I love baking, but the cleaning-up part has always been a headache! Leftover crumbs, unused ingredients, parchment papers, one-time-use plastics, pieces of cardboard, baking trays, you name it.
If you’re in the same situation as I am, you’ll surely appreciate this post. Let me share some of the best ways to enjoy baking without being knee-deep in food waste and even save money in the long run!
Pantry Tools to Promote Zero-Waste Baking
There are plenty of ways you can reduce waste in your baking sessions. But one of the most valuable tips I discovered was replacing some of my baking essentials with these reusable and sustainable tools:
Silicone Baking Mat
Are you tired of disposing of used parchment paper after every few batches of cookies? Well, a silicone baking mat will be a superb investment for you.
These reusable baking mats are made of high-quality, food-grade silicone blended with fiberglass mesh. They’re rubbery, flexible, nonstick, and almost unbelievable in how heat-resistant they are.
One of the things I love about these reusable mats is how evenly they distribute heat. Plus, if you own an old, wrinkly baking sheet like me, the silicone will help correct the heat spots so the dough still bakes evenly.
Silicone baking mats are also slightly sticky, allowing them to sit snugly on any baking sheet. This makes them an excellent choice for baking extra thin cookies with a soggy dough.
That said, it’s worth noting that silicone mats are an expensive option compared to parchment paper. However, they’re reusable and can last years, making the investment worthwhile.
How about aluminum foil?
Aluminum foil works fine, too, and you can practically reuse them forever. But constant reuse will eventually rip the sheet, which means it’ll become additional waste eventually.
Reusable Cake Tin Liners
If cake is a staple dessert in your household, having one or two of these reusable liners is a must. Much like silicone mats, these practical liners eliminate the need for extra steps and waste when baking.
With these cake liners, you no longer have to worry about your cake coming out of the tin in pieces. Your cake comes out effortlessly while your tin remains spot-free, which means one less extra utensil to clean!
Naturally, the liner material is nonstick, making it easy to clean and store. You can reuse them as many times as you want without ever having to grease or flour the cake tin again.
Silicone Cupcake Cases
Silicone cupcake liners blew my mind when I learned about them. And if it’s your first time knowing about these incredibly convenient inventions you may be just as surprised as I did.
These liners are made of non-stick and heat-resistant material that can withstand over 500°F of oven temperature. They’re extremely versatile and dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to hand-clean every one of them every time.
They make baking cupcakes a breeze without the pesky paper waste left behind after the party. Not to mention money-saving than paper cupcake liners.
Sure, paper liners are cheap. But getting batches after batches of them whenever you’re baking the sweet goodies can quickly add up, especially during the holidays.
Besides, as surprising as it may be, silicone cupcakes come at affordable prices. You can purchase dozens of these reusable liners for a few bucks—not bad for something you can reuse for several years.
So, if you plan to cook a few batches of cupcakes for the holidays, this is your sign to ditch that waste machine of paper liners!
Switch to Packaging-Free Ingredients!
Aside from switching up to reusable baking tools, one of the methods I often use to keep my station squeaky clean is buying packaging-free ingredients.
With people becoming ever more aware of the harmful effects of plastic, more and more stores are ditching wasteful packaging. (Although, you’d want to bring your container when shopping.)
You can purchase plenty of baking ingredients without worrying about plastic waste crowding your kitchen—from chocolate chips, nuts, fruits, oats, pasta, and more!
Final Thoughts
Becoming proactive about reducing waste is a superb step for anyone getting into baking as a hobby. With less baking waste, you can enjoy a cleaner cooking environment and help the planet by reducing excessive plastic.
Of course, you can save money, time, and resources, too!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.