat will solve your problems with clean-up.

   Do you have other ideas for using silicone baking mats?  If so, I'd love to be able to share them here with future readers, so please leave a comment below, and I'll add it to my list!  Thanks.  ☺

Helpful tips on using silicone baking mats:

• Use your silicone baking mats only within the temperature guidelines that are allowed.  The BakeItFun Silicone Baking Mats are safe to use from -40F° (-40° C) to 450° F (230° C).  Different mats may have different temperature requirements.
  
• After washing silicone baking mats in warm or hot soapy water, let them air dry by rolling them and standing them on end or setting them on top of other drying dishes.
• It's not safe to use cookie cutters, pastry wheels, knives, or anything sharp on silicone baking mats.  While the silicone baking mats are great for rolling out sticky dough, the doughs can't be trimmed directly on top of the mats without the possibility of damaging the mats.  Once the fiberglass mesh is exposed, it may contaminate your baked goods.  Never cut silicone baking mats down to another size or shape.
  

 

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