If you have a Pinterest board filled with the most indulgent cookies and deem your KitchenAid Stand Mixer your most prized possession, this shopping guide is for you.
Picture this: you’re rolling sticky, sweet-smelling cookie dough (perhaps with your versatile ice cream scoop), only for that same sticky, sweet-smelling dough to land haphazardly onto your parchment paper. Not to mention, the toss-out of the ripped-out paper roll isn’t the neatest.
Enter silicone baking mats — the relatively affordable baking essential that will transform your life (no dramatics intended, but it’s true).
There are so many benefits of using a silicone baking mat. “They create a nonstick surface so anything you are baking will not stick,” Amanda Powell, founder of a A Cookie Named Desire, cookbook author of “Cookie School” and seasoned food science and recipe development expert, told the New York Post. “It’s great for cookies, bread, and especially anything that is particularly sticky like meringue and anything using caramel. It will also allow for even heating and browning.”
What’s more, the texture of the baking mat can also help prevent some baked goods from spreading too much. “Many types of silicone baking mats are great for rolling out pie and cookie dough without it sticking or the mat moving around your counter,” Powell adds.
The best part? The New York Post teamed up with bakers and recipe bloggers who shared their tried-and-true recommendations (and, we tossed in a few of our favorites in there as well). Now, you can easily add-to-cart, shop and steer yummy treats into your oven.
While you’re shopping, check out our guide to the best baking dishes. For more expertise, check out our -in-depth FAQ section for more well-baked intel from our experts. Oh, and for holiday baking, you can say these silicone baking mats take the cake.
Silpat Premium Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat
The Silpat Premium Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat boasts nearly 9,000 baked-in reviews on Amazon alone and is one of the best for its easy-to-use design and array of different sizes to choose from. Namely, you can select from jelly roll mats, pastry mats and macaroon mats, in addition to different sizes of sheets.
“These are the original silicone baking mats that are made and imported from France,” Julia Foerster, co-blogger with her husband, Peter, at Plated Cravings, told The Post. “They’re a must-have for any foodie! Super durable and high quality.”
This particular silicone baking mat is made of fiberglass mesh and the highest quality food grade silicone, which helps provide consistent heat distribution and promote even baking and browning.
“My go-to brand is Silpat because I like the thickness and it isn’t as prone to discoloration as other brands,” Powell adds, also recommending this particular baking mat.
Amazon Basics Silicone Nonstick Baking Mat (2-Pack)
According to Foerster, who has used this specific set for more than six years, the Amazon Basics Silicone Nonstick Baking Mats “are super durable, easy to clean and still look like new.” The duo is one of the most affordable options you can purchase and one of the most-respected (check out its more-than-98.000 rave reviews for proof).
“The Amazon basics brand is surprisingly good for the price and is a close second for me [following Silpat] in terms or quality,” Powell adds, also recommending this set.
This Amazon best-seller is oven-safe up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit and cleans easily with dish soap and water. For foolproof fudgy brownies, this one takes the cake (pun totally intended).
Silpat Perfect Cookie Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat
The Silpat Perfect Cookie Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat, according to Forester, is “fun to have on hand.” With nearly 2,000 rave reviews, the surface’s 13 evenly spaced indents allow you to roll and form perfectly sized cookies, regardless of flavor.
“This cookie silicone mat makes making perfect cookies super easy because it has cookie outlines on it for perfect spacing,” she notes, recommending it for its standout feature.
What’s more, it works with temperatures from -40 degrees to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and are easy to clean. What’s not to love?
Matfer Bourgeat Exopat Nonstick Reinforced Silicone Reusable Baking Mat
The Matfer Bourgeat Exopat Nonstick Reinforced Silicone Reusable Baking Mat is one we recommend for its French made and highly durable reinforced design. Particularly, it’s apt for more advanced bakers (though anyone would appreciate this one’s baked-in quality) and works well for preparing pastries, sugar work and brittle, especially.
This silicone baking mat is freezer-, microwave– and oven-safe and can be used at temperatures from -40 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit).
OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking Mat
The OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking Mat hails from a brand we trust and is available at a variety of online retailers. Namely, this silicone baking mat is made from food-safe silicone to serve as the reusable nonstick baking and roasting surface your kitchen craves.
Not only does it help resist grease and residue, but its fiberglass and silicone construction offers strucutre and a solid, nonstick makeshift surface. This silicone baking mat is also oven- and dishwasher-safe
RENOOK Nonstick Silicone Baking Mats (5-Pack)
The RENOOK Nonstick Silicone Baking Mats (5-Pack) is offered at a terrific value on Amazon — less than $20 for a complete set of five? Sign us up!
With nearly 2,000 top-notch reviews, each mat is 100% nonstick and ideal for any baked creation you have on your recipe list. Upon purchase, you’ll find two half-sheet size baking mats, a quarter-sheet size cooking mat a round size cake/pizza pan mat, a square size cake pan mat and an oil brush.
Food52 Five Two Good Measure Pastry Mat
Attention all pastry chefs: this silicone baking mat is the one for you. Shop the Food52 Five Two Good Measure Pastry Mat for an impressively detailed option that’ll ensure you have the most picturesque pastries.
