Bakeries, Kitchen & Cooking Tips

Silicone Baking Mats Explained

Last updated on Oct 21, 2019
Angalena Malavenda

Silicone baking mats are very beneficial when baking in the kitchen and can be used to prepare a variety of delicious baked goods. Their nonstick design makes cleanup a breeze and they are reusable to reduce waste in your kitchen. Learn what silicone mats are, what they are used for, how to clean silicone mats, if silicone baking mats are safe to bake with, and more.

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What Is a Silicone Baking Mat?

A silicone baking mat is made of high-quality, food-grade silicone and fiberglass, and it is most often used to cover cookie sheets when baking. They are also perfect for baking messy or sticky concoctions because of their non-stick qualities. Silicone baking mats come in various shapes and sizes to fit different sizes of baking pans.

What Is a Silicone Baking Mat Used For?

Silicone Baking Mat

You can use a silicone baking mat in many different ways. Here’s a list of what you can use a silicone baking mat for.

  • Replace parchment paper or aluminum foil on baking sheets
  • Keep baking pans clean
  • Lay a silicone mat flat on a countertop to knead bread or roll out cookie dough
  • Put on a tray to heat food in the oven
  • Cover baked goods in the oven to make sure they rise evenly
  • Place under a cake ring to keep the cake batter from sticking to the sheet pan

Many brands of silicone bakeware live up to their non-stick name. However, greasing or spraying your silicone mats before placing dough or food on them will help when it is time to remove your freshly baked treat. Regardless of the mess your chocolate chip cookies make on a cookie sheet, a silicone mat will help keep the mess at bay, and your cookie sheets in better condition to last longer.

How to Use a Silicone Baking Mat

Whether you are baking cookies, kneading dough, or baking a cake, you can use a silicone baking mat. To use as a pan liner, simply lay the mat flat on a cookie sheet if you want to make cookies. If you are worried about your cookies sticking, spray your mat with non-stick spray before you place the cookies down.

When it comes to a work surface, you can also place the silicone mat on a countertop if you plan on kneading bread or rolling out cookie dough. This will save flour and also prevent your countertop from becoming a mess in the process.

How to Clean Silicone Baking Mats

Silicone Baking Mat

With a little soap and water, wipe your silicone mat clean, and let it air dry. To dry them, it is best to lay them flat.

Are Silicone Baking Mats Safe?

Yes, silicone baking mats are safe for baking. The temperature limit of a silicone baking mat is 428 degrees Fahrenheit. These baking mats can also be placed in the freezer.

However, silicone baking mat safety should be kept in mind when purchasing. Now that silicone is becoming more popular, some companies are adding fillers to their silicone molds and mats. Silicone fillers can be harmful to our health because of the toxins they emit when heated or cooled. If you aren't positive about fillers in the silicone you purchased, once you bake with it, you may smell a potent burning smell. Your best bet for finding safe silicone baking mats is to purchase from a respected manufacturer. If you want to be sure about the components of the mat before buying, you can always reach out to the customer service team.

Baking Mat vs Parchment Paper

You can use a baking mat and parchment paper interchangeably in a variety of ways. Although both are great for baking or cooking, a baking mat is reusable and long-lasting, while parchment paper can only be used once or twice at a time. Baking mats are perfect for flat surfaces, whereas parchment paper can mold to fit in deeper pans like loaf pans. We break down the uses of baking mats versus parchment paper in the list below.

Baking Mat

  • Eco-friendly and cost saving
  • Reusable
  • Variety of uses for baking
  • Minimizes cleanup

Parchment Paper

  • Not reusable
  • Used mostly to protect baking sheets
  • Additional flexibility
  • Minimizes cleanup

Can I Use a Baking Mat Instead of Parchment Paper?

Yes, you can. Using a baking mat to cover baking sheets will help protect the baking sheet from stuck-on messes or scratches.


Baking with silicone baking sheets makes baking and cleanup much easier and allows you to make more baked goods at one time. Experience the benefits for yourself and try baking with a silicone baking mat!

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  • Is Baking Soda the Same as Baking Powder?

