Product Review: Silicone Baking Mat

Silicone Baking Mat

Real Simple brand

About the Product: A silicone baking mat is supposed to replace the need to grease your pan or use parchment paper in baking. The mat is a thin, flexible, silicone piece that can withstand high temperatures (up to 480 degrees) when baking and nothing is supposed to stick to it. This specific baking mat (pictured) is the Real Simple brand sold at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I believe that silicone baking mats can be found at most any general retailer including Target, Wal-Mart, Jet.com, and of course Amazon. The silicone baking mat is also supposed to cool down quickly to reduce the possibility of burning whatever you are baking. There are many different brands, colors, and sizes of silicone baking mats. My Mom gave me two different sized baking mats for Christmas last year - a large and a small - and the small was the only one that fit my cookie sheet (11x16.6 inches). The large mat was bigger than any of my large air-bake cookie sheets - I'm guessing it was 16x24 inches. 

Why I Chose This Product: Last year I saw these baking mats used somewhere and wondered if they really worked. I put them on my Christmas list and, as I mentioned earlier, my Mom got me some. I have since put them to the baking test and wanted to share how they work.

Cost: $14.99

Use: I have used this baking mat for a variety of foods. I think I first baked cookies on it- the Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bites pictured above. The dough for those cookies is a wet, sticky dough, and the recipe actually says to use either a silicone baking mat or parchment paper for baking. (I would assume that if you didn't use either of those products you would need to grease your baking sheet.) In addition to cookies, I have also broiled fresh asparagus drizzled with olive oil and salt, and baked hamburger buns and rolls.

Conclusion: I have been pretty impressed with the silicone baking mat! The cookies did not stick at all, and I could just lift them off with my fingers - no spatula (or "egg turner" as I grew up calling it) was needed. The cookies did leave a light residue on the mat which very easily wiped off. When I broiled the asparagus, it left baked-on juices on the mat. I was a bit excited when it all just wiped off with a warm dishcloth; no scrubbing baked on food and grease off of the pan! Baking the rolls and hamburger buns was also cleaned up with just wiping the mat off. I have really enjoyed the ease of clean-up whenever I use the silicone baking mat, especially when it's something that needs a greased pan.

Would I recommend this product? Yep, I would. If you're somebody that uses parchment paper or foil a lot to reduce clean-up, I think a silicone baking mat is perfect for you! And, even if you think you like to grease your cookie sheets for baking, I think a silicone baking mat would be great for you, too! The only thing that I have noticed with the baking mat is that cookies and breads don't turn as brown on the bottom as they do on a regular baking sheet. But, that's not a deal breaker for me; easy to clean and not making more trash makes it worthwhile. The silicone baking mats really are simple requiring only warm, soapy dishwater to clean (no dishwashers, though!), and are easy enough to store - mine stays with my baking sheet. The only cautions I have read are to not cut or gouge the silicone baking mat, and if you do find it punctured to throw it out. I'm not sure of the "why's" for that caution, but just don't cut the mats to fit (as I had considered with the large mat I received), or use your sharp, metal spatulas on it. Even with that caution, I think everyone that bakes should put silicone baking mats on their Christmas list!

Feedback: What silicone bakeware have you used, and what was your experience?

*I, nor A Journey Thru Pictures Blog, was paid, sponsored, reimbursed, or given free product in exchange for this review.*