The brand went through several prototypes to add diameter guides, ruled edges and all the conversion charts you’ll need for reference — including liquid, weight, temperature and even butter. Oh, and this totally helps the busy, bustling baker who’s too busy to Google it.
An FAQ on Silicone Baking Mats
Ahead, our team of culinary experts share the 411 on silicone baking mats, including notes on safety and how to clean them.
What is a silicone baking mat?
First things first — what exactly is a silicone baking mat, and why might I want to invest in one?
“A silicone baking mat makes your life easier!” Foerester told The Post, simply. “It’s made of flexible, heat-resistant silicone that you place on your baking sheets. It makes baking a breeze and cleanup a snap.”
Overall, it’s a must-have for any baking enthusiast!
What are the benefits of using a silicone baking mat?
As mentioned, silicone baking mates create a nonstick surface so anything you are baking will not stick. Ideal for cookies, bread, and especially anything that is particularly sticky like meringue and anything using caramel, they’ll help even out heating and browning properties while baking.
Additionally, the texture of the baking mat can also help prevent some baked goods from spreading too much. Many types of silicone baking mats are great for rolling out pie and cookie dough without it sticking or the mat moving around your counter.
“Mats are also reusable and can last you years (most up to 2,000 – 3,000 uses!) which can cut down on the amount of single-use parchment paper you are using,” Powell adds.
Oh, and they’re a sustainable baking essential (win-win!). “What makes it so awesome is that you can reuse it again and again, which is cost-effective and environmentally friendly,” Foerster adds. “Cleanup is a breeze – just toss it in the dishwasher or rinse it in soapy water.”
Above all else, using one prevents sticky messes because of its non-stick properties, making greasing or parchment paper unnecessary.
How do silicone baking mats differ from traditional baking trays and dishes?
Silicone baking mats offer several advantages over traditional baking trays or equipment. “They provide a non-stick surface, ensure even heat distribution, can be used multiple times and simplify the cleaning process,” Foerster explains.
More, they’re extremely versatile. “You can use them for rolling, baking, and they are also safe to put in the freezer,” Powell said. “You can get consistent results and it can make baking so much easier. I think all of this really sets it apart from other baking tools.”
The different types of baking mats you can buy online, explained by bakers
The biggest differences in silicone baking mats depends on the sizes, shapes, and guides they have.
“You can find them in most sizes to fit any baking pan size,” Powell explains. “You can also find larger mats that include guides for rolling out pie dough into different size circles, or you can roll them out into other shapes using the inches and centimeter guides along the edges which is particularly helpful when rolling out cinnamon roll dough!”
Powell’s favorite ones have guides for piping macarons so they are always the same size and perfectly spiced — much like the Food52 Five Two Good Measure Pastry Mat we highlighted in this guide. “I also like to use them for piping pate choux, meringue, and other similar pastries. Whatever your need, you can usually find a baking mat for you.”
Of course, you can also find plain ones as well.
What types of baked goods can you make using a silicone baking mat?
“You can make all sorts of delicious stuff, like perfect cookies, macarons, bread, pastries and even roasted veggies,” Foerster lists. “I also use them for letting candied almonds cool down without them sticking to everything, and for making churros.”
According to Powell, anything that needs to be baked is good for silicone baking mats.
“I like them best when making caramel corn because the caramel never sticks to the mats, making clean up incredibly easy,” she shares. “I used baking mats for every cookie recipe I made for my cookie cookbook. I’ver used them for cakes, cinnamon rolls, as a spill catcher for baking pies and so much more.”
Are silicone baking mats oven-safe?
“Silicone baking mats are oven-safe, and can typically be used up to 400 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit,” Powell said. “The exact temperature will depend on each brand.”
She notes you typically should not use silicone baking mats under a broiler, directly on the oven rack or in a toaster oven. Its temperature yield is also “perfect for roasting veggies,” per Foerster.
Are silicone baking mats dishwasher-safe?
“Most silicone baking mats are dishwasher-safe, but I find it’s often more convenient to wash them by hand to prolong their lifespan and because they take up a lot of space in the dishwasher,” Foerster notes.
Powell agrees, primarily washing hers by hand as well for the most careful clean. “Some baking mats are dishwasher safe when paired with a gentle cleanser, but it is not the best way to wash them,” Powell said, “The most effective way to clean them and ensure they get truly clean is to wash them by hand.”
How to properly hand-wash a silicone baking mat, according to bakers
Below, Powell tips off exactly how she washes her silicone baking mats for a perfect clean every time.
“I give them a quick soak in hot water, sometimes with a squeeze of lemon or a tablespoon or two of white distilled vinegar; this helps break up any residual grease that might be left on the mat,” she begins. “I then take a sponge with a gentle cleanser (I usually use Dawn or Mrs. Meyers) and scrub both sides of the mats and give them a rinse in hot water.”
Then, dry them with a clean kitchen towel.
Other tips? Always be careful with sharp objects on your silicone baking mat; they can damage it. Store them flat or rolled up, but don’t fold it to keep it in good shape. Keep an eye out for any damage, as silicone mats can wear out over time.
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