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To prevent your baked goods from rising too rapidly and then collapsing, it is suggested to decrease the amount of leavening agents by 15 to 25%. Decrease Sugar: At higher altitudes, sugar tends to crystallize more quickly, resulting in a drier end product. To counteract this, it is advisable to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipes by about 1-2 tablespoons per cup. This adjustment will help retain moisture and prevent your baked goods from becoming overly sweet. Decrease Fat: The lower air pressure at high altitudes causes fats to break down gluten faster. This can lead to a greasy or tender end product. To avoid this, it is advisable to decrease the amount of fat in your recipes by about 1-2 tablespoons to maintain the structural strength of your bake. Use High-Protein Flour: High-altitude baking can benefit from the use of high-protein flour, such as bread flour or all-purpose flour with added gluten. The higher protein content helps provide structure and stability to your baked goods, resulting in a better rise and texture. It is recommended to substitute about 2 tablespoons of high-protein flour for every cup of all-purpose flour called for in the recipe. Measure your flour by weight for the greatest accuracy. High Altitude Bread Baking Breads that contain yeast are most affected by higher elevations because the lower air pressure makes dough rise faster, resulting in dry or misshapen loaves after baking. When baking bread at high altitudes, you will need to experiment with your bread-making supplies and processes. Here are some high altitude bread baking adjustments you can try to help you perfect your yeast bread recipes: Decrease yeast and use ice water with yeast to slow the reaction Bake bread above a pan of boiling water to increase moisture, removing the water during the last 15 minutes of baking Decrease proofing time; let loaf rise to 1.5 times its size rather than double Try punching dough down twice to remove excess air Decrease flour or increase liquid (if necessary) High Altitude Cake Baking Bakers often experience mistakes when it comes to cakes, but high altitudes can present their own unique set of challenges. The lower air pressure and higher elevation can affect the way ingredients behave, resulting in cakes that are dry, dense, or even sunken in the middle. However, with a few adjustments, you can still achieve moist and tender cakes even at high altitudes. Flour: Increase flour by 1-4 Tablespoons (generally 1 Tablespoon per cup of flour) Liquid: Increase liquid by 1-4 Tablespoons or use larger eggs Leavening: Decrease every 1 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon Sugar: Decrease sugar by 1-2 Tablespoons Shortening: Decrease shortening by 1-2 teaspoons Temperature: Increase temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit Tips: Instead of increasing temperature, you can increase baking time by 10-15 minutes High Altitude Cookie Baking Because cookies are small in volume compared to cake and bread, they aren't significantly impacted by altitude but can still experience a change in texture and consistency at higher elevations. Follow these adjustments when baking cookies at high altitudes: Flour: Increase flour by 1-4 Tablespoons Liquid: Increase liquid by 1 Tablespoon or use larger eggs Leavening: Decrease every 1 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon Sugar: Decrease sugar by 1-4 Tablespoons Shortening: Decrease shortening by 2 Tablespoons-1/4 cup Temperature: Increase temperature by 15-25 degrees Fahrenheit Tips: You may need to decrease the baking time of your cookies, so be sure to monitor them. High Altitude Quick Bread Baking Falling somewhere between bread and cake in consistency, quick breads like cornbread, muffins, and scones are susceptible to texture changes at high elevations. When baking quick breads at high altitudes, try these adjustments to achieve the best final results. Flour: Increase flour by 1-4 Tablespoons Liquid: Increase liquid by 1 Tablespoon Leavening: Decrease every 1 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon Sugar: Decrease sugar by 1-4 Tablespoons Shortening: Decrease shortening by 2 Tablespoons-1/4 cup Temperature: Increase temperature by 15-25 degrees Fahrenheit Tips: Adjustments will vary based on quick bread’s texture. High Altitude Pie Baking Although not significant, pies can still be affected by high altitudes. Pie crust is prone to drying out at higher elevations so it is recommended to slightly increase the liquid in your recipe to keep it from becoming crumbly. Because the filling takes longer to bake at higher altitudes, it is recommended that you cover the crust with foil or a pie crust shield to prevent burning. Add liquid to crust to prevent drying Cover crust to prevent burning while filling cooks Pan Preparation for Baking in High Elevation When it comes to high altitude baking, proper pan preparation is crucial to ensure your baked goods turn out just right. The unique conditions at high altitudes can affect the way your baked goods rise and cook, making it important to make a few adjustments to your pan preparation methods. In this section, we will discuss the best practices for preparing pans when baking at high altitudes. Grease Pans and Use Pan Liners: To prevent your baked goods from sticking to the pan, it is essential to grease the pans thoroughly. Greasing the pan will create a non-stick surface, allowing for easy release of your baked goods. Additionally, using pan liners, such as parchment paper or silicone baking mats, can further prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. These liners provide an extra layer of protection between the batter and the pan, ensuring that your baked goods come out intact. Use Cookie Sheets: For cookies and other flat baked goods, using single-layer cookie sheets instead of regular baking pans can help promote even baking and prevent crisping. Cookie sheets have low sides, allowing for better air circulation around the dough, which is essential at high altitudes. Use Bundt Pans: Using an angel food cake pan or a pan with a tube in the center can help cakes rise during the cooking process. The heat is directed towards the center of the batter and allows it to cook evenly. Grease Muffin Pans: When baking muffins or cupcakes at high altitudes, you'll want to grease the muffin pans thoroughly to prevent sticking. Shortening or vegetable spray can help create a non-stick surface and ensure that your muffins release easily from the pan. 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